How to Turn Your Instagram Into a Cash Generating Machine | by Trendcrazes | Sep, 2023

Hey friends! I’m Alice and I want to share my story of how I went from zero to earning over $5,000 per month through my Instagram account.

When I first started on Instagram couple years ago, I just saw it as a fun way to post travel photos and connect with friends. But soon I realized the huge money making potential sitting right in my pocket.

After some trial and error, my Instagram is now a thriving business channel. In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly what I did step-by-step so you can also turn your Instagram into a cash generating machine!

My first monetization method was affiliate marketing. I simply added affiliate links to products I loved in my Instagram bio and captions. Whenever anyone clicked and made a purchase, I earned a commission at no extra cost to them.

It was as easy as that! I mainly promoted travel products like luggage, cameras, Airbnbs. When people asked where I got something I was using, I linked to it.

For example, when I posed with my favorite Away suitcase, I added a link to it in my profile and captions. I was transparent it was an affiliate link. Through my followers’ purchases, I earned over $300 in commissions within just 2 months!

Seeing the affiliate success, I decided to explore sponsored posts. This involves having a brand pay you to promote their product or service through custom Instagram posts.

I stick to brands I genuinely like and negotiate rates up to $500 for a single sponsored post. It does take some back and forth to finalize campaigns. But it provides predictable income every month.

For instance, I partnered with a cosmetics brand I admired for a month-long campaign. I created tutorials using their products and shared discount codes for my followers. This generated over $2000 through just 4 dedicated posts!

Beyond promotions, I also leverage my own products to make sales on Instagram. As a travel photographer, I decided to sell printable wall art and photo bundles of my best images.

I announced limited digital downloads through Instagram posts and Stories. To my surprise, I got over 50 orders on the first day itself!

Now I consistently make $300–400 in passive sales every week just from product links in my bio and website. I’m also coming out with online courses soon for additional income!

Once I gained around 10k engaged followers, brands started reaching out asking for collaborations. I’m selective about which brands I work with long-term. But it led to some awesome influencer marketing partnerships.

I’ve worked with brands like tourist boards, hotels, airlines, and tourism brands for sponsored travel in exchange for content. I make sure any brand values align before partnering.

For me, influencer marketing is about showcasing experiences I love while also making great money in the process through Instagram!

When starting out with Instagram monetization, I made some mistakes that limited my earnings initially. Here are the major pitfalls to avoid:

• Promoting too many products randomly instead of a niche. This confuses followers.
• Not disclosing affiliate/sponsored content. Be transparent!
• Working with brands just for money without aligning values. It comes off disingenuous.
• Putting affiliate links directly in posts. Use your bio link tree instead for cleaner look.
• Constant sales pitches. Balance with value-first content.

Here are the biggest lessons I learned from successfully monetizing my Instagram account:

• Deliver value to your audience first through amazing content. Money will follow.
• Collaborate selectively with brands that resonate with your niche. Don’t sell out.
• Diversify your income streams: affiliates, sponsored posts, products, influencer deals.
• Be patient and persistent. Instagram monetization takes time to build.
• Most Importantly, stay authentic and true to yourself!

Monetizing Instagram has allowed me to turn my passion into a full-time business. I hope my story and tips help you see the huge potential sitting within your Instagram as well.

With the right strategy and consistent effort, you can absolutely transform your account into a profitable channel. Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m happy to help fellow creators succeed.