How To Monetize Instagram Reels as a Creator

Instagram Reel Play was a program that allowed you to easily monetize your Reel content. But, while this program no longer exists, there are many more ways to make money from your content creation efforts. 

Read on to learn how to monetize Instagram Reels to transform your Instagram activity into profits.

Can You Get Paid From Instagram Reels?

Like regular Instagram monetization, the platform doesn’t directly pay you for posting. Instead, earnings come from marketing products, services, and other businesses to your followers.

Video content (like Reels) typically receives the most follower engagement, making it the perfect content for monetization. But to make monetization possible, you need to share high-quality videos and have an established follower base. Consider using editing software like Captions to create the professional finish required to attract viewers and brand partnerships.

Various Ways To Monetize Instagram Reels

Once you have a follower base who’s engaging with your high-quality content, here are the top ways to make money on Reels.

Brand Collaborations

Working with established influencers, brands, and businesses excellently introduces you to social media entrepreneurship. Collaborations allow the partnering brand or company to increase sales while paying you for promotion and offering you increased visibility.

Here are several ways to use Instagram Reels to market collaborations:

• Create product collections 
• Add discount codes to posts
• Do an Instagram giveaway
• Share new arrivals
• Offer free shipping codes

Affiliate Programs

Affiliate marketing is a more formal business partnership. Creators partner with brands to promote their products and earn a commission from purchases made by their viewers. Usually, your partnering company will give you a unique product link or discount code. The more followers who click your link or use your code, the more you make. 

Just remember: While you can include your affiliate link in a Reel’s caption, those links aren’t clickable. The best bet is to refer viewers to a link in your bio or post a link elsewhere.

Product Promotion

Whether selling your products or partnering with another business, your social media presence can drive followers to buy or sign up for the services you suggest. Followers trust your opinion, so consider these tips to make a successful sale through Instagram Reels:

• Use high-quality footage or animations to show the product in its best light.
• Speak to how the product or service solves a common problem/pain point.
• Encourage followers to make a purchase or sign up by expressing how the item or service benefitted you.
• Provide precise details on where they can learn more.

Shoppable Product Tags

Make an online catalog of your Instagram profile by inserting shoppable products and links to purchase in posts and Reels. These links will take viewers to a product with just a click. The easier it is for a viewer to buy, the higher the chance they will do so.

Instagram’s Subscription Tool

Offering exclusive content to your Instagram subscribers is a great way to gain followers — and you receive a direct payout from Instagram. This service earns you money and strengthens your relationship with followers by making individualized Reels for those who subscribe.

The best part is that you set the price for your subscription (between $0.99–99.99), giving you more complete control over this income stream. 

Reels Play Bonus Is Gone, but the Opportunities Are Endless

As of March 9, 2023, the Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program (designed to rival TikTok's Creator Fund) is no longer available. The Reels bonus program enabled direct payments to creators via Instagram Reels. 

Although this service no longer exists, there are many other viable methods for making money, like Instagram Gifts. The Gifts feature is only available for creators who follow Instagram’s eligibility requirements.

Once enabled, followers can give you stars when they appreciate your Reels, and these equate to gifts. Each star equals $0.01 USD, and Instagram shares this revenue with you monthly. You have to make at least $25 from the program to withdraw your funds.

Elevate Your Reels With Captions

Whether you’re selling your products and services or partnering with other brands, Instagram Reels are a great way to earn from your content creation efforts. But you must share click and Gift-worthy content to make this monetization strategy work. 

Captions is an AI-powered content creation studio that streamlines the entire process. Remove background noise, add filters, and craft AI-elevated captions for more professional content. 

Start recording, editing, and publishing all in one platform.