Think you need a massive following to land sponsorships on Instagram? Think again.

Sponsored posts are a great way to monetize your Instagram content, and you don't need millions of followers to do it. Brands are constantly seeking authentic voices and engaging content to promote their products or services — and an eager audience of 1,000 can have more impact than 100k followers who don’t interact.

If you can offer quality content, an engaged following, and a strong profile, you can turn your passion into profit with sponsored posts. We'll break down how to get sponsored on Instagram and what to consider before partnering with a brand.

What are Instagram sponsored posts?

An Instagram sponsored post is an advertisement that appears in the Instagram Feed, Stories, Reels or Live alongside regular posts. There are two types of sponsored posts:

• Promoted posts: These posts are like Instagram sponsored ads that brands pay Instagram to promote. A company or influencer creates and uploads a post and then uses Instagram’s ad management tool to promote it, hoping it lands in potential customers’ feeds.
• Paid sponsorships: A brand pays an Instagram user – usually an influencer, content creator or celebrity – to promote their product or service through Instagram posts on their profile. This gives the brand access to the person’s audience, expanding their reach and their credibility.

Here’s an example of an Instagram sponsored post. You can see it appears on a creator’s profile and has the “Paid partnership with [brand name]” tag after the account name. That’s because people have to disclose if they’ve been paid to promote a product or brand.

The Federal Trade Commission requires that you indicate if a brand has paid you to make a post. If you don’t use the “Paid partnership” feature to specify that your post is an ad, Instagram will take it down. But in general, disclosing your ads is good practice and fosters trust between you and your audience. It lets them know you’re endorsing the product for money, which has different implications than just sharing a product you love.

How to get brand deals and sponsorships on Instagram

As a creator, you can DM or email brands you’re interested in working with or wait for them to reach out to you. But neither guarantees a collaboration. While there are no hard-and-fast rules to getting sponsored, these tips can help you improve your chances:

1. Build a strong profile

Posting a photo dump in your feed every few months likely won’t attract brands. To build a strong profile, you must consistently share engaging content that inspires, entertains, or educates your audience. Choose a niche and make sure you’re building an account that reflects you as a person and as a creator.

2. Identify your target audience

Identify your target audience on Instagram by researching your potential followers' demographics and behaviors. Brands will want to work with you based on the people who follow you and how engaged they are with your content, so use Instagram Insights to better understand your current audience.

3. Create high-quality content

As you grow your following and solidify your identity as a creator, planning out your content can make a huge difference to ensure you maintain quality. It prevents last-minute posts, ensures consistency, and helps you post polished content every time. Use high-resolution images and write engaging captions that connect with and engage your audience.

4. Attract attentive followers

You don’t have to be a huge creator to get brand deals. But you do need an active following, even if you’re a micro-influencer with less than 1,000 followers. If brands see that your audience doesn’t interact with your posts, they won’t see the value in working with you.

Here are a few ways to increase your engagement rate:

• Include a call-to-action in your posts that encourages people to comment or share
• Collaborate with other influencers in your niche or use Instagram ads to expand your account’s reach
• Use polls and quizzes in your Stories to interact
• Create relatable posts that people will want to share with others

5. Include contact information in your bio

Don’t waste your bio space. Posting links and contact information in your Instagram bio makes it easy for followers and potential collaborators to reach out. This can lead to partnerships or inquiries, enhancing your Instagram presence and leading to even more opportunities. Optimize your link in bio with Linktree to direct visitors to every social media account and make it easier for brands to contact you.

6. Reach out to brands

With the right content and a high engagement rate, brands will reach out to you. But you don’t have to wait for them to slide into your DMs. Try approaching companies that interest you and letting them know why you’d be a good creator to work with. Here’s how:

• Create your own message template and personalize it to every brand for faster messaging
• Develop a media kit to showcase your insights
• Gain their attention with relevant, insightful comments on their posts
• Use a PR agency to find brand sponsorships for you

7. Join Instagram Creator Marketplace

If you have a business or creator account – which you should if you want to work with brands – join Instagram’s Creator Marketplace. You can use the partner discovery feature to find brands, set up a portfolio, and reach out to brands through Instagram’s Partnership Messaging inbox.

Before you sign up, make sure you’re eligible by checking in your account settings and setting up your marketplace profile from your professional dashboard. Just make sure you’re already following Instagram’s monetization policies and Community Guidelines.

How to disclose a paid partnership on Instagram

If you have a business or creator account, Instagram lets you easily disclose which of your posts are sponsored. Here’s how to do it depending on what kind of post you’re making:

Add a paid partnership label to Instagram Feed posts

Here’s how to disclose a sponsorship on your feed:

1. Upload your Instagram branded content and edit as normal
2. Tap “Next”
3. Click on “Advanced settings”
4. Toggle “Add paid partnership label underneath branded content”
5. Select “Add brand partners” to search for the brand and add them to your post
6. If you want the brand to be able to share your content, toggle “Allow brand partner to promote”
7. Tap “Done” to post

Add a paid partnership label to Instagram Stories

Here’s how to disclose a sponsorship on Stories:

1. Upload your Instagram Story and edit as normal
2. Click the tag icon at the top of the screen
3. Tap “Add paid partnership label”
4. Click “Add brand partners” and search for the brand in question
5. To allow them to use your content to run ads, toggle “Allow brand partners to promote”
6. Tap “Done” to post

Add a paid partnership label to Instagram Reels

Here’s how to disclose a sponsorship on Reels:

1. Upload your Reel and edit as normal
2. Tap “Next”
3. Tap “Advanced Settings”
4. Toggle “Add paid partnership label”
5. Tap “Add brand partners” and search for the required brand
6. Tap “Done” to post

Add a paid partnership label to Instagram Live

You can only tag brands you have approval from when you go live on Instagram. Here’s how to do it:

1. Once you go live, tap “Details”
2. Tap “Add brand partners” and search for the required brand
3. Add a tag to your Live

What to know before accepting a sponsorship

Knowing how to get paid on Instagram for sponsorships is only the first step. You also need to know how to choose the right partnerships. Not every brand collaboration is a good fit, and companies might try to undersell you if they see you’re new to the game. Here’s what you need to consider before signing on:

• Brand alignment: Avoid sponsorships from companies that don’t align with your regular content. Authenticity is vital to maintaining trust with your followers, and if you work with a brand that’s totally irrelevant to you as a creator, they might feel like you’re just trying to sell a product instead of connecting with them.
• Compensation and terms: Review the compensation and terms of the collaboration. Make sure you’re okay with the payment, deliverables, and exclusivity clauses before you say yes or sign a contract. If you’re unsure, just say no. It’s not worth it to accept a low rate or work with a brand you don’t like.
• Creative freedom: While looking at the agreement, make sure it lets you maintain some level of creative freedom. You should be able to maintain your unique style and voice while promoting the brand. Avoid overly restrictive guidelines that may compromise your authenticity.

Frequently asked questions

Sponsored posts are one of the best ways to make money on Instagram, but don’t take them lightly. It’s a big decision to partner with a brand, so stay informed before you start the process. Here are answers to the most commonly asked questions:

How much can I make on a sponsored post?

The amount you can make on a sponsored Instagram post varies widely and depends on several factors, including your engagement rate, the post type, and niche. But that number will grow if you have an active following or make a deal for multiple posts.

Do I need a lot of followers to be sponsored on Instagram?

There’s no minimum number of followers to get sponsored on Instagram. The most important thing is that you have an engaged audience and communicate professionally with brands. If you have a smaller follower count, finding brands that partner with nano and micro-influencers can help you spot opportunities.

Increase your content’s reach and monetization with Linktree

Posting high-quality, relevant, and regular content is essential to expanding your reach and getting sponsored on Instagram. Increase your chances of being contacted by brands with Linktree’s link in bio. You can cross-promote your social media accounts and make it easier for brands and followers alike to contact you.

While you’re at it, check out the Linktree blog to discover all about making money on Instagram, including how to edit Instagram photos and schedule posts to ensure quality and consistency.