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While you might have only heard about affiliate marketing in the last few years, the truth is, it’s nothing new.
Get this: The first affiliate program for the web was pioneered by an online flower shop, PC Flowers & Gifts, which launched in 1989. Crazy, right? By 1995, their affiliate program had grown to partner with 2,500 affiliates and generated millions in sales.
Now, affiliate marketing is much more widespread. Realistically anyone can do it, thanks to social media.
I recently wrote an article on how to use TikTok for affiliate marketing, so today, I wanted to show you another platform with huge earning potential for affiliates: Instagram. I’ll walk you through how it works, why it works, and how you can start.
Plus, I’ll cover some top niches and extra tips to help you start making money, ASAP.
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing is a commission-based exchange between a brand or company, where a person (the affiliate) is paid to promote products through word-of-mouth. Each time they make a sale (monitored by referral links or codes), they earn cash.
So why is affiliate marketing so popular, and why are brands willing to pay practically anyone to promote their products? Well, there are a few reasons, but it mainly comes down to what is known as social proof.
I won’t bore anyone with a history lesson but know this: As humans, we naturally base our decisions on the actions and opinions of others. In the world of marketing, the power of social proof is seen through user-generated content, reviews, and testimonials.
And when it comes to Gen-Z and millennial shoppers? 88% of us use social media to research products we’re interested in buying.
When you pair this with the fact that 72% of Gen Zs and millennials follow influencers, it makes sense that the influencer marketing industry is projected to be worth $24B by the end of the year.
Today, creators on social media can partner with brands and companies either directly or through what’s known as affiliate programs. From there, they mix promotional content with their regular uploads and nudge followers through a sales funnel to purchase.
And one of the most popular sites for affiliate marketers? Instagram.
How does affiliate marketing work on Instagram?
Creators on Instagram use their content to recommend products and services to their followers, in exchange for commissions. And remember, it’s a win-win: Brands get exposure to potential customers, and you, the affiliate, get rewarded every time someone clicks through and makes a purchase using your unique referral link.
Here’s the important bit though—it's not just about throwing up referral links and hoping for the best.
When you’re affiliate marketing on Instagram, you need to build authentic, genuine, and value-driven relationships with your audience. This way, whenever you do share about a product or service, it doesn’t just come across as a sales pitch.
The key is blending your authentic self with your promotional content so it feels natural, engaging, and most importantly, genuine. Instagram affiliate marketing isn’t just about promoting; it’s about creating a community that trusts your recommendations. This is the social proof we were talking about earlier.
When you get the formula right, it’s an easy, scalable way to earn money from your phone—and it’s only going to grow as the platform continues to evolve.
How to start affiliate marketing on Instagram
Getting started with affiliate marketing on Instagram might sound confusing, but it’s actually pretty straightforward.
With a clear outline from us (and a little effort on your part), you can start monetizing your Instagram account and working with brands in no time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get set up:
1. Create a professional account
To monetize Instagram (that includes paid promotions), you’ll need a professional account. Having a business profile gives you access to important features that a personal account doesn’t offer, such as insights, the ability to run ads, and the ability to add affiliate links to your stories.
Plus, a professional account helps establish you as a credible creator and affiliate and boosts your performance in the algorithm.
You’ll also want to make sure your profile is optimized. You don’t need to come across as a professional (this is social media after all) but you’ll want your content to be aesthetically engaging.
So, choose a clear profile picture, write a bio that speaks to your niche, and include a link to your affiliate offers (or, use a link-in-bio service for multiple external links).
2. Figure out your content style and niche
So, you’ve signed up for a professional account, now what?
Well, nobody is going to sign an affiliate partner with no presence. This means it’s time to start posting—but hold on a second. You don’t want to post just anything, you need a plan for your content, a target audience, and a niche.
What do you enjoy creating the most? Are you passionate about beauty, fitness, travel, or tech? Defining your niche will help you attract a specific audience that’s interested in your content and the products you promote.
Once you’ve figured out your niche, you can develop a content style that feels authentic to you.
Whether you prefer polished, high-quality content or more casual, relatable posts, your Instagram should reflect your personality and resonate with your people.
3. Build a personal brand
Good content is one thing, but to leverage it properly, people need to know who you are, what you stand for, and why they should listen to you.
In other words, you need to build a personal brand.
Think about your favorite creators: You follow them not just because of the products they promote, but because they connect with you as an individual.
This may be because their background is similar to yours. Perhaps, they inspire you to get where you want to be. Maybe, their content is comforting and binge-worthy. All of these creators have something in common though: a strong personal brand.
Creating branded content means your personality, voice, and values should come through in everything you share. Your Instagram profile is essentially a curation of your interests, personality, and expertise.
The more your followers resonate with your brand, the more likely they are to trust your product recommendations—and that’s the key to affiliate marketing success.
4. Post consistently
One of the most (if not the most) important things you can do when starting affiliate marketing on Instagram is to post consistently. The more you post, the more chances you have to engage with your audience and showcase affiliate products.
This doesn’t mean you need to post every day, but you should aim to maintain a steady posting schedule.
To make it easier, mix up the types of content you share (from regular posts to Stories and Reels) to keep your audience engaged. By consistently posting, you’ll also build a stronger relationship with your followers, which is key to making affiliate sales.
And don’t forget to track your performance! Keep an eye on your insights to see which posts drive the most engagement and sales.
Remember, consistency is key to growth, and to be consistent, you need to love what you’re doing. So stick to a style that feels natural for you and feels enjoyable to create.
5. Find affiliate partners and brands to work with
You’ve been consistently posting, your followers are going up, and you’ve found your rhythm—it’s time to find affiliate partners and brands to work with!
When it comes to finding the right partner programs, you’ll want to consider those that align with your values and resonate with your audience. Think about it: If you’ve built your brand around natural living and you partner with a soda company, you probably won’t see many sales (but you may see a whole lot of followers drop away). This is why authenticity matters.
Look for products or services that you already use and love—promoting something you’re passionate about will come across as more authentic to your followers. Most affiliate programs are free to join and give you a unique referral link or discount code to share with your audience.
While building up a decent number of followers will help your pitches have a higher landing rate and prove your authenticity as a creator, you don’t need to wait for big brands to reach out to you. You can start by joining affiliate networks or reaching out to brands directly (ideally in Instagram DMs).
For example, you can easily become a Whop affiliate and get paid to promote sellers on the platform.
Coming soon: Instagram Affiliate Partners
While not all creators currently have access during the testing period, Instagram is launching an affiliate partner program for creators to directly partner with brands through the platform when making product recommendations and referrals.
Approved affiliates will receive commission payments based on the total sales they drive for a brand, and all partner brands disclose their commission rate within the app.
You'll be paid on closed commissions after the return period for the items purchased has passed. For most brands, it's between 30 and 90 days, and you can track your affiliate performance specifically in your Insights tab.
To check if you’re eligible for Instagram Affiliate (and whether it’s available in your region yet), just follow the below steps:
- Head to your professional dashboard and tap Set up affiliate.
- If eligible and onboarded, you can navigate to your favorite Instagram shops, select the products you want to promote, and save them to a wishlist.
- When creating your affiliate content, you can tag the products you've saved.
- Your final post will include a disclosure, with eligible for commission appearing at the top.
This feature allows creators to seamlessly tag products in their content (whether posts, Stories, or Live videos) and facilitates the entire checkout process for the followers in-app; this can really help boost conversions.
However, a few things to note: Instagram takes a chunk of all creator payouts, including affiliate payouts through the app. For this reason, some affiliates may prefer to arrange partnerships directly with brands or through a third-party partnership platform.
How to make affiliate sales through Instagram
So, you've got your account set up and you're posting content, but now you're wondering how to make those affiliate sales on Instagram. It’s one thing to have followers, but turning their engagement into affiliate sales takes strategy.
On Instagram, this means making the absolute most of every built-in tool available to you as a professional creator:
Use your link in bio
If you’ve been on the internet, you’ve heard the phrase link in bio more times than you can count. From GoFundMe campaigns to blog articles, YouTube channels, and more, the coveted feature is especially handy for affiliate marketers.
You can link directly to your affiliate products or use a service like Linktree to share multiple links. That way, your followers have easy access to all your affiliate offers in one spot.
Don’t forget to mention your bio link in your posts and Stories—it’s an easy way to drive traffic to your offers.
Create genuine promotional content
Like I said in the beginning, the reason Instagram affiliate marketing works so well is because it feels natural. Or rather, it should.
If you want to be taken seriously, don’t just post random product shots with a link. Your followers trust you, so when you recommend something, it should be because you genuinely believe in it.
Think about how you use the product and share that experience. Whether it’s a quick review, an unboxing, or simply showing how it fits into your life, make sure your content is relatable.
Perhaps you can share the product solved a problem for you that viewers are likely to find relatable, making them subconsciously decide to buy it for themselves, too.
When you mix your personal touch with the product, it doesn’t feel like an ad—it feels like a recommendation from a friend.
Feature products in Stories
Don’t overlook the value of Stories! Studies have shown that many people scroll their Stories more than their feed posts, as they provide a more direct level of interaction.
Plus, a Captiv8 study found that 26.5% of affiliate marketing posts are Instagram Stories, making it the second most-used content type by affiliate creators!
Stories are one of the best ways to get eyes on your affiliate products. They’re quick, easy to share, and great for product demos or quick reviews. Stories also encourage direct action and have many engagement markers available like stickers, polls, direct responses, reactions, and more.
The more you feature products in your Stories, the more likely your followers will take action. Keep it casual and fun, and your audience will start to trust your recommendations more.
Record live on Instagram
Instagram Live is another great way to engage with your followers and promote products in real time.
When you go live, you can demonstrate products without the bells and whistles of curated content. Just you, your audience, and the product. Use your Lives to answer questions and provide more context around why you find value in what you’re recommending.
Whether you're doing a product demo, hosting a Q&A, or simply talking about your favorite items, don’t forget to drop your affiliate link in the comments or your bio before going live.
Follow promotional and paid partnership guidelines
All affiliate marketers on Instagram need to follow the platform’s rules and disclose when using affiliate links or posting sponsored content.
Thankfully, Instagram makes this easy with its paid partnership feature, which lets you tag brands directly in your posts.
If you're sharing affiliate links in your stories or regular posts, make sure you're clear with your audience that you're getting paid for the promotion. This builds trust, and it’s also required by Instagram’s guidelines. Many affiliate marketers choose to use a brand partner # in their captions, like family creator Madison Mealy (@madisonmealy).
Find a mentor or community
While it’s not necessary, having an affiliate marketing mentor or support community can help you avoid making beginner’s mistakes and help you make more money while accessing better brand deals and higher commissions.
If you’re looking for guidance, check out Whop’s communities and courses. You’ll find plenty of experienced affiliate marketers who share insights, tips, and resources that will help you grow faster.
Plus, you can connect with like-minded people who are all working towards the same goal.
Check out the best affiliate marketing courses on Whop.
Top 10 affiliate marketing niches on Instagram
Affiliate marketing on Instagram can be incredibly lucrative, but the key to success lies in choosing the right niche.
Earlier, I mentioned it was important to pick a niche that makes sense for you and your personal brand. Certain niches tend to perform better on the platform, as they attract large and engaged audiences and have statistically higher rates of purchase.
Based on research, here are 10 profitable affiliate marketing niches on Instagram. We’ve also listed a popular creator in each space who uses affiliate marketing to monetize their content:
1. Beauty
The beauty space has spawned some of the most well-known creators on the internet.
But it's not just limited to big-name influencers. Smaller creators who focus on skincare, makeup tutorials, and beauty tips often form close relationships with their audience, creating trust and authenticity that drive affiliate sales.
Beauty influencers have a unique ability to influence purchasing decisions, especially with younger viewers. In 2024, 42% of Gen-Z consumers stated that they had purchased beauty products based on an influencer’s recommendations over the past year.
Creator example: Erin Durgan Jurchak (@erindurganbeauty)
Erin is a beauty content creator and former esthetician who shares honest and insightful product reviews, skincare tips, and beauty routines. Her energetic, fun, and playful approach to beauty resonates with her audience and allows Erin to partner with various beauty brands, helping her followers discover products they can trust, while earning commissions through affiliate links.
She’s partnered with Rare Beauty, Rhode, and Charlotte Tilbury, just to name a few.
2. Fashion
Fashion is always big business, and fashion affiliate marketers on Instagram inspire their followers to update their wardrobes or try out new trends.
What’s great about fashion on Instagram is its visual appeal—stunning photos, detailed outfit inspiration, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into a creator's daily life.
Whether it’s promoting a seasonal look, a brand collaboration, or an outfit of the day, fashion creators often form strong connections with their audience, driving affiliate sales.
Creator example: Olivia (@o_l_i_v_i_a)
Olivia is a Vancouver-based fashion, beauty, and lifestyle influencer who partners with brands to promote their products in her content, usually based around get-ready-with-me videos and storytimes.
Her style is bohemian, chic, and hyper-feminine, giving her a niche that works for fashion brands catering to young women who identify with the style. Plus, having traveled the world from Canada to Europe, then Australia, Olivia has been able to work with brands all around the world and build authentic relationships with those she loves.
3. Travel
Travel is another hugely profitable niche, especially if you can tap into the wanderlust that so many people have.
One of the best things about travel affiliate marketing? You’re essentially sharing your lifestyle—places you’ve been, things you’ve seen, and the experiences you’ve had.
When done right, it can feel less like marketing and more like storytelling, which resonates deeply with audiences looking for travel inspiration.
Creator example: Natasha Ibrahim (@thenatashaibrahim)
Natasha has built a dedicated following by sharing her passion for travel, culture, and exploration. She runs the Girl Boss Abroad community here on Whop and has been monetizing her travels since she was 18 (goals). When it comes to her content, Natasha’s posts are a mix of travel photos, personal anecdotes, lifestyle tips, and product recommendations for fellow travelers.
It’s no surprise that she partners with travel brands like Booking.com and Airbnb, helping her community plan their next getaway, all while earning commissions.
4. Health and wellness
The health and wellness niche on Instagram is thriving, and it’s not just about fitness.
Health creators encompass a broad range of topics in their content, from healthy eating to mental wellness, and this offers plenty of room for affiliate marketers to make an impact.
Creator example: Bec Hardgrave (@bechardgrave)
Bec’s Instagram is a refreshing blend of fitness motivation, health tips, and honest product recommendations. Her content includes everything from workout routines and balanced recipes to lifestyle tips that promote overall well-being.
As you can see, Bec has separate links in her bio: one to house all her affiliate links and codes in one place, and another for her personal program and client onboarding.
5. Home and lifestyle
The home and lifestyle community on Instagram has exploded in recent years, with people seeking inspiration for everything from interior design to home organization and decor. Whether this increase in interest was caused by Marie Kondo, we’ll never know—but one thing is certain: It’s a lucrative niche.
Whether you’re creating cozy spaces, incorporating sustainable products, or finding the latest home trends, this niche offers plenty of opportunities for affiliate marketers to partner with brands.
Creator example: Josh and Matt Design (@joshandmattdesign)
Josh and Matt are known for their stunning home renovations, DIY projects, and design inspiration. They’ve created a niche for themselves through their maximalist, loud, and eclectic collection of decor and home appliances.
Their affiliate marketing efforts revolve around products that align with their aesthetic and design philosophy, such as furniture, home decor, and tools for DIY enthusiasts. And because of the power of their personal brand, they’ve partnered with some pretty big names too—think IKEA and Porsche.
6. Digital products
Thought you had to promote only physical products? Think again. Whether it’s online courses, eBooks, design tools, or even subscriptions to digital services, digital products can be marketed by affiliates with ease because of their convenience—there’s no physical inventory to deal with, and they can be delivered instantly.
Promoting digital products is a great way to tap into high-margin, low-overhead offerings. Plus, many digital product creators offer recurring commissions or high payouts, making it a potentially lucrative space.
Become a Whop affiliate today and start earning affiliate income for promoting communities, courses, and digital products.
7. Eco and sustainability
Eco-conscious living is a powerful and rewarding niche for affiliate marketers, especially as consumers become more aware of the impact their choices have on the environment. Whether it's promoting low-tox home products, eco-friendly beauty brands, or sustainable parenting solutions, eco-friendly creators have a wide range of affiliate programs to partner with.
Creator example: Courtney Dow (@itscourtneydow)
Courtney has built her Instagram community around living a low-tox lifestyle, focusing on health-conscious, eco-friendly solutions for families. Her content mixes a blend of motherhood, wellness, and sustainability, showing followers how small changes can quickly add up.
Courtney integrates affiliate products like DoTerra essential oils, Bon Charge, and Hydrogen Health into her content seamlessly.
8. Pet
More than half of the world’s population is estimated to have a pet at home. In the U.S., 30% of pet owners follow ‘famous’ animals on social media. That’s a lot of potential for affiliate marketers and creators in the pet space to gain traction and go viral.
From grooming and training products to food, toys, and accessories, the options for affiliate marketing in this space are endless. If one thing is true, pet owners are always on the lookout for the best products to improve their furry friends' lives.
Creator example: Archie the Cocker Spaniel (@archieswooorld)
Archie’s Instagram account is a delightful mix of puppy parenting tips, training advice, and adorable moments that every dog lover can relate to. With a strong following of fellow pet parents, the account focuses on the journey of raising a Cocker Spaniel, with helpful insights along the way.
Archie and his owner have partnered with brands like Aritzia (for pet-friendly apparel), Pupwell (a pet wellness brand), Open Farm (pet food), and Floof (dog accessories). They’ve created a trusted resource for other dog lovers, recommending high-quality products that help both pets and owners live their best lives.
9. Gaming
If you’re into gaming, you can start monetizing it as an affiliate for game and tech companies.
Instagram provides a space for all gaming influencers, whether they have a large or small following, to share gameplays, unboxings, and recommendations. Trust me when I say the gaming industry is taking note, and brands are striking deals with gaming creators often.
17% of consumers 18-34 follow a gaming creator, and for men, this percentage jumps to 23%. Gaming creators are the most popular type of influencer followed by males aged 18-34 globally!
Creator example: Kelsey (@kelseclipse)
A reminder that you don’t need a ridiculous following to become an affiliate. Kelsey is a gamer with a growing presence on Instagram, where she shares her personal gaming experiences with her followers, alongside a touch of girl power and kawaii aesthetics.
With a community of just over 6K followers, Kelsey blends her gaming content with honest reviews, unboxings, and promotional content. She saves all of her affiliate codes and discounts to a story highlight, with link stickers for easy purchasing.
10. Cooking
Cooking is another profitable niche, especially when you can tap into the growing demand for affordable, easy-to-make meals that fit into a busy professional or family’s life.
One of the best things about affiliate marketing in the cooking space? It’s all about sharing practical solutions—meal hacks, grocery hauls, and recipe tips that help people save time and money. When done authentically, it can feel less like marketing and more like a helpful resource.
Creator example: @my_familyeats
Cassie has built a loyal community (of 97K!) by sharing budget-friendly cooking ideas for families, with a relatable and funny approach. Her content focuses on making nutritious, family-sized meals that don’t break the bank, as well as shopping hacks, DIY kids activities, and lunchbox ideas.
Through creating the right mix of content that provides genuine value to their audience, Cassie and her family have partnered with companies that fit their personal brand, like Cleaver’s Organic, Famers Union, and Kinder.
Wanna boost your affiliate earnings even more? Sign up to Whop
As you can see, there’s no limit to how you can leverage your Instagram account and your brand for affiliate marketing. Whatever your interests, hobbies, and skills, you can build a community of like-minded followers who trust your recommendations and referrals.
The only thing? It’s going to take time. A growing following, consistent content style, and the confidence to approach brands aren’t things that come overnight (unless of course, you go viral, in which case power to you). However, there is a way to fast-track your way to making real money: mentorship.
We mentioned it earlier on, but the best way to achieve a goal is to learn from somebody who has done it already. On Whop, you’ll discover courses, communities, and mentors ready to show you the ropes of affiliate marketing on Instagram, TikTok, and more.
Check out our top affiliate marketing courses and communities to bypass the learning curve and start making more money with Instagram. Plus, you can monetize your existing audience today by signing up for the Whop affiliate program. We’ll pay you for every referral.
