9 ways to make money on Instagram

Today, Instagram ranks 7th^th in the list of 15 Most Popular Social Networking Sites with over 100 million monthly unique users and more than 300 million active users post photos and videos every day.

In addition to the 15-second video sharing option, we’re all excited about a new feature Instagram plans to roll out by the end of this year: targeted ads displayed in users’ photo feeds.

Paid advertising means more opportunity to make money.

If you’re interested in making money with your Instagram account, here are 9 ways to turn those pictures into profit.

ADVICE: Want to automate your organic follower growth and increase your engagement on Instagram? Check out Instagram growth service Kicksta. If you want to get the most out of your hashtags on Instagram, use hashtag likes.

1. Start building a solid following

Successful social media marketing is almost directly proportional to having a long list of followers.

Whether the followers were acquired before or after your marketing efforts is irrelevant. you just need a significant amount of Instagram followers. The more you have, the more you “see” and the better your chances of becoming sales leads.

There are several ways you can grow your followers on Instagram. Some of the most effective ways have been highlighted by Melissa Griffin, tactics such as: like photos in your niche, communicate, ask people to follow you, run contests, and more.

Also, don’t forget to follow and post your niche with a few hashtags.

The best way we’ve found to grow organic and highly engaged Instagram followers is to use the Kicksta growth service. Kicksta is an elaborate marketing software specifically for Instagram to automate your organic follower growth and increase your engagement. (And no, I don’t mean buying fake likes to build an audience of 20k overnight with no engagement… I mean REAL, organic engagement and consistent growth that you can turn into new business). Check out Kicksta here.

2. Always provide a link to your blog

Product links and links to your blog are important in making money on Instagram.

Every image, video or whatever you share should include CTAs (in this case links to your blog or where they can buy the product).

Also, make sure you post a product number or tag that can make their purchase easier.

Instagram currently doesn’t allow clicking on site links, so users will just have to type the link in their browser window for now.

3. Share quality images

Despite the new features, Instagram has always been about sharing beautiful images.

Nothing will attract your prospects or monetize your account like high-quality, beautiful images.

Show your followers what your brand is all about with images that appeal to their visual senses. Showcase your products, tell them your brand story, create graphically modified images and get creative.

For example, if you provide gym services, you can show pictures of hotties doing their workouts. If you’re a yogurt service, share images of your products and perhaps other ways you can use that yogurt in recipes.

Check out how Starbucks does it with amazing graphics, Starbucks cup artwork, and the latest coffee creations.

Always make sure to share photos of your latest products. For example, you might write a new book. Take the cover and share it with the release date.

4. Use the video function

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video (which consists of practically thousands of pictures) worth? Do you do the math?

Thanks to Instagram’s latest feature (and competition from top competitor Vine), there’s a 15-second video sharing option that lets you get creative.

Create a personal message for your fans and tell them why you think they should try your new product. Or maybe you can share a quick 15-second video of how you build your creations.

There’s no limit to how creative you can get with video.

Check out the best Instagram and Vine brands for video sharing inspiration.

5. Engage your fans

Many fans and followers are willing to endorse your brand just for a little recognition, and of course, to post about them on your profile. This is a great way to engage your followers as well as export original, quality content.

Give your followers the opportunity to submit photos of themselves with your products, share their “experience” in a video, or anything else they like. Top submissions can earn you a discount on your products, a small reward, or maybe just a little recognition through your brand.

Here’s a great example of Starbucks’ recent “Hello Fall” video, made by an artistic fan after they introduced the fall cup.

6. Organize contests or events

Get people to like your pictures and follow you because you’re running an exciting campaign or event.

Offer exclusive deals for a short time and keep updating your users on how time is running out (Working fast!).

Sharing special promotions or coupons is another way to engage your followers in a contest and convert those leads into sales. Ask them to double tap or tag a friend to see their name in the draw box.

One of the best benefits of running contests and campaigns on Instagram is that you can create separate hashtags and keep all your contributions in one place.

Buffalo Wings and Rings Jordan Contest

7. Get testimonials from customers

Get happy customers to upload pictures or videos of themselves using your product.

There is nothing more persuasive than a few images, videos or testimonials that provide social proof.

8. Get an influencer on your behalf

If you know a celebrity like Kim Kardashian, you’re a lucky duck.

But of course, not everyone has direct access to the Kardashians, let alone their Instagram profile.

However, there are other people with large Instagram followings that are much more accessible. For example, if you sell women’s clothing, look for popular online influencers such as fashion bloggers, entrepreneurs, or social media gurus who have large followings.

Many blogger models are willing to share what brands they wear and why buying from a particular brand is a good idea. This is a great way to generate referral traffic through your blog links as well as your branded Instagram hashtags.

9. There’s an app for everything

Use an app to do most of the work for you.

The number of tools available to boost your Instagram marketing is overwhelming.

But here are some of the best.

• Useviral. For years, it has been one of the leaders in the social media industry, consistently delivering excellent results to its clients in offering top-notch Instagram followers.
• Kicksta. Connect with real, relevant Instagram users and get followed by your ideal audience.
• Hashtags for likes. This tool helps influencers, entrepreneurs and small businesses reach their target audience organically through smart hashtag identification and analysis.
• Iconosquare. This is a tool that provides Instagram users with advanced statistics about their profile such as total number of likes received, average number of likes and comments per photo, most liked photos, follower growth chartsand more.
• Repost. Allows you to repost an amazing retina-searing image from another Instagram user’s profile while giving them credit.
• Instaquote. Share inspirational “quotes of the day” and keep your followers engaged.
• Postso. It’s a post scheduling app that makes life easier for the busy marketer. Schedule your notes, mark the location, sit back and relax.
• Piquora. It’s a visual marketing app that will curate and suggest the best photos for your posts that can pull content based on geography, language, and specific locations.

Guest author: Alison Stone works at Dissertation cube, where she provides students with dissertation writing help. In her spare time, she blogs for students starting their careers and those still working. Find him on Google+.