How to Make Money on Instagram (Without Being an Influencer)

Table of Contents

• 1. Theme Page

• 2. Affiliate Marketing (via other people’s pages)

• 3. Digital Products

• 4. UGC (User-Generated Content)

• 5. Newsletter Business

The internet’s favorite advice? ‘Grow a following, and the money will magically appear.’

But here’s the truth 👇

• You don’t need 10K followers.

• You don’t need brand deals.

• You don’t even need to show your face

to actually make money on Instagram.

In fact, there are plenty of ways to earn from Instagram — ones you’ve probably never even heard of.

I’ve personally tested over 15 different methods.

Here are 5 of my favorites:

1. Theme Pages

You probably already know what this is — it’s a niche-based, curated account that posts viral content around a specific topic.

Whether it’s travel, mindset, pets, fashion, or finance, these accounts are built around one clear theme and consistently share content their audience loves.

You don’t need to create original content or show your face. Instead, you repost high-performing content from others in your niche (with proper credit), build a loyal audience, and grow your page over time.

Once your page starts gaining traction (around 1K engaged followers), you can monetize in multiple ways:

• Add affiliate links to your bio or story highlights

• Offer paid shoutouts to small businesses or creators (this is one of the most common ways)

• Flip the page by selling it to someone who wants an audience in that niche (often media companies)

It’s simple, scalable, and perfect for anyone looking to build a passive income stream — without becoming an influencer.

2. Affiliate Marketing (via other people’s pages)

💡Don’t want to build a page? No problem.

This method lets you leverage other people’s audience and still earn affiliate income — without growing a following or posting content yourself.

This is one of my favorite ways to make money on Instagram — without building a page yourself.

Here’s how it works:

1. Find a mid-range product — something priced between $100 and $500. Look for ones offering at least 50% affiliate commission.

   Example: A $250 digital course with a $125 commission per sale.

2. Search for theme pages in the same niche. For example, if it’s a fitness course, look for pages posting workout tips or transformation reels.

3. Reach out to the page owner and offer them 10–20% of your commission as an incentive to post your affiliate link.

   – You keep the remaining 30–40%

   – They get paid for every sale they help you make

   – It’s a win-win with no upfront risk for them

4. Optional power move: Buy a shoutout or sponsored post on the page. This is usually affordable on theme pages and can bring in great ROI if your offer is solid and your landing page converts well.

3. Digital Products

Create it once. Sell it forever.

That’s the magic of digital products.

You can design an eBook, Notion template, checklist, guide, or mini-course just once — and then sell it over and over again with zero extra effort.

• Use Instagram’s Reels to show quick wins from your product.

• Use Stories to share behind-the-scenes, results, or customer feedback.

• And use your bio link to drive traffic straight to your product page, 24/7.

But here’s the real growth hack 👇

Don’t have a large audience yet? No problem.

You can pay Theme pages in your niche to run a story or post promoting your product. These pages often have highly engaged followers and charge way less than influencers — meaning better reach and higher ROI.

It’s hands-off, scalable, and the perfect way to turn your knowledge into income — whether you have 100 followers or 10K.

💡 Bonus Tip: Offer a freebie (like a sample page or mini-guide) to grow your email list, and pitch your main product through automated emails later.

4. UGC (User-Generated Content)

Brands need content. You create it.

• You don’t need to be an influencer.

• You don’t need a following.

• You just need a phone, a bit of creativity, and the ability to tell a good story.

That’s the beauty of UGC (User-Generated Content).

Brands are constantly looking for authentic-looking videos that don’t feel like ads — and that’s where you come in.

You can create simple product reviews, unboxings, tutorials, or lifestyle clips from your home — and get paid anywhere between $100 to $500 per video.

• No need to post it on your own account.

• No need to worry about likes or followers.

• The brand uses your content in their ads or on their own page.

💡 Pro tip: Start by picking 1–2 niches you like (beauty, wellness, tech, home products), create 3–4 sample videos, and pitch them to brands or UGC platforms. You’ll be surprised how fast this can turn into a solid side hustle.

5. Newsletter Business

There’s something you know better than most people. Maybe it’s your work experience, a system you’ve built, a transformation you’ve been through, or just something you’ve obsessed over for years.

So why not turn that knowledge into a newsletter business?

Now here’s the best part —

You don’t need a massive following. You just need a clear topic, a consistent voice, and a way to help people solve a problem or reach a goal.

Instagram + Email = A seriously underrated money-making combo.

Here’s how it works:

Use Instagram to grow an email list — through your bio link, stories, or lead magnet (like a free checklist, guide, or template). Once people sign up, you’ve got their full attention, straight in their inbox.

Then you monetize that list in a few powerful ways:

• Promote affiliate products you trust and love

• Sell your own digital products or services

• Land newsletter sponsorships and get paid to feature brands

Or build valuable content, charge just $1/month — and with 1,000 true fans, you’ve got yourself a $1,000/month business.

Start simple. Stay consistent. And let your email list become your most valuable asset.

🎁 Want to see all the different IG business ideas you can start today?

I’ve created a free guide just for you:

👉 21 Business Ideas You Can Start Using Just an Instagram Account