A Guidebook to Monetising Your Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels has emerged as a vibrant, creative hub for storytellers, influencers, and brands. This short-form video feature allows you to entertain, educate, and engage your audience—all while positioning yourself for potential monetisation. If you've ever wondered how to turn scrolling through Reels into creating your own and making money, this short guide is created for you!
Why Instagram Reels Matter?
Reels are the lifeblood of Instagram’s current engagement strategy. Currently, the platform prioritises this feature because it keeps users scrolling, sharing, and discovering. With up to 60 seconds of video, one a chance to grab attention, showcase their talent, and connect with an audience beyond their followers.
Key Benefits of Reels:
Higher reach and engagement compared to static posts
Opportunity to go viral with trending audio and visuals
Perfect for storytelling, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content
A gateway to collaborations and brand partnerships
Producing Scroll-Stopping Instagram Reels
With so many creators vying for attention, how do you make Reels that stand out? Here are some tips and principles to bear in mind:
Hook Your Audience Immediately
Attention spans on social media are measured in milliseconds. The first 3 seconds of your Reel are critical, so use bold visuals, intriguing questions, or punchy captions to pull viewers in. For example, some brands and influencers use neck-grabbing hooks like “Get ready with me!” and “Here are 3 things you’re doing wrong about XYZ.”
Piggyback on Trends
Trending sounds and challenges are a shortcut to visibility. However, to stand out, put your unique spin on the trend. Align it with your niche to stay relevant. Pro tip from us: Explore Instagram’s Reels Explore page daily to identify trending audio and hashtags. Look for sounds with an upward arrow indicating their rise in popularity. That’s how you can take advantage of the timing and ride the waves of early trending music or content themes.
Upload only High-Quality Visuals
Instagram is first and foremost a visual-first platform. Poor lighting, shaky footage, and low-resolution content can ruin an otherwise great idea. Invest in basic gear like a ring light and tripod, or simply shoot during the golden hour for natural lighting for outdoor content.
Edit Ruthlessly
Captions make your content accessible to a wider audience, including viewers watching without sound. Keep them concise but impactful.
Another aspect of editing is employing snappy transitions and smooth cuts, which do elevate your Reels. Use Instagram’s native editing tools or apps like CapCut to create visually dynamic videos.
Last but not the least, maintain a consistent style to reinforce your brand’s identity. Whether it’s through your colour palette, music choice, voice, or editing style, make sure your Reels feel like YOU.
Monetising Instagram Reels
The cat’s out of the bag. We aren’t believers of withholding information, so here’s some quick and easy-to-carry-out instructions for monetising your Instagram Reels. Time to talk about money!
Collabs and Sponsored Content
Brands are constantly scouting for creators to promote their products. To attract partnerships:
Build a strong niche audience.
Showcase your expertise through consistent, high-quality content.
Use hashtags like #BrandCollaboration or #Sponsored to discover opportunities.
Pro tip: Reach out to brands directly with a pitch that includes your audience demographics, engagement rate, and how your content aligns with their goals.
IG’s Bonus Program
Instagram offers monetisation tools like the Reels Play Bonus Program (available in select regions). This initiative pays eligible creators based on their Reel views. Join by ensuring your account complies with Instagram’s Partner Monetisation Policies and applying through Instagram’s Professional Dashboard.
Affiliate Marketing/ Sell your Own Merch
Promote products or services and earn a commission for every sale made through your unique affiliate link. Choose products that resonate with your audience to maintain authenticity. For example, if you’re a fitness influencer, you could promote workout gear or meal prep services, while linking to them via their bio or captions.
Or if you have a loyal fan base and are willing to roll your sleeves to try your hand into entrepreneurship, consider selling self-branded merchandise. Tease your merch with fun, creative Reels showcasing its design and utility!
As we have shown, IG Reels is a goldmine of creative potential and income opportunities. With a clear strategy for creating compelling content and leveraging monetisation tools, you can turn your passion into a profitable venture. Who knows? Your next Reel might just be the one that goes viral and changes your life and business!
