What if I told you that you could earn money by using your phone all day? What if I told you that you could get paid to post on social media? What if I told you that all you need to get rich and famous in 2021 is a stable internet connection that lets you interact on Instagram? That is right – from making decent pocket money to set up a successful enterprise, you can do it all with a few clicks, tips and tricks, and consistency – and oh, the internet. This particular technology has allowed us to achieve the impossible by connecting us to the world. So, make sure that you have installed a reliable internet service at your home before exploring ways to earn money online. If your current provider is troubling you, cancel your subscription and sign up for a better service. We highly recommend Spectrum Gold Package, especially the double play option,  for people who are looking to get premium internet and cable TV facilities because this plan comes loaded with internet speeds that go up to 940 Mbps and channels that include premium networks to keep you entertained throughout the day.

Now, let us discuss the ways to make money on Instagram, and then we will talk about how to implement them in simple steps. In layman terms, you can make money on the highest-ranking social media platform in these ways:

• Setting up an online business to sell a product or service. 
• Becoming an influencer and doing sponsored posts. 
• Sharing your unique talent and becoming famous. 
• Handle other people’s Instagram accounts 

Now that we know the four ways of making money, we can get to the action part for each way:

Setting Up an Online Business to Sell Products or Services

Step 1: Decide What You Want To Do

From baking cakes and selling clothes online to providing marketing services and reselling ramen imported from Korea, Instagram houses in itself many businesses – a lot of which have built up over time and gained loyal customers. Take time and understand how different businesses work before setting up your own. Maybe you already have a family business that does not have an online presence and you can set up an account for that. Everything nowadays has become virtual and since the pandemic hit, online sales have boosted. 

Step 2: Make an Account Dedicated to Your Business 

Set up an Instagram account, switch it to public, and then select “Business account”. Instagram will give you access to features meant for online businesses such as viewing insights, boosting posts, setting automated replies, etc. Note that features like attaching links in stories are accessed when you get a follower count of 10k. 

Step 3: Use All Instagram Features

Familiarize yourself with all of IG’s features such as stories, reels, IGTV videos, reposting, saving, etc., and use all of them to reach more people. Do not spam the user with the same content in everything, but diversify and understand what each feature’s function is. It takes time, but you will get the hang of it. 

Step 4: Boost Your Posts to the Right Audience

This is very important because for example if you are selling clothes for children, you would want mothers seeing your posts, not eighteen-year-olds. Instagram automatically targets people with similar interests but you can always customize the audience based on location, needs, etc. Boost keeping a specific amount in mind. Note that this amount will not be going to waste. More people will be reached which will result in more follows, likes, comments, and engagement. Every other IG brand boosts/sponsors their posts. It is safe and a quick way to gain organic followers. You can redirect the people to your inbox or your account. 

Step 5: Understand the Instagram Algorithm

Note that IG does not like bot behavior. Do not try to fool it by following a lot of people to gain followers only to unfollow them. You will be shadow-banned and your account will not perform well. Similarly do not go for buying followers as your account may look like it is popular but it will have zero engagement, and people will eventually know. Always aim for organic reach. 

Becoming an Influencer and Doing Sponsored Posts

Step 1: Know Who You Want To Influence

There are lifestyle influencers, food critics, beauty bloggers – IG is full of them and people love such content. It is important to stick to something that comes naturally to you for example makeup or singing, or comedy – or whatever it is that you are good at and can influence people.

Step 2: Make an Account and Start Posting

Make an Instagram and set it up as a “Creator”. You can add whatever you like to the description based on what you do. Make sure to be catchy and unique to grab people’s attention. 

Step 3: Be Consistent and Build a Brand 

Post daily or at least thrice a week, be creative and do not spam the users. They want quality content and that is what you should deliver. Remember that it takes time to build a brand so keep at it and be consistent. 

Step 4: Accept PR and Do Sponsored Posts

Engage with the audience and let people know that you are accepting PR. Unbox and use your out-of-the-box thinking to market others for money. Help others and you will see the engagement boost for yourself. 

Step 5: Be Real To Your Followers 

No one likes content that is not truthful. Eventually, people find out, and then they disengage. Know that they are following you for a reason so do not make them press the unfollow button. 

Sharing Your Unique Talent and Becoming Famous

Know What You Are Good At 

This is a little different from being an influencer and sharing your life’s happenings. It is more of those crazy ideas where you make accounts for hacks, facts, or simply to post pictures of doors, stamp collection, or your dog, etc. For example, an account became viral and it only had pictures of eggs. Funny, trending, and crazy things with little to no meaning make it big too. So if you have such a wacky idea, make an account and have fun with it. Remember to not steal ideas and be original. 

Handle Other People’s Instagram Accounts 

Step 1: Build a strong portfolio 

Brands and people will not hand you their account unless you prove yourself. Sure, at the start you’ll have to struggle a little but sell your talent by impressing them with all you know about Instagram and build an account of your own to show them how you worked on it and made it work. After you start getting clients, add them to the portfolio. Like other apps, IG is constantly updating so keep up to date with the latest happenings. 

Step 2: Have a competitive edge 

There are loads of other people wanting to land the same job as you so make sure that you have a USP – a unique selling point, or a competitive edge that makes your handling better than the others. 

Step 3: Get to work!

Take up clients and get to work. As soon as the results start pouring in, so will the money!