Monetize Instagram Reels: Tips to Get Extra Money

Instagram Reels are bite-sized, engaging short-form videos that last up to 90 seconds, making them a fantastic tool for creators and businesses alike.

Much like TikTok’s meteoric rise, Reels have become a go-to way for creators to showcase creativity, build an audience, and, most importantly, make money. With personalized feeds tailored to user preferences, Instagram Reels are an excellent way to connect with your niche and grow your online presence.

Whether you’re a seasoned Instagram user or just getting started, understanding how to monetize Reels is key to unlocking the platform’s potential. In this guide, we’ll dive into how you can get paid for your Reels and explore alternative ways to earn money on Instagram in 2025.

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Reasons to monetize Instagram Reels

Instagram Reels boast an impressive average view rate of 1.95%, outperforming traditional posts like images, videos, and carousels. Even more exciting? Smaller accounts with fewer than 5,000 followers enjoy the highest reach rates, proving that you don’t need a massive following to succeed.

Monetizing Reels offers:

• Increased Exposure: Reach more users and grow your audience organically.
• Revenue Opportunities: Turn your creativity into a steady income stream.
• Enhanced Engagement: Build a stronger connection with your followers.

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Five ways to get paid for Instagram Reels

There are countless opportunities to turn your entertaining Instagram Reels into a reliable income source, whether you’re a creator or a business owner. All it takes is an Instagram Creator Account and a well-thought-out monetization strategy.

With Instagram’s personalized content algorithms, you can directly reach your ideal audience and convert viewers into loyal customers.

Keep your content genuine and relatable—it’s the key to building trust and maintaining consistent customer engagement.

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Promote and sell products

Selling merchandise through print-on-demand services like Tapstitch is one of the simplest and most effective ways to earn money online.

Design custom products using your unique artwork or Tapstitch’s intuitive design tools to create standout items like T-shirts, hoodies, or bags. Showcase high-quality mockups in your Instagram Reels, allowing potential customers to see your products in action.

By sharing engaging content, you can drive traffic to your online store directly from Instagram or other platforms, making it easy to convert viewers into buyers.

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Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the most effective ways to earn money on Instagram Reels, especially if you have a solid following. By sharing products or services you love through your reels, you can earn commissions when someone makes a purchase using your affiliate link. It’s a win-win: your audience gets valuable recommendations, and you get paid for promoting them.

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Influencer marketing and brand sponsorships

Influencer marketing is a great way to earn money with Instagram Reels by partnering with brands that align with your niche audience. Many companies seek influencers to promote their products, providing a fantastic opportunity for you to earn through brand sponsorships.

To get started, focus on creating high-quality, engaging content that speaks directly to your target audience. Brands are more likely to sponsor creators who have a proven track record of creating compelling posts or Reels with solid engagement.

Before approaching brands, make sure your portfolio includes a few strong posts or Reels with significant views to show your value. You can also collaborate with other influencers to promote products, extending your reach and building connections within your niche.

Pro Tip: Consider using platforms like Klear, Grin, or Upfluence to connect with brands and streamline your influencer marketing efforts.

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Ad placement

Instagram Ads are a powerful tool for reaching your target audience, gaining followers, and increasing sales. By using ads strategically, you can boost your visibility and create more opportunities to monetize your Instagram Reels.

To run an Instagram Ad, your content must meet the following criteria:

• Ad Length: Your video ad should be no longer than 60 seconds.
• Aspect Ratio: It must be in the 9:16 vertical format to ensure it fills the screen.
• Content Ownership: You must own all the rights to the content, including music and visuals, meaning no third-party intellectual property like copyrighted music, GIFs, or filters.

Instagram Ads provide a simple and effective way to advertise your products or services to a specific audience. You can quickly boost your existing Reels with just one tap or dive deeper into ad management with Instagram’s Ads Manager for a more detailed marketing campaign.

Set your ad budget, track your ad performance, and adjust your strategy to maximize your reach and earnings. Pairing ads with other monetization methods is a great way to increase your success and grow your brand on Instagram.

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Instagram gifts

Instagram Gifts provide a fun and interactive way for your followers to support you directly. With this feature, your audience can send virtual gifts as reactions to your Reels, allowing them to show appreciation for your content. Each gift is valued at $0.01 per star, which adds up as you engage with your followers and post more Reels.

To enable Instagram Gifts, follow these steps:

1. Go to your professional dashboard.
2. Select Tools.
3. Choose Gifts.

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What was the Instagram Reels play bonus program, and why was it removed?

The Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program allowed creators to earn money based on the views their Reels received. It incentivized content creation and boosted engagement on the platform.

However, the program was discontinued in March 2023. Instagram confirmed that all existing Reels Play deals would continue until they expire, with payouts provided accordingly.

Moving forward, Instagram is focusing more on scaling ad revenue options as alternative monetization methods for creators.

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How to get paid for reels: Requirements and payouts

As an Instagram creator, you can earn money from Reels through gifts, branded content, badges, and subscriptions. To get paid, you must meet the following monetization requirements:

1. Follow Instagram’s Monetization Policies: Ensure compliance with Instagram’s Partner Monetization and Content Monetization Policies to qualify for payouts.
2. Set Up a Payout Account: Manage your payout settings via the Professional Dashboard by tapping “Payouts.”
3. Minimum Earnings: You must accumulate at least $100 in earnings before you can receive payouts.

Payouts are typically processed around the 21st of each month for earnings from the previous month. Payments will reach your bank account in 1-7 business days. You can also opt for faster transfers via PayPal.

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Make use of Instagram reel insights

Instagram Reel insights provide essential data to help you understand what’s resonating with your audience and how to improve your content. These metrics reveal the number of likes, comments, saves, and shares your posts have received, allowing you to gauge engagement.

Most importantly, you’ll be able to track the number of accounts reached and the total plays for each Reel. This comparison can help you assess if you’re meeting your view count goals and other objectives.

To access these insights, simply go to the Reels tab, select the Reel you want to analyze, and tap "View insights" below.

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FAQ: How to monetize reels on Instagram

1.How can I start making money from Instagram Reels?To monetize Instagram Reels, you need to first meet Instagram’s Partner Monetization and Content Monetization Policies. You also need to have a Professional Instagram account (Business or Creator), and link it to a payout account to start receiving earnings.

2.What are the monetization methods for Instagram Reels?

‍You can earn money from Instagram Reels through the following methods:

• Reels Play Bonus Program (when available)
• Brand partnerships and sponsored content
• Badges from followers during live streams
• Instagram Gifts from your audience
• Selling products through Instagram’s eCommerce features (with Shopify integration or using platforms like Tapstitch)

3.How do I get paid for Instagram Reels?

‍Once you meet the requirements for monetization, your earnings will be deposited into your payout account. Instagram typically releases payouts around the 21st of each month for earnings made during the previous month. Payouts can take 1-7 business days, and you can also use PayPal for faster transfers.

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Start earning money with Instagram Reels and Tapstitch

Instagram Reels remain one of the most effective ways to grow your audience, boost engagement, and start earning money.

Whether you're an influencer, entrepreneur, or creative, Instagram provides a powerful platform to showcase your content and monetize it in multiple ways.

By combining Instagram Reels with Tpstitch’s print-on-demand services, you can create a steady revenue stream while promoting your brand and products.

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