Instagram is a very popular photo-sharing social network. You can add filters and captions to photos, get likes, and also follow and be followed by others (so photos from other users appear in your Instagram feed and vice versa). If you have a talent for photography, or want to convert your following to subscribers, you can take the steps below to start making money on Instagram.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Attract Followers
Step 1. Get enough followers
Like any product, you need to have market share before you start selling, and on Instagram, your followers are potential buyers. Get lots of followers by posting interesting photos and interacting with your followers. If you need help, guides to getting more followers are available on the internet.
Step 2. Use hashtags to attract other users
Make sure that every photo you upload to Instagram includes three user pull hashtags that are related to the photo, but appear in many search results. Read our guide to using hashtags online.
Method 2 of 5: Producing Quality Photos
Step 1. Master the technique of photography
Your photos will only be purchased if they are of good quality. The word "good" itself is subjective, but you still need to produce quality photos if you want to sell photos. Read the guide to taking better photos to enrich your knowledge.
Step 2. Use a different camera, and don't feel limited by the phone's camera
Instagram lets you upload photos taken by other cameras, as long as the files are on your phone's memory, so buy a good one to see the difference. If confused, read the guide to choosing the right camera.
Method 3 of 5: Setting Up the Store
Step 1. Create an online store (online)
You can't sell photos directly on Instagram, so you have to find a way for customers to buy your photos. You can create an online photo shop in several ways:
- Services like Twenty20 allow you to sell photos through their site. They take care of printing and shipping, and you will earn a 20% commission on the sale. This service is useful if you don't want to send and print photo orders.
- You can also create an online store on your personal site. With your own shop, you can get more profit, but you'll have to take care of the orders, printing and shipping yourself.
- Selling on Instagram is also possible through some free tools.
Step 2. Link each image to its respective page in the store
Whichever method you use to create a store, make sure you link the store address to every Instagram photo you want to sell. Use a link shortening service such as Bitly or TinyURL to shorten store links so they don't overfill the description.
Method 4 of 5: Marketing the Product
Step 1. Get enough followers
If you want to convince a company that your photos can increase their sales, you need to have a large following to substantiate that claim. If you need help, guides to getting more followers are available on the internet.
Step 2. Contact the company and explain why your Instagram account can increase users' knowledge of their brand
Show the number of followers, the frequency of Instagram updates, and examples of good and artistic photos to prove that you can portray their products in a positive way.
Services like Quglu, Quickshouts and Popular Pays connect companies with Instagram marketers
Step 3. Design a contract
In your contract, mention details such as the number of photos you need to take and the follower increase bonus. The contract will protect you from low paying rogue companies.
Step 4. Take quality product/service photos
When marketing your product, make sure you don't upload bad product photos. Now, you are a product ambassador, and the results of your work will affect your future contracts.
Add a personal touch to your photos, so followers feel "connected" to the photos so your ad doesn't feel like an ad
Method 5 of 5: Converting Followers to Subscribers
Step 1. Drive followers to your blog
Your Instagram profile must include a link to your personal or company website/blog. When Instagram users follow your profile, your site will experience a spike in traffic.
Step 2. Highlight your abilities
You can use Instagram as a portfolio of skills or talents, such as web design, fashion, photography, and many other fields. Use your Instagram profile to upload your latest projects and work, and use hashtags to attract potential customers to your profile.
Step 3. Take a photo of your product
If you make physical items (from cakes to motorcycle engines), you can advertise well on Instagram. Take product photos, and use hashtags to attract visitors. For example, you can use hashtags such as product names, company names, slogans, or product uses.
- Make sure you include a link to the store (if any) in the comments.
- Also make sure you send good photos of your products. Do not use a low quality camera.
