How does one make money with a Verified Instagram account? A verified Instagram account—indicated by the blue checkmark—provides enhanced credibility and visibility, which can significantly boost your ability to make money on the platform.
Here are ways To Make Money with a Verified Instagram Account
Here’s an in-depth look at how you can leverage a verified account to earn income across various channels:
1. Attracting Brand Sponsorships and Collaborations
One of the most significant benefits of a verified Instagram account is its appeal to brands. The blue checkmark shows that you are an authentic and credible public figure or influencer, making you more attractive for brand sponsorships. Brands often look for verified accounts to promote their products or services because these accounts have higher trust levels among audiences.
- How to get started: You can reach out to brands directly or register on influencer platforms (e.g., AspireIQ, Tribe, or FameBit) to connect with companies that want to collaborate. Negotiating a rate for a sponsored post, story, or Instagram Live is much easier when you are verified, as brands typically pay a premium for verified influencers.
- What brands pay for: Sponsored posts, stories with swipe-up links, or live product demonstrations. You can even create sponsored content in Reels or IGTV. As a verified user, your sponsorship rates are likely to be higher, even if your follower count is modest, due to your perceived legitimacy.
2. Instagram Badges for Live Streams
Instagram Badges allow creators to earn money during live streams. Followers can purchase badges in real-time, showing their support and appreciation. Verified accounts tend to have more authority, which means your audience may be more inclined to purchase badges because they see your content as valuable and trustworthy.
- How badges work: During an Instagram Live, viewers can buy badges at three different price points: $0.99, $1.99, or $4.99. These badges appear as hearts next to the viewer’s name in the comments section, and the money goes directly to the creator.
- Maximizing badge revenue: Encourage followers to support you by purchasing badges during live sessions. Offer exclusive shoutouts, answer specific questions, or acknowledge the badge purchasers to build engagement and encourage more people to participate.
3. Monetizing Reels with Bonuses
Instagram offers select users, especially verified accounts, opportunities to earn from Reels. The Instagram Reels Play Bonus allows you to make money based on the performance of your Reels. Verified accounts often have better visibility in the algorithm, leading to more views and engagement, which can directly contribute to higher earnings.
- In-Stream Video Ads: Another way verified users can monetize their content is through in-stream video ads. Instagram places ads within longer-form videos (like IGTV), and creators earn a portion of the revenue based on the number of views. A verified badge increases trust, potentially driving more traffic to your videos and generating higher ad revenue.
4. Selling Products via Instagram Shopping
Instagram allows users to set up an Instagram Shop, which is an excellent way to monetize your account if you have physical or digital products to sell. The verified badge adds a layer of trust, making followers more likely to purchase from you.
- Instagram Live Shopping: During Instagram Live sessions, you can showcase your products in real-time. Verified users can use Instagram Shopping features to directly link to products while live streaming, allowing followers to make purchases without leaving the app. This interactive shopping experience can drive impulse purchases and significantly increase sales.
- Types of products: Whether you sell fashion, beauty, digital products, online courses, or even personalized services, a verified account gives you an edge in building customer confidence and boosting sales.
5. Affiliate Marketing with Higher Conversions
Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn commissions by promoting products or services that align with your niche. With a verified account, your followers are more likely to trust your recommendations, leading to higher conversion rates for affiliate products.
- How it works: Join affiliate programs (such as Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or Commission Junction), and promote affiliate links in your bio, Instagram stories, or live sessions. When followers click on your links and make a purchase, you earn a commission.
- Why verification matters: The trust factor associated with a verified account often results in better engagement and conversions, as people are more likely to believe in your product recommendations.
6. Hosting Paid Live Events or Workshops
A verified account adds authority, and people are more willing to pay for exclusive access to live events, workshops, or Q&A sessions. You can charge an entry fee for your live events, or you can use platforms like Patreon to gate premium live content.
- Ideas for live events: You could host anything from tutorials, masterclasses, fitness sessions, exclusive interviews, or even personal coaching events. Since your verified status brings legitimacy, followers may be more inclined to pay for the value you offer in these sessions.
7. Driving Traffic to Other Monetized Platforms
Verified accounts can use Instagram as a gateway to drive traffic to other revenue-generating platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Patreon, or even OnlyFans. Instagram’s built-in features for verified users, such as the swipe-up link in stories, make it easy to direct followers to external platforms where you monetize content through ads, subscriptions, or donations.
- Monetization outside Instagram: Once you direct your Instagram audience to these platforms, you can earn money through YouTube ads, Twitch donations, Patreon subscriptions, or other premium content services.
8. Exclusive Brand Partnerships and Long-Term Deals
Verified accounts can establish long-term relationships with brands, leading to exclusive brand ambassador deals or ongoing collaborations. As a verified user, you can position yourself as a dedicated partner to brands, securing regular income through consistent collaborations.
- Examples: If you become a brand ambassador, you may be asked to promote their products regularly through posts, stories, and live sessions, earning a fixed monthly payment or commission for sales you help generate.
9. Leveraging Early Access to New Instagram Features
Instagram often rolls out new features first to verified accounts, especially features that involve monetization. By being one of the first to use these tools, you can benefit from early adoption, giving you a competitive advantage.
- Examples of new features: Instagram may release new monetization tools such as exclusive subscription models, enhanced shopping integrations, or better ad revenue-sharing programs, and verified users are typically the first to try these features.
To make money with a verified Instagram account involves leveraging the trust and authority that the blue checkmark confers. From attracting brand deals and sponsorships to selling products, promoting affiliate links, and utilizing monetization features like badges and Reels bonuses, a verified account opens the door to various income streams. Additionally, verified users can take advantage of early access to new features, further enhancing their earning potential.