How to Start a Side Hustle on Instagram

Social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) have changed the way we communicate and interact with one another. Instagram, in particular, has become a prominent platform where people can showcase their creativity, businesses can market their products, and influencers can earn money.

With over one billion active users globally, it’s no surprise that Instagram, also known as IG, has become a popular way for people to make a decent side hustle income. In this article, we’ll explore how you can monetise your Instagram account as a side business while keeping your day job.

Building your brand on Instagram

The first step in monetising your Instagram account is to build your brand. This means creating an account that reflects your personality or your niche. To do this, you need to create content that resonates with your target audience. For example, if you’re a fitness enthusiast, your content should be focused on health and fitness.

Additionally, your content should be visually appealing, engaging, and high-quality. This means investing in a good camera, learning how to edit photos and videos, and creating a cohesive aesthetic. Your account should be a reflection of who you are and what you stand for. This will help you attract followers who are interested in your content and who will engage with your posts.

Growing your audience

Once you have created your account and started posting content, the next step is to grow your audience. There are several ways to do this, such as using hashtags, engaging with other users, and running Instagram ads. Hashtags are a great way to get your content in front of people interested in your niche. You can also engage other users by commenting on their posts, liking their photos, and sharing their content. This will help you build relationships with other users and attract new followers to your account.

Running Instagram ads is another way to grow your audience. You can create ads targeting specific demographics, interests, and behaviours. This will help you reach a wider audience and attract new followers to your account. However, running ads can be expensive, so it’s important to set a budget and monitor your ad spend closely.

Monetising your account

Once you have built your brand and grew your audience, the next step is to monetise your Instagram account. There are various ways to do this, such as sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and selling products.

Sponsored posts are a popular way for influencers to make money on Instagram. This involves collaborating with brands and creating content that promotes their products or services. As compensation, you will receive payment or free products. To get started with sponsored posts, you need to have a sizable following and an engaged audience. Brands are more likely to work with influencers who have a large following and a high engagement rate.

Another means of monetising on Instagram is through affiliate marketing, which entails endorsing products or services and earning a percentage of the profits from resulting sales. You can partner with companies that offer affiliate programmes and promote their products on your Instagram account. When someone clicks on your affiliate link and proceeds to make a purchase, you will receive a commission.

Selling products can work to monetise your Instagram account. If you have a product or service that you want to sell, you can promote it on your account. You can use Instagram’s shopping feature to create a catalogue of your products and make it easy for your followers to purchase them. You can also create your own website or use a platform like Etsy to sell the merchandise.

Instagram TV (IGTV)

Instagram TV (IGTV) was first launched in the US back in 2018, and the success of the service gave the social network firm the push to offer its ad-revenue-share options to Aussie content makers back in 2021. If you have signed up for that service, you need to tailor your content into videos that promote your product or service; these videos will pop up on the ads.

Balancing your Instagram hustle with the day job

One of the challenges of monetising your Instagram account as a side business is balancing it with your day job. It’s important to remember that your day job should always come first. 

Working your Instagram account should be something that you do in your spare time. Some HR practitioners stress that to check with your employer if their policies allow for other income-generating activity off-hours, such as work on your Instagram. They will often present safeguards in writing to protect the organisation, including not using your account to deal with the company’s clients and competitors (or even your colleagues) or to generate content that might disparage your employer in the process. A carefully-worded disclosure statement may help in acknowledging your professional ties.

However, if your following has grown to invite the possibility some brands might tap you as a special ambassador… you will have to make some hard decisions about your relationship with your employer.

While making money on IG can be a great way to earn some extra cash, it’s important to remember that building a profitable account takes time and effort. You’ll need to consistently create high-quality content and engage with your followers to build a loyal audience. However, with persistence and dedication, you could potentially turn your Instagram account into a successful side business.

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DISCLAIMER: The above article is for informational purposes only. UBOMI has no relationships with any company or organisation mentioned in the article.