Earning money from Instagram is an increasingly popular goal for creators, but how many followers do you realistically need to start making income?
I‘ll break down exactly what it takes to monetize Instagram at any stage of your influencer journey…
How Much Money Can You Make on Instagram?
Before diving into followers needed to earn income, let‘s set expectations around potential Instagram earnings across different influencer tiers.
According to a 2022 study by Mavrck including over 6,000 influencers, here are average income brackets based on follower count:
Nano Influencers
Followers: 1,000 – 10,000
Average Income Per Post: $20 – $100
Average Monthly Income: $500
Micro Influencers
Followers: 10,000 – 50,000
Average Income Per Post: $100 – $500
Average Monthly Income: $1,000
Mid-Tier Influencers
Followers: 50,000 – 500,000
Average Income Per Post: $500 – $5,000
Average Monthly Income: $5,000
Macro Influencers
Followers: 500,000+
Average Income Per Post: $5,000 – $10,000+
Average Monthly Income: $10,000+
As you can see, monthly income potential on Instagram spans from a nice side hustle to a full-time living as you build your following and brand partnerships.
But when can you realistically start earning?
When Can You Start Making Money on Instagram?
While some nano influencers score occasional brand sponsorships, most creators need to consistently hit these Instagram monetization milestones before income becomes reliable:
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1,000+ followers – Apply to affiliate programs related to your niche which allow monetizing through links and promo codes in your Instagram bio or posts
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5,000+ followers – Pitch smaller collaborations with brands that attract your audience for free product or commission-based partnerships
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10,000+ followers – Consider paid sponsorship opportunities from relevant brands; create a media kit to showcase your value
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100,000+ followers – Congrats! At this point your established audience and niche can earn at minimum $1,000+ per sponsored Instagram post
However your precise income potential comes down to much more than just followers…
Key Factors That Influence Monetization
While follower count establishes credibility, these metrics make a bigger impact on how much brands will pay you:
Engagement Rates
Your engagement rate is total interactions divided by followers. Instagram‘s algorithm and brands prefer 4%+ rates.
![Instagram Engagement Rates by Follower Size Chart]
Aim for above average engagement before pursuing paid sponsorships.
Content Quality & Consistency
Posting relatable, high quality, consistent content optimized for Instagram‘s algorithm and Explore page leads to better reach and engagement.
Audience Demographics & Insights
Detail your audience‘s gender, age range, location split and interests through Instagram Analytics. Brand sponsorships align best when your audience aligns with the sponsor‘s target customer demographic.
Attractive & Shoppable Profile
Making your bio and posts easy to shop or click to a website ensures followers can easily convert to customers for affiliate and sponsored links.
How Many Followers For These Income Amounts?
As an example benchmark, here‘s the follower range where influencers typically earn certain monthly income levels:
- Up to $500 per month: 5,000+ followers
- $500 to $2,000 per month: 10,000 to 30,000 followers
- $2,000 to $5,000 per month: 30,000 to 70,000 followers
- $5,000 to $10,000 per month: 70,000 to 150,000 followers
- $10,000+ per month: 200,000+ followers
So while scoring your first paid sponsorship is possible starting in the low thousands of followers, most creators don’t earn a livable wage until they pass 100k.
Strategies To Maximize Earnings by Follower Size
Now let’s explore proven strategies tailored to creators in each main follower bracket:
Nano Influencers
Followers: 1,000 – 10,000
Income Strategy:
- Research relevant hashtags in your niche to engage with communities around your interests
- Develop posting habits and content styles that lead to above average engagement
- Apply to affiliate programs with brands your audience would enjoy
- Pitch creators with similar audiences for shoutout exchanges to gain followers fast
Income Opportunities: Affiliate links, free products for reviews
Micro Influencers
Followers: 10,000 – 50,000
Income Strategy:
- Craft an Instagram aesthetic that visually represents your niche
- Publish shareable content formats like Reels consistently
- Create conversion-optimized profile with links to your website
- Reach out to brands for free product/commission collaborations
Income Opportunities: Affiliate links, free products, commissions on codes
Mid-Tier Influencers
Followers: 50,000 – 500,000
Income Strategy:
- Develop a content production & posting strategy
- Track performance data and pivot types/topics that resonate best
- Perfect your rates for sponsored & affiliate posts
- Form brand partnerships where both parties actively promote each other
Income Opportunities: Paid sponsorships, branded content, product collaborations
Macro Influencers
Followers: 500,000+
Income Strategy:
- Launch secondary monetizable accounts like YouTube, TikTok, Twitter
- Hire a manager to coordinate sponsorship & business opportunities
- Develop new income channels: digital products, merch, services, events
- Charge premium rates for highly visible brand endorsements
Income Opportunities: Brand sponsorships, collaborations, consulting, events
Additional Instagram Monetization Opportunities
Alongside the usual follower-based strategies, Instagram rolls out newer ways to monetize for qualifying creators:
Reels Bonuses
Top Reels creators may qualify for Instagram’s pilot financial incentives program based on content performance.
Subscriptions
Let fans pay a monthly fee for exclusive Stories or Lives. Currently limited availability.
Badges
Fans pay to get special badges when they support creators during Live videos.
Branded Content Ads
Earn a fee from brands when you post about them using Branded Content tools.
Instagram Money-Making Predictions For 2023
As Instagram evolves its monetization options, creators have more built-in ways to earn directly outside of followers and sponsors.
Expect platforms like Linktree or LinkinProfile to leverage in-profile shopping with affiliate links for all creators. Instagram may also roll out broader access to paid subscription features.
Expanded ecommerce functionality gives influencers at any level improved tools to easily sell products directly on Instagram.
Nano and micro-influencers should focus on improving engagement, applying affiliate links to their pages, and pitching creative collaborations in 2024.
Turning Instagram from Hobby to Income
The key tipping point to earn reliable income is passing 10k engaged followers where consistent brand sponsorships open up. But take advantage of affiliate links, promotions and product collaborations early on.
Be relentless about improving content and engagement as you grow rather than purely chasing follower counts alone.
Now you know exactly how to assess your Instagram monetization potential in 2024! Let me know if you have any other questions.
