As of April 2022, there are almost 1,5 billion users of Instagram worldwide, of whom 26 million can be reached by advertisement. And since the majority of them are between 25 and 34 years old, Instagram is the perfect marketing platform with a highly solvent audience. So why not make use of it? No matter if you are an influencer or a simple user, you can join one of the Instagram affiliate marketing programs to increase your income. Find out how they work and what you need to do to join one.
How Partner Programs on Instagram Work
The scheme is similar to such programs on any other platform — a blogger promotes certain products through their content and gets a commission on each successful sale they generate. The sales are tracked through special tracker links generated by the owner of the program.
The benefits of such programs are:
- Automation: Conversions are traced by a program, and payouts are requested through special dashboards.
- Ease of production: You don’t have to invent everything from scratch — the company usually provides quality product images and a list of things to mention about it.
- Flexibility: You decide the format to advertise the product without deviation from your style.
- Mutual benefits: If the brand you advertise is already in high demand, advertising it will attract more subscribers to your account.
But, of course, there can be some difficulties as well. First, some affiliate programs don’t allow anybody to participate — an influencer must first qualify for one. Secondly, the profits you get directly depend on how well your content works. Your personal creator skills, analytical capabilities, and the right choice of format and target audience will determine your return on investments and can either make or break the whole venture. To help you, the next paragraph will be dedicated to ways to increase your profitability.
Ways to Earn More from Instagram Affiliate Programs
The degree of your success depends on a combination of three major factors — how well you know your audience, your ability to pick the most converting content on Instagram, and, of course, your creativity. Here is some advice on how to improve all three of them.
Choose Products that Fit Your Audience
If your topic is house renovation, advertising mobile tricks won’t work very well. But integration with an online hardware store is likely to work like a charm. For maximum gain, try collaborating with products that relate to your topic. Some wealthy companies with off-top products might offer a bigger reward, but what is the point if no one follows the link.
Pick Content Types with Best Conversion
Instagram offers a variety of post types, each serving a particular goal. A carousel is perfect for presenting products with many color variations. Videos and IGTV are ideal for lifestyle and showing products in use. Stories are traditionally the most converting format, and they promote interaction through stickers. Experiment and find those that work best for you.
Don’t Turn Your Account into Advertising Board
The temptation to take on more projects is understandable, but having too many integrations will eventually drive your subscribers away. Always remember that they come to social networks to unwind and have fun and, more importantly, for you. Better keep your integrations ratio under 10-15%.
Get Inspired by Others
Even the most creative people sometimes have hard times coming up with something new. In such times, taking a look at what others do can give you a boost. Don’t copy it though — build upon the ideas of others and create something unique. In the worst case, you can peek at current trends and create something using them.