Instagram Business Ideas
Instagram
experts might want to try one of these business ideas to generate cash from
their following.
Fact Checked
Many of us use Instagram to keep up with friends and family and to post
about our lives. What many people don’t realize is that you can use Instagram
to start a business and make money.
You might be surprised just how many businesses you can start on Instagram
— we’ve got 30 ideas for you.
Smart money moves for your business
Grow your small business with tailored insights, recommendations, and
expert content.
Instagram business
ideas
If you’re an Instagram expert and are leaning toward your own
entrepreneurial endeavor, you might be ready to try out one of these Instagram
business ideas.
1. Influencer
To become an Instagram influencer, you first need a large, active
following. Most Instagram influencers choose a niche that they’re passionate
about and tailor the content they post to this niche.
An Instagram influencer makes money by advertising products to their
followers. Many companies now pay influencers to post about their products or
offer influencers a certain percentage of any sales that are made using a
personalized code they give their followers.
The most successful Instagram influencers craft the perfect
small-business Instagram profile by posting content that resonates with their
audience in order to build a large, active community of followers. While the
number of followers is important for influencers, you also want engaged followers
who are actively engaging with your posts — whether to comment, share or more.
We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique
needs of your business.
Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on
the process moving forward.
2. Instagram manager or consultant
While there’s a lot of overlap between the tasks done by an Instagram
manager and an Instagram consultant, these are slightly different roles and
businesses.
An Instagram manager is someone who is hired to manage someone else’s
Instagram account. An Instagram manager can work with multiple clients and
companies, creating and posting content on Instagram to gain them more
business.
An Instagram consultant, on the other hand, operates their business as a
consultant offering strategic plans and recommendations to businesses on how to
use their Instagram. A consultant generally creates a plan but rarely is the
one to put that plan into action.
3. Affiliate marketing
On Instagram, you can create posts or a story about certain products
that you like and use. You can then share those links in your Instagram bio or
through the shopping feature on Instagram.
When followers click on the link and purchase something, a small
percentage of that purchase is given to you. Affiliate marketing is a great way
to monetize your Instagram business.
4. Product reviewer
An Instagram product reviewer typically works within a niche trying the
newest products within that niche and providing honest reviews to their
followers. Product reviewers gain a following by sharing honest, interesting
opinions that can be trusted by others. Combine these product reviews with
affiliate marketing and you’ve got a money-making Instagram business idea.
One of the reasons Instagram has been so successful as a social media
channel is that it offers something unique: visuals. Instagram is all about
beautiful images, photos and videos.
There are a few directions you can take this Instagram business idea:
Social media photographer: Social media photographers get together
with other business owners for photoshoots that provide those business owners
with content for their own Instagram channels.
Product photographer: Product photos are used by the business
selling the product to market it on their website and social media.
Event photographer: Organizations or even individuals will hire you to
document their events, whether official, staged photos, candid’s throughout the
event, or a combination.
Portrait photographer: Business owners need headshots to use
on their websites and social media, families need family photos, and people
need pictures to celebrate big life events.
Stock photographer: What’s better than an Instagram business idea that
you can operate from anywhere? Getting to travel and make money. As a stock
photographer, you can travel and take photos that are sold to marketing
agencies and stock photography websites for profit.
6. Photoshoot stylist
If you have a talent for styling people and products, you just might want to become a photoshoot stylist. When a business needs photos of their product, a business owner wants to look great in their photoshoot, or an influencer needs some help with their image, you can provide the styling. The best part is, all you need is an Instagram account to showcase your talent and start your business. You can also target other Instagram businesses as potential clients.
7. Videographer
While Instagram has been all about the photos for a long time, the
world’s attention is moving toward videos. Instagram stories are a great
addition to any successful social media strategy. If you have an eye for
capturing moving images, an Instagram business that focuses on video is timely
right now.
8. E-commerce seller on Instagram
Instagram recently added a “buy” button which allows product sellers to sell directly on the 'gram. If you’re interested in selling products online, you can launch your store on Instagram and find customers directly through the app.
9. Digital product salesperson
10. Foodie
Start snapping eye-catching photos of your meals around town, accompany them with brief reviews and recommendations, and before you know it, you’ll have built a loyal following of fellow foodies who want your opinion. From there, you can try to attract sponsorships and affiliate relationships with various restaurants or related industry businesses.
11. Personal stylist
By curating a grid of your best styles, you’ll garner an audience who looks to you for inspiration — and could be willing to pay you to style their own looks. A personal stylist shops for clothes for others, curating their closet and saving them the time.
12. Professional organizer
As our lives become busier and more cluttered, there’s a demand for those who can help us tidy up and organize. Professional organizers come into people’s homes and help them to get rid of what they don’t need and organize the rest. Showcase your skills with before and after images of your work and watch your client list grow.
13. Baking or cooking expert
Take your anxiety-reducing leisure activity and put it on the ‘gram.
Instagram can be a great place to share with followers how to bake and cook. As
your followers grow, you can try to make money through sponsored content and
affiliate marketing.
14. DIY and craft expert
If you enjoy crafting or DIY projects, you can put that expertise into Instagram posts and videos to share with followers who may also be working on projects. Build a following and seek affiliate links from advertisers.
15. Slime or ASMR maker
Yes, this is a real niche on Instagram. Many people scroll social media looking for stress-relief and relaxation. One thing they love is slime-making and ASMR sounds. You’ll have to check it out to believe us, but if it resonates with you or capitalizes on some of your own skills, this could be a fun Instagram business idea.
16. Travel ambassador
Travel brands and even tourism agencies work with influencers to attract customers and travelers. Become a travel ambassador on Instagram to try to make money while traveling.
17. Makeup artist
You can provide tutorials for various looks, from natural-looking makeup to Halloween special effects makeup, as well as provide your services for bridal parties or other special events.
18. Cosplay designer
19. Hair stylist
Similar to makeup artists, hair stylists can use Instagram to leverage their business by posting pictures of their best styles. As you’re starting out, you can post the styles you create for yourself, and then as you gain clients, post their images as well.
20. Artist
Whether you’re an illustrator, animator, sketch artist, potter, ceramicist, portraitist, painter or clay artist, or you work in any other artistic medium, Instagram is the perfect place to launch your business.
21. Graphic designer
Showcasing a portfolio with a traditional website can be overwhelming — you don’t want your prospective clients to have to scroll forever. But with Instagram, they can more easily see your work and reach out to you directly for more information.
22. Entertainer
For those who love to perform, Instagram can allow you to showcase your
talents while bringing people joy in their everyday lives. Instagram
entertainment business ideas include:
1 .Musician.
2. Singer/songwriter.
3. Magician.
4. Comedian.
5. Dancer.
23. Drop shipper
While a drop shipping business looks the same as any e-commerce business to your customers, the behind-the-scenes operations are actually pretty different. When someone buys an item listed on your e-commerce Instagram page, the order is routed to your manufacturer, who will package and ship the item. You can list however many products you want but only pay for what sells. This means you can experiment to find what sells best, and you don’t have to worry about unsold inventory or storage costs.
24. Data analyst and infographic designer
In the age of big data, there’s no better way to understand the numbers
than with a graphic. Data analysts and infographic designers can enhance
understanding through visuals.
25. Online educator
If you’re knowledgeable about a specific topic, you can turn that knowledge into an Instagram business by offering short lessons and tutorials through your Instagram channel.
26. Pet personality
·
Life coaching.
·
Fitness coaching.
28. Calligrapher
From wedding invitations to signs and silly sayings, calligraphers can use Instagram to show off their work and find even more paying customers.
With an eye for topical subjects and an ear for irreverent humor, you
can become a popular meme maker. As a visual channel, Instagram is the perfect
place to share memes and gain a following through well-curated hashtags.
FEATURED
What makes an Instagram business idea successful?
Study the most influential companies on social media and use these tips
for success.
Keep it honest
There are a number of ways to hack your way to a lot of followers on
Instagram. While follower counts are important, a loyal, active following is
more important. Keep your Instagram profile honest and professional.
Offer giveaways
One way to build followers fast is to offer a giveaway or contest. Publish a post offering something a free item, experience or discount. To be entered into the drawing, require people to follow your account and tag a friend or two in the comments. Those friends will see the post and may also enter the giveaway by following your account.
Everyone loves free stuff. This makes giveaways a great way to increase
interaction and to build your followers. You may have to get creative with what
you’re giving away before you have too many brand partnerships, but as your
followers grow, you’ll be able to offer even more enticing items.
To show followers that you’re not just being followed by bots or other
wannabe influencers, you want to have interactions and comments on your posts.
Provide people with opportunities to answer questions and to interact with you.
Encourage comments, shares and saves, not just likes.
Let your customer speak
People like to interact with others on Instagram, but even more so, they
like to be recognized. As you build you’re following on Instagram, don’t forget
to let others speak. Feature comments or images from your followers and thank
them in posts. Everyone likes to be recognized.