Ready to monetize your Instagram? Here’s how you can make money on Instagram through affiliate marketing.

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this post might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting me so I can continue to provide you with free content each week on my blog and on my YouTube channel!

If you’re ready to start making money with affiliate marketing on Instagram, this guide is for you.

Not every creator has access to Instagram’s built-in monetization features, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start earning money. Affiliate marketing on Instagram is one of the best ways to make money as a content creator, even without brand deals or ad payouts.

In this post, I’m walking you through everything you need to know: the two main types of affiliate marketing, how to apply to affiliate programs, and how to set up your affiliate strategy specifically for Instagram so you can start earning with the content you’re already creating.

As always, if you’d like to watch instead of read, click the video below. 

What is Affiliate Marketing?

Affiliate marketing is a way for content creators to earn money by sharing products they genuinely love with their audience. When someone clicks on your affiliate link, or takes a specific action through it, you earn a commission. And the great thing about Affiliate Marketing is that it doesn’t cost your followers anything extra.

Affiliate marketing on Instagram is one of the most beginner-friendly ways to monetize your content, especially if you’re already recommending products in your Stories, Reels, or captions.

There are two main types of affiliate marketing you’ll want to understand:

1. CPA – Cost Per Acquisition

This is the most common form of affiliate marketing. You earn a commission when your followers take a specific action, like making a purchase or signing up for a service. For example, if you’re always sharing your morning coffee routine, you can get an affiliate link for your favorite espresso machine. When someone buys it through your link, you earn a commission, paid by the brand, not the customer.

CPA tracking is done through cookies or affiliate tracking systems, so the brand knows where the sale came from and can reward you for that traffic.

2. CPC – Cost Per Click

While less common, CPC affiliate marketing pays you for clicks instead of purchases. You earn a set amount each time someone clicks your link, whether they buy something or not.

Here’s how CPC works:
Let’s say you have a CPC affiliate link for that same espresso machine. If 60 people click your link and your rate is $0.10 per click, you’ll earn $6 from just those clicks, even if no one makes a purchase.

Common Affiliate Marketing Programs

If you want to succeed with affiliate marketing on Instagram, the first step is choosing the right platform.

There are two main ways you can get started:

• By signing up for a brand’s in-house affiliate program, or
• By joining an affiliate marketing platform that connects you to multiple brands.

Platforms are helpful because they let you create affiliate links, track your commissions, and manage multiple brand partnerships in one place. This can save you a lot of time, especially if you’re posting affiliate links regularly in your Instagram Stories, bio, or Reels.

Here are 6 of the most popular affiliate marketing platforms for creators (plus a couple of new ones to keep on your radar):

1. RewardStyle / LIKEtoKNOWit (LTK)

This is one of the most well-known affiliate marketing platforms for influencers—especially in the fashion and beauty space. But heads up: it’s also one of the toughest to get into.

LTK Qualifications:

• A public, active social media profile
• An engaged following on at least one platform
• Consistently posting high-quality, shoppable content (ideally daily)

If you’re an Instagram creator who focuses on outfits, style inspo, or beauty tips, this platform is likely a great fit.

2. ShopStyle Collective (Now Collective Voice)

ShopStyle Collective is a fantastic alternative if you haven’t been approved by LTK yet. It serves the same niche, mainly fashion and beauty creators, and offers a similar experience.

ShopStyle Qualifications:

• Original, shoppable content
• An engaged audience
• Consistent content across your blog and/or social platforms

If you’re doing affiliate marketing on Instagram with fashion or beauty content, this one’s worth exploring.

3. Amazon Influencer Program

This one’s perfect for creators in any niche, as long as you regularly recommend Amazon products.

Amazon isn’t super transparent about their application process, but here’s what they generally look for:

• A TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook account
• Follower count and engagement
• High-quality content (even if your numbers are smaller)

One thing to note: you need to drive a certain number of sales within your first 6 months, or Amazon might deactivate your account. So don’t sign up until your audience is active and ready to shop your links!

4. ShareASale

ShareASale is one of my favorite affiliate marketing programs, especially for beginners. It’s free to join and gives you access to hundreds of brand partnerships across many different industries.

Their motto is: “Whether you are a traditional affiliate, blogger, vlogger, podcaster, influencer, or website owner looking to tap into new sources of revenue, ShareASale is your solution.”

ShareASale is a great platform to begin monetizing with affiliate links, especially if you’re using Instagram to drive traffic.

5. MagicLinks

MagicLinks is another creator-friendly platform that lets you generate affiliate links for almost any product on almost any website.

What MagicLinks looks for:

• A genuine passion for your niche
• An active, engaged audience
• Creative, quality content across your platforms

This is a great option for lifestyle, beauty, and home creators who want flexibility and reach.

6. ShopYourLikes (SYL)

ShopYourLikes is unique because it offers CPC (Cost Per Click) affiliate opportunities, meaning you get paid per click, not just per sale.

SYL works with influencers who:

• Create relevant, high-quality content
• Have an engaged community
• Meet platform-specific quality standards

This is one of the few platforms that reward link clicks even if followers don’t end up buying, which is perfect for smaller creators starting affiliate marketing on Instagram.

Honorable Mentions:

• ShopMy (a newer competitor to LTK, ideal for fashion & lifestyle creators)
• Travelpayouts (great for creators in the travel niche. You can share links for flights, hotels, SIM cards, and more)

Pro Tip: Choose a platform that matches your niche and audience. The better aligned your affiliate links are with your content, the more likely your audience is to click and convert.

Can I Be an Affiliate for One Specific Brand?

Absolutely! One of the most effective ways to do affiliate marketing on Instagram is by partnering directly with one brand you genuinely love. These are called in-house affiliate programs, and many big-name companies like Canva, StanStore, and Booking.com, run their own.

When you go the direct route, instead of using a third-party affiliate platform, you’ll apply through the brand itself. This can often lead to higher commission rates and more tailored marketing materials. But here’s the catch: you must stay organized.

With multiple brand partnerships, things can quickly get overwhelming, especially if you’re managing affiliate links manually across Instagram Stories, bio links, and Highlights.

How to Find a Brand’s Affiliate Program

If there’s a brand you already use and love, here’s how to check if they offer an affiliate program:

1. Visit their website
2. Scroll to the footer
3. Look for a link labeled “Affiliate Program,” “Partners,” or “Referral Program”

If they have one, the link will usually be in the fine print at the bottom of the site. From there, you can check their eligibility requirements and apply directly.

Stay Organized With Your Affiliate Links

Once you’re approved, the best thing you can do is stay organized from day one. Here’s what I recommend:

• Create a “Business” folder in your browser bookmarks
• Inside that, create a sub-folder labeled “Affiliate Marketing”
• Bookmark all your affiliate dashboards and logins

This way, no matter how many affiliate programs you join, you can always find your links quickly, especially when you’re about to post to Instagram.

Bonus Tip: Keep Payouts in One Place

To simplify your finances, I highly recommend setting up all your affiliate accounts to pay out to the same place, whether that’s a business PayPal account or a dedicated business checking account.

When you’re managing multiple affiliate programs as part of your Instagram strategy, keeping everything streamlined will make tracking commissions, invoices, and taxes so much easier.

Ready to Be a Profitable Creator This Year?

If you’re a new content creator who is ready to become a full-time creator this year, then keep reading! This post (and the video that goes with it) is a sneak peak inside my signature course bundle, The BSP Model. 

While I’m on maternity leave, I’ve been sharing behind-the-scenes videos on YouTube to give you a better look at what each of my courses includes. These blog posts are built from the most helpful parts of those videos to help you figure out which course is right for where you’re at on your journey.

What Is The BSP Model?

The BSP Model is my premium course bundle designed to take you from Point A to Point Z with no fluff and no filler. 

Just step-by-step lessons that teach you how to grow as a content creator on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Whether your goal is to grow your audience, land brand deals, or build a business as a creator, BSP was designed with your journey in mind.

So, what makes BSP different?

When I first started my business, I invested in so many separate courses:

• One to grow on Instagram
• Another to land brand deals
• One for YouTube
• And another for monetization

Every time I hit a new milestone, I’d have to search for the next course to help me figure out the next step. 

Eventually, I thought: What if I created a program that walked creators through the entire journey, step by step, in the exact order they need it?

That’s how BSP was born:

Build. Scale. Profit.

The three stages every content creator goes through. Inside the BSP Model, I’ve created over 150+ lessons and 35+ hours of training videos, templates, and tools to help you go from beginner to full-time creator.

Is BSP Right for You?

If you’re tired of trying to piece everything together on your own, if you want to stop guessing and start seeing results, The BSP Model is the complete, start-to-finish roadmap you’ve been looking for. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful this bundle can be, and I know it can work for you, too.

Setting Up Your Instagram Affiliate Strategy

Now that you’ve created your affiliate links, it’s time to build out your Instagram affiliate marketing strategy. The key to making money through affiliate marketing on Instagram is simple: make your links easy to find and take action on.

Let’s talk about where and how to share those affiliate links in a way that boosts both clicks and conversions.

Where to Place Your Affiliate Links on Instagram

1. Your Link in Bio

This is prime real estate! If affiliate sales are one of your goals, your link-in-bio needs to reflect that. Use tools like Stan Store, Linktree, or Beacons to organize your links. But more importantly, make sure you add a clear and compelling call to action.

Example: “Shop My Amazon Lululemon Dupes” or “My Favorite Home Office Setup”.

2. Instagram Highlights

Thanks to Instagram allowing all users to share links in Stories, Highlights have become a powerful spot for affiliate marketing. Create organized Highlights for different categories, such as:

• “Amazon Must-Haves”
• “Beauty Products”
• “Travel Gear”

Think of these like mini product libraries your followers can browse at any time.

3. Pinned Posts

If you don’t have access to Instagram’s in-app affiliate tools, this is a great workaround. Create a static post (or even a Reel) where you showcase your top recommendations. Then pin it to your profile so it stays visible.

Pro tip: Use DM Automation to streamline affiliate sharing!

Ask followers to comment a keyword like “CAMERA” and set up a DM automation that sends them a direct link to your favorite camera. You can use this same strategy to send affiliate links to your Amazon Storefront, course platform, or any other products you promote.

4. Instagram Stories

Consistency is what separates successful affiliate marketers from everyone else. Don’t just post affiliate links once and call it a day. Develop a routine, maybe it’s weekly “faves,” product roundups, or sharing what you’re using that day.

You can also combine Stories with Highlights for long-term visibility. The more frequently you show up with authentic recommendations, the more likely your audience will click and convert.

Bonus: Always Follow FTC Disclosure Guidelines

Transparency builds trust. Always disclose your affiliate partnerships clearly by saying things like:

• “This post contains affiliate links”
• “Use my affiliate link to shop”
• “This is an affiliate link, which helps support my channel at no extra cost to you.”

Following Instagram’s community guidelines and the FTC’s disclosure rules is critical if you want to build a long-term business. Getting your account flagged or taken down could cost you all of the progress you’ve made.

If you’re serious about affiliate marketing on Instagram, consistency and transparency are your secret weapons. Make it a habit, stay organized, and focus on helping your audience, affiliate income will follow.

And if you want even more ways to earn money as a content creator, check out this list of 100 Digital Products You Can Create in a Weekend.

Learn how to create, market and sell an online course in this free guide.

Follow your joy and I’ll see you in the next one.