Since Instagram appeared people have always been trying to make money with this social network. And although it is not easy, it is possible. But is it possible to make money without investing anything in it? It will not be a bed of roses, but it is possible. There are many people who started on Instagram with nothing and now they have become referents. It is important to be constant in the process and never give up.
That’s why we have created this guide. For all those people who are not influencers and do not have the means to invest in Instagram, advertising their posts or stories, it is also possible to get it naturally and you can even get a higher growth potential and a solid strategy that will make you earn money.
Here are 7 simple ways to make money on Instagram without investing:
- Create and Sell Online Courses
- Offer Social Media Management Services
- Become a Brand Ambassador
- Participate in Contests
- Sell Digital Products
- Offer Writing or Translation Services
- Make Live Broadcasts
1. Create and Sell Online Courses
You can share your knowledge and expertise in a specific area by creating online courses that you can sell through platforms like Udemy or Teachable.
Think that you can teach your audience anything you know how to do well, like cooking, languages, graphic design, marketing, etc. To create your course you can record videos, write eBooks or create presentations. There are many ways to teach your content so choose the one that suits you best!
You can sell your course on platforms like Udemy, Teachable or your own website (if you sell it on your own website you can also make money with ads thanks to the traffic you bring). There is a sea of possibilities to make money!
Jenna Kutcher is an expert in digital marketing, she created an online course to learn how to create a profitable business on Instagram. In the beginning, she made a few hundred dollars a month. Now, with over 100,000 students, she earns over $100,000 a month. Jenna sells her course through her own website and offers different payment options, including a split payment plan.
2. Offer Social Media Management Services
Help other companies or entrepreneurs to manage their Instagram accounts, creating content, planning strategies and increasing their online presence.
Keep in mind that you could offer services such as: content creation, strategy planning, account management, etc. There are many people interested in growing their accounts and don’t know how. That’s why they might need you! Any company, entrepreneurs, influencers, could be potential clients.
How can I find clients and make them aware of my services? You can create a company profile on Instagram, offer your services on platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, or directly contact companies that interest you.
Chelsea Peitz is a community manager, managing the Instagram accounts of several fashion companies. In the beginning, she charged $50 per month per account. Now, she charges $200 per month per account and has a waiting list of clients.
3. Become a Brand Ambassador
Some brands look for people with a loyal audience to represent their products or services. You can become an ambassador for a brand you like and earn commissions for the sales you generate.
How do I find brands that want to collaborate with me? You can search on platforms like Influencity or contact brands you like directly by direct message. If you have a loyal audience, are committed to the brand and create quality content. It is very possible that brands are interested, even if you have less than 5k followers, it is possible that not so big brands want to collaborate with you.
With this method you can earn commissions for the sales you generate, receive free products or even charge a fee for your collaboration.
Negin Mirsalehi is a beauty influencer, she is an ambassador for a cosmetics brand. At first, she received free products in exchange for her collaboration. Now, she earns $5,000 per month for each post she makes with the brand.
4. Participate in Contests
Some brands organize contests and sweepstakes on Instagram to increase their visibility. You can enter them to win prizes such as products, trips or cash.
How do I find these sweepstakes? You can search on hashtags like #contest #draw or follow accounts that organize these types of events. You just have to read the rules and requirements of the contest and follow the instructions. With these contests you could win products, trips, money or unique experiences.
Ashley Roberts won a trip to the Bahamas in an Instagram contest organized by a cruise company. The trip cost her $500, but she won a prize valued at $2,000.
5. Sell Digital Products
If you have creative skills, you can sell digital products such as eBooks, design templates, Lightroom presets or music.
What product can I sell? eBooks, design templates, Lightroom presets, music, etc. You can use tools like Canva or Adobe Photoshop to create eBooks or templates, or you can record your own music. For any of these tools the monthly fee is less than $10 and you can always count on a free version in case you don’t want to spend money.
Once you have created your products you can sell them on your own website or on platforms like Etsy or Shopify.
Kristen Sarah is a graphic designer, selling Instagram templates for stories on her own website. In the beginning, she made a few dollars a day. Now, she makes $10,000 a month from selling her templates.
6. Offer Writing or Translation Services
If you have writing or translation skills, you can offer your services to companies or individuals who need content in Spanish or other languages.
You can offer article writing, text translation and proofreading services to companies, individuals or translation agencies.
To find potential clients you can create a company profile on LinkedIn, offer your services on platforms such as Fiverr or Upwork, or contact companies that interest you directly.
John Doe, a freelance translator, translates texts from English into Spanish for various companies. In the beginning, he earned $10 per hour. Now, he earns $40 per hour and has a portfolio of loyal clients.
7. Make Live Broadcasts
You can make live broadcasts on Instagram to interact with your audience in real time and generate revenue through donations or super chats.
In your live streams you can offer content that interests people, such as; tutorials, interviews, Q&A, music sessions, etc. With this method you can generate profits by asking your followers for donations, sell super chats or promote products or services.
Jessica Wang, a fitness influencer, does live broadcasts to teach different types of workouts. In the beginning, she earned a few dollars per broadcast. Now, she earns $200 per broadcast through donations from her followers and subscriptions to her channel.
Final Thoughts
It is important to mention that without perseverance and hard work it is difficult to generate income with any of these methods. So dedicate your time, and never lose the rhythm of generating content and implementing the ideas that you come up with along the way. Think that if you dedicate 1 hour every day you can reach in a year your first income. So start as soon as possible! Because a year from now you will wish you had started today.
If you are interested in reading about different ways to make money on Instagram whether you are a photographer, writer, etc.. You can check out our latest articles!
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