Affiliate marketing on Instagram works the same as other platforms, where a business pays someone (i.e., an influencer) a commission for attracting people to purchase its product or service. The amount of commission paid is tracked through a unique code or URL.  

Instagram used to have a native program for creators, but it ended in August of 2022. Not to worry, though, because you can still make money from affiliate marketing on Instagram. This post will discuss how and give examples of creators that successfully use the strategy.

How to Do Affiliate Marketing on Instagram

1. Switch to a creator or business account.

An important step, although not required, is to have a creator or business account on Instagram.

When you have this designation on your account, it establishes your legitimacy with your followers and the businesses you choose to work with. You’ll be seen as a trusted source that is not trying to run a scam or make a quick profit.  

2. Find affiliate partners or businesses that you want to work with.

To start affiliate marketing on Instagram, you need to find an affiliate program you want to work with. Amazon Associates is an excellent example of an affiliate program, where you can earn a commission between 1 and 10% based on the product category.

Another option is to reach out to businesses directly that you’d like to work with and explain how you relate to what they offer and the potential your audience has to bring them.

Businesses might also reach out to you directly to start an affiliate partnership, which brings back the importance of having a business profile or creator account to establish your legitimacy.

3. Choose products relevant to your niche and the type of content you create.

When finalizing your partnerships, ensure you choose products or services that relate to your niche, audience, and the content you already create. For example, if you’re a technology creator, partnering with a beauty brand does not align with the influence and content you create.

It’s also essential to have trust in the products, businesses, or services you recommend. If your audience follows through with a purchase because of your recommendation and experience with the product and it doesn’t work as advertised, you can lose the trust with your audience that you worked hard to build.

It’s a best practice to try products or services yourself beforehand to ensure the partnership is worthwhile for all involved.

4. Share your unique links or codes.

The way you make money as an affiliate is when your audiences make a purchase through your unique code or link. So, make sure you share your codes in your Feed posts, Stories, Reels, your profile Bio — wherever they’ll be visible to your audience. If you have 10k or more followers, you can include a swipe up link in your Stories.

When you share these links, it’s also a best practice to make it clear that it is part of a paid partnership to be transparent with your audience.

Affiliate Marketing on Instagram Examples

Let’s go over some examples of people on Instagram who have used affiliate marketing in different ways.

1. Sean Garrette

Sean Garrette uses affiliate marketing through a Linktree in his Instagram bio that leads audiences to his different affiliate partnerships.

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2. Cash Jordan

Cash Jordan, a New York City real estate agent, shares affiliate codes from his partnerships in his post captions. He recently partnered with Roadway Movers, and he created an Instagram video to explain the service and let his followers know that they’ll receive 10% off with his unique code.

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3. Adriana Lopez

Adriana Lopez is a travel and lifestyle blogger who is often an affiliate partner of different lifestyle and travel companies. In a recent post, she shared an affiliate code that gives audiences a discount when they book their next vacation with her code.

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4. KarenBritChick

New York based influencer, shares affiliate links in her Instagram Stories with an easy-to-use clickable link sticker to immediately begin shopping, or you also have the option to enter her unique code during checkout.

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5. Jesse James West

In the image below, fitness influencer Jesse James West shares a unique story about this experience with a brand and vouching for their products along with an affiliate code for his followers to use.

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Over to You

Affiliate marketing helps you drive revenue, develop relationships with your favorite brands or businesses, and bring value to your audiences, so it’s a worthwhile strategy to consider when it comes to driving loyalty and engagement on the platform.