How To Make Money On Instagram With 500 Followers (2023)
It’s no secret that Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms today. With over 2 billion active users, it’s easy to see why so many people are trying to earn money on the platform.
Learning how to make money on Instagram with 500 followers is possible but requires creativity and dedication, but the rewards from Instagram marketing can be substantial.
Can I Really Make Money On Instagram With 500 Followers?
Is making money on Instagram with such a small following still possible? The answer is yes! You can make money irrespective of how many Instagram followers you have. Making a business on Instagram pay off might take more effort and consistency, but anyone with 500 followers can make money in several ways.
Here’s How To Make Money On Instagram With 500 Followers
Here are some tips to make money on Instagram even if you only have a small number of followers on your Instagram account.
Partner With Brands/Sponsored Posts
One of the best ways to earn money on Instagram with 500 followers is by partnering with brands. As a brand ambassador, you can create sponsored posts and get paid for promoting their products or services by reaching out to other brands that fit your niche. This is a great way to monetize your account without having a large following.
To get started, you’ll need to create an attractive profile that accurately reflects your niche and interests. Include relevant keywords in your bio and any contact information for potential partners.
Once you have an established profile, it’s time to reach out to brands that fit your niche. You can do this by searching for companies related to your topic and then sending them a direct message or email introducing yourself and offering your services.
Be sure to include links to your Instagram account page and other social media accounts so they can get a better idea of who you are and what you offer.
When pitching yourself for brand deals, be sure to highlight why working with you would be beneficial for the brand. Explain how partnering with you could help them reach their target audience and increase sales or engagement.
You should also include details about what type of sponsored posts you’re willing to create, such as photos or videos featuring their products or services, as well as any other ideas you may have for promoting their brand on Instagram.
I really want to emphasize the importance of not letting imposter syndrome creep in; I’ve been there, questioning whether I was good enough or why these companies would want to involve me. You need to push through that, look at your experiences and past success, and, as the saying goes, “fake it till you make it!”
Join Affiliate Programs
Another way to make money on Instagram with 500 followers is by joining an affiliate program. Affiliate programs allow you to earn commissions when someone purchases a product or service through your affiliate link. You promote affiliate links from these companies linking to their product or service.
1. Research affiliate programs that offer products or services related to your niche. Some of the ones I use are Amazon Associates, ShareASale, and CJ Affiliate.
2. Sign up for the affiliate program of your choice, making sure to read all the terms and conditions before agreeing.
3. Once accepted into the program, you’ll be given a unique link that tracks any sales you make.
4. Promote products or services through your posts or stories, including your unique link, so any purchases can be tracked back to you. Make sure to use appropriate captions and hashtags to boost your reach.
5. Monitor your progress and adjust your strategy to maximize your earnings from the affiliate program.
Being an affiliate, even with a small Instagram following, can help you build a passive income. This should gradually build over time as you become more experienced – how much money you can make going forward depends on how much work you put in.
Sell Your Merchandise
If you have any merchandise related to your brand, such as t-shirts, mugs, or hats, you can use an Instagram shop to sell them. With the help of print-on-demand drop shipping services, you can easily create custom merch for your Instagram followers and monetize your account.
You can also set up an Instagram Shopping account to make it easier for customers to purchase products directly from the app.
To start selling physical products, create Instagram posts or stories showcasing the product and link them directly to your online store. Ensure the posts are eye-catching and include all the relevant information to help sell products.
You should also include a call-to-action (CTA) in your posts so that people know what they need to do next. Consider using influencers or other social media accounts to promote your products and increase visibility.
Lastly, don’t forget to track how well each post performs so that you can adjust your strategy accordingly. This will help you determine which types of content are most effective at driving sales and which ones need improvement to help you make money on Instagram.
Sell Digital Products
If you have a digital product to sell, such as eBooks, courses, or artwork, Instagram can be a great place to showcase and monetize them.
- Create an attractive profile on your Instagram page that will draw potential customers in. Include a link to your website if you have one in your bio, and use high-quality images and edit your videos to showcase your products. You can also include a call-to-action in your posts, such as “click the link in my bio” or “shop now.”
- Create content to engage your followers and encourage them to buy from you. Share behind-the-scenes footage of how you make your products, post tutorials about using them, or share customer reviews. You can also use stories and live video to connect with your followers and show off new products or offers.
- Use hashtags to reach more people who might be interested in buying from you. Research popular hashtags related to digital products and include them in your posts so that they appear in searches for those topics. You can also join relevant conversations by responding to comments or engaging with other accounts that post about similar topics.
- Consider setting up an online store where customers can purchase directly from you instead of having to click through links in your bio or send messages asking for details about pricing and shipping costs. This will make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for and make a purchase quickly without leaving Instagram.
Enable Live Badges
Live badges are an exciting way to earn money with your Instagram account, even if you only have 500 followers. This feature lets viewers directly donate to you while watching your live streams. This generates more revenue for yourself and encourages engagement from viewers who may not be interested in donating but still want to show their support for what you do.
To take advantage of this feature, ensure your account is eligible and enable Live Badges during your streams. You can also promote the feature by letting your followers know they can support you with Live Badges when you go live. It’s also important to thank your supporters and acknowledge their donations, as it will help encourage more people to donate in the future!
Live Badges are a great way to monetize your content, increase your viewers’ engagement, and can help boost your sales.
Utilize Shopping Tags & Stories Ads
Shopping tags and Instagram Stories ads are two of the most effective ways to monetize your accounts, even if you only have 500 followers. Shopping tags allow customers to shop directly from within an image post.
Meanwhile, Instagram Stories ads allow you to reach potential customers who may not already follow you through targeted ads based on interests & demographics, etc.
To get started with shopping tags and Instagram Stories ads, you should ensure your account is set up correctly and linked to a Facebook Shop page. You should also create a catalog of products that can be tagged in posts or stories. Once everything is set up, you can create shoppable posts and run ads targeting potential customers.
With shopping tags and Instagram Stories ads, you can start monetizing your account even with only 500 followers. These tools are great for bridging the gap between organic reach and paid advertising, as they allow you to target a specific audience while still keeping posts looking organic.
Use Influencer Marketing & Collaborations
As Instagram grows, influencer marketing and collaborations are becoming increasingly popular for businesses of all sizes. Even if you have a small business with only 500 followers, you can still benefit from working with influencers. Here are some tips on how to use influencer marketing and collaborations to grow your Instagram business.
- Identify the right Instagram influencers who aligns with your brand’s values and target audience. Look for influencers who have an engaged following and create content that resonates with your target market. Once you’ve identified the right influencers for your brand, reach out to them and explain why you think they would be a good fit for a collaboration.
- Come up with creative ideas for the collaboration to help both of you achieve your goals. For example, you could host a giveaway or contest where the winner receives one of your products or services in exchange for promoting it on their page. You could also work together on creating content that showcases both of your brands in an interesting way.
- Make sure to track the results of the collaboration so that you can measure its success. This will help you determine whether it was worth investing in and whether it helped increase engagement and sales for your business.
Using influencer marketing and collaborations is an effective way to get more eyes on your business, even if you don’t have a large following yet. With careful planning and execution, these collaborations can help drive more traffic to your page and increase sales for your business over time.
Add A Virtual Tip Jar To Your Instagram Bio
Adding a virtual tip jar to your Instagram bio is another way to monetize your account with only 500 followers. This method allows users to send you PayPal money directly from your profile, and all they need to do is click on the link in your bio. Add a PayPal donation link or other virtual tip jar links to your bio to get started.
You can also use this method to promote virtual events, such as webinars or online classes. People who want to attend the event can send a payment via the link in your bio and receive an access code or link to join.
This is a great way to monetize your account while providing valuable content and services to your audience.
Host Giveaways
Finally, hosting giveaways on Instagram is another great way to make money on Instagram. Giveaways are a great way to drive engagement and increase visibility for your business.
To get started, create an interesting prize that resonates with your target audience and determine the giveaway rules. Then post about it on Instagram and explain the rules, including how people can enter.
Make your post engaging with visuals and interactive elements such as polls or questions. This will help increase engagement and drive more traffic to your page. You’ll also want to add a hashtag to track the entries.
Hosting giveaways is a great way to generate more interest in your business and attract new followers. Plus, it’s an easy way to monetize your Instagram account regardless of how many followers you have.
Remember that the prize should be valuable enough to incentivize people to enter and follow your page.
Wrapping Up
If you take action and implement some or all of the strategies in this post about how to earn money on Instagram with 500 followers, you’ll be able to monetize your Instagram account and start making money.
It’s not unusual to hear of influencers earning over 5K a month with a small but dedicated following.
Try testing out different strategies to see what works best for your brand, whether it’s physical or digital products. Don’t forget to track your results so that you can measure the success of each one.
Remember, it’s all about providing valuable content and services to your followers. If you can do that, you’ll have no problem monetizing your account, even with a small following.
Check out other posts about social media:
How To Sell On Instagram Without A Website: 12 Steps
