Paid Partnership Instagram: How To Increase Your Following

You’ve probably noticed your go-to influencers sharing their favorite things and promoting them with a discount code or special link. Perhaps they even influenced you to actually purchase an item. This social phenomenon is an Instagram paid partnership. And, in fact, it’s one of the top ways that influencers can make money. But why should you care about getting a paid partnership on Instagram?

Interested in learning more about the background, methods and types of paid partnerships on Instagram? If so, you’re in the right place. Below, we’ll cover everything, from how to get into these partnerships to the red flags to watch out for.

What Is an Instagram Paid Partnership?

So, are you wondering what paid partnerships are? It’s basically a collaboration between an influencer and a brand or business partner. Essentially, the brand is paying the influencer to promote their products on social media channels. 

In some cases, brands will also give the influencer a discount code or affiliate link to share with their followers. Affiliate links, or affiliate marketing, are another popular type of social media promotion. When a member of the public buys something using the link or code, the influencer receives a percentage of sale.

If you are working on becoming an influencer, this revenue path may be something you’re interested in pursuing. However, what are the Instagram rules and regulations for this type of marketing? Can just anyone engage in paid partnerships with Instagram or do you have to have a certain amount of followers? And, of course, you are probably wondering how much this pays.

Paid Partnerships Instagram: Rules and Regulations

Instagram has certain guidelines specifically in place for paid partnerships. When you post an Instagram paid partnership, you need to add a paid partnerships label or “tag” to the content. This tag sits at the top of the content. It basically lets followers know that the influencer and brand worked together for the post. 

It’s not just Instagram that sets the rules. In recent years, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has enforced their own regulations: “Disclosures 101 For Social Media Influencers”. One of their biggest issues? Transparency. If your audience can’t tell that you are part of paid partnerships on Instagram, you may be violating these guidelines.

How Many Followers Do You Need To Get Instagram Paid Partnerships?

The success of any influencer often lies in the amount of followers they have amassed. From nano influencers to mega influencers, numbers can vary from thousands all the way up to millions. Some content creators prefer to keep their following small. Although they might not have a high number of likes, they typically have a higher engagement rate. This means their small but loyal following actively participates in their posts. 

Other influencers like to reach a wider audience and strive for follower growth. These are typically full-time influencers and often have a team in place to help them create and promote business deals.

There’s no ‘magic number’ to attract sponsors. Essentially, it depends on your engagement rate and your popularity within a niche.

How Much Do Instagram Paid Partnerships Pay?

You might be wondering if paid partnerships are profitable. Yes, this role is a full-time job for many influencers. However, it may take a while to reach this level. For those starting out, they can sometimes receive their pay solely in free gifting from the company. Entry-level influencers can typically expect to make anywhere from $75-$200 per post.

Once an influencer crosses the threshold of a million followers, business can really start pouring in. At this level, most people have the verified blue check mark next to their Instagram handle. This serves as an additional level of authentication.

How To Get Paid Partnerships on Instagram

If you want to become an influencer, you may be wondering how to get paid partnerships on Instagram. We’re here to help with a few tips to help you break into profitable social media marketing. To start, many influencers typically work with an influencer agency. An agency acts on behalf of the influencer and works to secure business deals. They can be especially helpful when it comes to contract negotiations and, of course, compensation. 

However, for some people, an influencer agency might not be possible at this time. Not to worry! There are still plenty of ways to gain Instagram paid partnerships on your own.

How To Get Instagram Paid Partnerships: Increase Engagement Rates

What are the main attributes that brands and businesses look for when it comes to Instagram paid partnerships? The influencer’s engagement rates on Instagram. An influencer’s engagement rate is a metric used to measure the average number of interactions your content receives per follower. It compares your total number of followers to your average numbers of likes, reactions, shares and comments per post. Essentially, it’s a measure of how well your content performs. Engagement rates can also show if there is a disconnect between what you are sharing and your audience. 

So, what is the eligibility criteria? What target engagement rate do companies look for when it comes to Instagram paid partnerships? According to recent reports, anywhere from 1% to 5% is the sweet spot. 

Wondering how to increase your Instagram engagement? Experiment with different types of posts to see what your audience reacts strongly to. Do they prefer feed posts or reels? You can even use the Instagram poll sticker in your stories to find out. Additionally, lean into popular hashtags and trends. Tune into trending songs, games or dares to stay relevant and at the forefront of the industry. 

How To Get Instagram Paid Partnerships: Target the Right Brands

Another way to secure Instagram paid partnerships? Promote yourself so that the brands or business you are targeting take notice. When it comes to social media influencing, it’s always best to find your niche. This is the social space where you can identify your target market. For example, you will want to make sure that you are gaining followers who are truly interested in your content. This will help to boost your authenticity to brands that share the same vision. 

Don’t be afraid to reach out to brands via direct message and post comments on their content. You can also tag your target brands in your own posts and mention them in stories and reels. Self-promotion can go a long way on Instagram so don’t be afraid to give it a try.

Ways To Promote Instagram Paid Partnerships

Of course, the success of a paid partnership with Instagram greatly depends on how you promote and share it. Getting visibility to your content is key and can widen your audience. You’ll also want to be sure to follow all rules and regulations set forth by both Instagram and the FTC. Below, we’ll cover a sampling of ways to promote paid partnerships on Instagram.

How To Use the Paid Partnership Label on Instagram

So, wondering just how to use the paid partnership label on Instagram? You’ll need to add it for any sponsored content you share. This is in order to add the brand partner to your content. However, keep in mind that the business will have to approve the request. Once they do, you’ll receive a notification and both names will appear with the content. After publishing the post, both parties involved will have access to its insights. 

The Instagram paid partnership label is only available for business and creator accounts on Instagram. This is something that you can change in your Instagram “Settings”. Just select a category that best describes what you do.

How To Add the Paid Partnership on Instagram Post

After you’ve successfully created the content for your Instagram paid partnership, it’s time to post it to your feed. While you do that, you may be wondering how to add the paid partnership on an Instagram post. To do this, simply follow the steps below while in the Instagram post editor:

1. Select the photo, edit or add any desired filters, then tap “Next”.
2. From here, hit “Advanced settings”.
3. Next, you want to toggle to add a paid partnership label.
4. Tap “Add brand partners”, which will allow you to add up to two brands. Use the search box to find their Instagram handles.
5. When you are ready, tap “Done”. Then continue to share to your Instagram feed.

You can also add the Instagram paid partnership label to stories.

1. Choose your photo or video. 
2. Next, tap the tag icon at the top of the screen. 
3. Again, toggle to add a paid partnership label and select up to two brands. 
4. Simply select “Done” and continue to share your story. 

Dual Instagram Post for Instagram Paid Partnerships

Another feature used for Instagram paid partnerships is the dual Instagram post. This feature allows you to share joint content in conjunction with other users. Both users receive recognition for the posts and share likes, comments and views. The content will also appear on each user’s profile page. This feature is especially helpful so that brands and influencers are not doing double the work. It is also a great way to expand your audience reach by targeting both users’ followers. We’ve outlined the steps below:

1. Open your Instagram app. Look to the upper right corner of the screen and tap the plus sign. 
2. Next, select the post from the bottom row of options. 
3. Select an image from your phone’s camera roll or take a picture with Instagram’s built-in camera. Then, hit “Next” in the upper right hand corner.
4. From here, you’ll be able to add a filter and edit the image. 
5. Select “Next” one more time.
6. On the final screen, you add a caption, location or share to additional social media platforms.
7. To create a dual Instagram post, select “Tag people” from this screen. 
8. Hit “Invite collaborator” and use the search box to find your desired user. Remember, they will have to approve and accept as a co-author of the post.
9. Select “done” then post your content by tapping “Share”.

This feature is available to all users, not just for Instagram paid partnerships. This allows everyday Instagram users to post content in conjunction with friends or family.

Fake Paid Partnerships on Instagram and How to Spot Them

Unfortunately, fake paid partnership content has started to pop up. In fact, it’s often hard to tell it apart from authentic partnerships. It imitates the real deal by featuring brand messaging as well as the right hashtags and Instagram handles. Look out for the Instagram paid partnership tag, an easy way to identify actual content. Also keep an eye on the number of posts they share as well as signs of fake followers.

Unfortunately, scams and fake accounts are quickly becoming commonplace on the internet. Spam accounts, or Instagram bots, are another issue to identify when it comes to the paid partnerships Instagram offers. If an influencer seems to have a large number of bot accounts, it can indicate that their following is inorganic.

At Path Social we’ve built up an in-house platform of influencers and an AI targeting algorithm over the past decade. That’s how we reach organic users who are targeted, interested, and engaged. And that’s why no one can replicate our results, which means you’ll build an Instagram community that lasts! Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today.

FAQs

Now you know all about paid partnership Instagram offers. However you may have a few more questions. Check out our frequently asked questions to learn more.