How to make money on Instagram with affiliate marketing
To make money on Instagram with affiliate marketing, share tracked links and promo codes for products you genuinely use — in your bio, Stories link stickers, and Reels captions. When a follower buys through your link or code, you earn a commission. It works best when the recommendation feels native to content your audience already trusts.
How to earn on Instagram
- 1
Choose a niche and products you actually use
Pick a focused topic so your audience knows what to expect, and only recommend things you'd buy yourself.
- 2
Join affiliate programs and get your links and codes
Sign up for programs in your niche and grab a tracked link and a promo code for each brand.
- 3
Place links in your bio and Stories, codes in captions
Use a link-in-bio, Stories link stickers, and a spoken or written code so every surface can drive a sale.
- 4
Create content that recommends naturally
Reels, tutorials, and Stories that show the product in use convert far better than a bare link drop.
- 5
Get paid when followers buy
Attribution matches the click or code to the checkout, and your approved commission is paid out.
Ways to make money on Instagram
Affiliate links and promo codes
Earn a commission on each sale from your tracked bio link, Stories link stickers, and caption codes.
Sponsored posts and brand deals
Get paid a flat fee to feature a brand — often combined with an affiliate code for ongoing upside.
Instagram product tags and Shopping
Tag shoppable products in posts and Reels so followers can buy without leaving the app.
Subscriptions and broadcast channels
Charge followers for exclusive content or a closer relationship via native subscription tools.
Your own products or digital goods
Sell presets, guides, or merchandise to the audience your affiliate content builds.
Tips that work
- Recommend a small number of products you truly stand behind — trust converts better than volume.
- Put your most important link first in your bio and refresh it around launches and seasonal pushes.
- Say the promo code out loud in Reels and Stories so viewers remember it even without a clickable link.
- Use Stories link stickers for time-sensitive offers and pin evergreen recommendations to a highlight.
- Disclose affiliate relationships clearly — it's required and it builds long-term trust.
Mistakes to avoid
- Dropping links with no context — show the product solving a real problem first.
- Promoting anything and everything, which dilutes trust and lowers conversion.
- Forgetting that most Instagram surfaces limit clickable links, so codes are your backup attribution.
- Never checking which posts actually drive sales, so you keep repeating what doesn't work.
Top niches for Instagram creators
These niches convert especially well on Instagram. See typical commissions and the brands worth promoting.
Making money on Instagram: common questions
How many followers do I need to start affiliate marketing on Instagram?+
There's no minimum. Many programs accept creators of any size, and a small, engaged, niche audience often converts better than a large, general one. Start with the products you already recommend.
Where do I put affiliate links on Instagram?+
In your bio (via a link or link-in-bio page), in Stories using link stickers, and as promo codes in captions and on-screen in Reels. Codes matter because most Instagram surfaces limit clickable links.
How do I get paid?+
When a follower buys through your tracked link or uses your code, the sale is attributed to you and your approved commission is paid out — on Afflio, via PayPal or bank transfer.
Make money on other platforms
Start earning on Instagram
Afflio gives you tracked links and codes for the brands you love, then pays you fast and fair to PayPal or bank — free to join, no cut of your commission.
Find brands to promote →