If you’re concerned that your Instagram account’s size makes it impossible to monetize your content as a content creator, think again. It turns out that accounts with just a few thousand followers can find ways to generate revenue and capitalize on their smaller, often more specialized, audiences. In fact, interviews with influencers have revealed that Instagram accounts with 2,000 to 3,000 followers can secure brand sponsorships.
Smaller creators, commonly referred to as “nano” influencers with fewer than 10,000 followers, are successfully making money through brand deals, user-generated content, and affiliate marketing, just like their larger counterparts.
Let’s take Stacy Kim, a third-year student at the University of California, Los Angeles, as an example. With approximately 3,000 Instagram followers, Kim has been building her business as a travel and fashion influencer by leveraging her small yet engaged audience. “My engagement on posts is really high, and I heard that most brands care more about that than the number of followers you have,” Kim explained.
As of February, Kim had collaborated with numerous brands, utilized a media kit to pitch partnerships, and earned a total of $5,000 from paid partnerships on Instagram. While influencers can directly approach brands with their proposals, some companies actively seek out smaller creators to work with. For instance, jewelry brand Mejuri offers an application process for influencers interested in becoming partners.
Fortunately, creators have a variety of resources at their disposal. Creator marketplaces on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, affiliate marketing platforms, and third-party influencer marketing companies exist to connect brands with creators.
At Insider, we’ve compiled insightful reporting on how smaller creators are securing sponsorships on Instagram. Our coverage explores their strategies, the amount of money they’re earning, and the tools they utilize, from media kits to DM templates.
Below, we’ve listed several influencers in order of their follower count at the time of our interviews, shedding light on how they leverage their smaller audiences to pitch themselves to brands and secure sponsorships:
- Tess Barclay: A lifestyle influencer with under 10,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok.
- Khadijah Lacey-Taylor: A fashion and lifestyle influencer with 9,800 Instagram followers.
- Julie Tecson: An influencer and talent manager with 7,100 Instagram followers.
- Jour’dan Haynes: A lifestyle creator with 5,900 Instagram followers.
- Jack Betts: A college athlete with approximately 5,500 Instagram followers.
- Laur DeMartino: A nano influencer and full-time college student with 5,200 Instagram followers.
- Jalyn Baiden: A skincare influencer with 4,000 Instagram followers and 8,000 TikTok followers.
- Stacy Kim: A travel and fashion influencer with 3,400 Instagram followers.
- Jen Lauren: A part-time lifestyle influencer with 2,900 Instagram followers.
- Amber Broder: A part-time skincare influencer and full-time college student with 2,300 Instagram followers.
By learning from these influencers’ experiences and approaches, you too can unlock the potential of sponsorships on Instagram, regardless of your account size.
