Top Ways to Make Money Off Instagram Reels<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/foursixty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Instagram-image-gif-woman-smiling.jpeg\")
Sourced from Instagram Bonuses<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are two main approaches businesses and creators can take to make money from Reels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Instagram\u2019s built-in tools. <\/strong>For users in specific regions, Meta may provide bonuses for Reels that get lots of traction. You can also make money from social media subscriptions or product tagging that allows viewers to shop directly from your videos.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- External tools, partnerships, and affiliate marketing<\/a> . <\/strong>Brands can work together with content creators on paid deals, add links to Reels to create shoppable content<\/a><\/strong>, or use Reels to drive traffic to products and services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s worth noting that Meta has started shifting away from the original Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program<\/a> and is testing a new Performance Bonus<\/a> program on the Instagram app. The idea is still to reward creators based on how well their content performs. <\/p>\n\n\n\nBut there’s no roadmap for exactly how to use Instagram Reels to get these bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In short: for 2025, there\u2019s no direct way to monetize your Instagram Reels. There\u2019s no button to click to get paid for views. But there are <\/em>plenty of ways to use Reels to help drive profits for physical and digital products alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe’ll focus on the three top Reels monetization strategies in this guide\u2014not on the ones that hinge on Meta\u2019s unpredictable nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Tag Products Directly in Your Reels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"screenshot-of-nike-zoom-running-shoe-from-instagram\"](\"https:\/\/foursixty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/screenshot-of-nike-zoom-running-shoe-from-instagram.png\")
Sourced from https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CGah-9qBN9U\/?hl=en<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne of the most straightforward ways to make extra money on Instagram is to link to your products in branded content on Reels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can do this by adding product tags to your Reels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you begin, make sure you have a Business or Creator<\/strong> Instagram account. You\u2019ll also want to have already connected Instagram to Shopify<\/strong>\u2014or your ecommerce platform of choice\u2014or created an Instagram Shop<\/a>. You can\u2019t tag products in Reels otherwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\nTagging products in your Reels is fairly simple: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Create a new Reel by recording it in the moment or uploading an existing video<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add a cover image and caption<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click More options<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click Tag Products <\/strong>and choose the items (they must be physical products) you want to feature<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click Done <\/strong>and Share <\/strong>to post your Reel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Keep in mind that Meta reviews every product, and everything you sell must align with<\/a> Meta\u2019s monetization policies<\/a>, and specifically Instagram\u2019s<\/a>. Do a full review of product eligibility beforehand to make sure you don\u2019t run into any roadblocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Sahil-kakkar-headshot-rankwatch\"](\"https:\/\/foursixty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Sahil-kakkar-headshot-rankwatch.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe talked to Sahil Kakkar<\/a>, CEO and Founder of RankWatch, a digital marketing agency, to get an on-the-ground perspective on linking to products in Reels. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIn one campaign for a wellness brand, says Kakkar, \u201cWe focused on educational Reels breaking down common myths around supplements in short and snackable segments.\u201d In each Reel, Kakkar\u2019s team linked to one of the brand\u2019s product bundles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The results were impressive. \u201cWithin 60 days, those Reels drove nearly 18% of all direct website traffic<\/strong>\u201d says Kakkar, adding that the top-performing Reel explained the best times to take vitamins. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Reel was informative without being preachy, and it racked up nearly 80K views. It offered viewers high-quality content, and they responded by engaging with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key takeaways: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Set up your<\/strong> Instagram Shop<\/strong> first.<\/strong> You can\u2019t tag products in Reels unless your Business or Creator account is connected to an eCommerce platform and has an active Instagram Shop.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tagging is part of the upload flow.<\/strong> When posting a Reel, go to More options <\/strong>\u2192 Tag Products<\/strong> to feature physical products directly in the video.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tagged Reels can boost site traffic.<\/strong> In one campaign, product-tagged Reels generated nearly 18% of direct traffic in just 60 days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Use Reels to Educate and Support Your Audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As part of our research for this piece, we spoke with several business owners who have boots-on-the-ground experience with monetizing Reels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One theme came up again and again: the best-performing reels educate the viewer or are genuinely helpful in some way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One case study that stands out? A successful series of Reels highlighting the value of heavy machinery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Tracie-crites-LinkedIn-headshot\"](\"https:\/\/foursixty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Tracie-crites-LinkedIn-headshot.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s what we learned when we spoke with Tracie Crites<\/a>, Chief Marketing Officer of HEAVY Equipment Appraisal<\/a>, a company that provides appraisals for heavy machinery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cEven for us, Instagram Reels can contribute to monetization, though it\u2019s not always a direct click-to-buy scenario like a B2C product,\u201d says Crites. Her company\u2019s monetization comes through lead generation that ultimately drives closed deals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, her team ran a series of Reels focused on the hidden value of specific heavy equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne Reel showed our appraiser doing a quick walk-around of a large, specialized piece of construction equipment at a client\u2019s site\u2014with permission,\u201d explains Crites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe video highlighted specific, often overlooked components that significantly impact the machine\u2019s value, like the condition of the undercarriage or the type of hydraulic system,\u201d she continues. \u201cThe appraiser briefly explained why <\/em>these details matter for an accurate appraisal, which linked the information back to financing or insurance needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe key, according to Crites, was the call to action at the end of the Reel: \u201cIs your specialized equipment accurately valued? Get a complimentary consultation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result of this single Reel, the HEAVY Equipment Appraisals team saw: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- 25 direct inquiries<\/strong> through Instagram DMs or clicks to the consultation request<\/strong> link in their bio.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 7 of those inquiries <\/strong>converted into qualified sales leads for the business development team.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 3 of those qualified leads <\/strong>eventually signed contracts for appraisal services, with a significant contract value.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
All within a span of three months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Reel, says Crites, attracted hyper-specific, relevant leads that understood the value of the company\u2019s specialized service. A mass audience wasn\u2019t needed for this type of Instagram monetization<\/a><\/strong>\u2014just the right one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Jason-hennessey-digital-agency-owner\"](\"https:\/\/foursixty.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Jason-hennessey-digital-agency-owner.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJason Hennessey<\/a>, CEO of digital marketing agency Hennessey Digital<\/a>, has also found that genuine helpfulness in Reels drives trust\u2014and leads. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHennessey decided to try Reels after seeing less engagement on Instagram Stories and posts. \u201cBut instead of just trying to sell, we focused on teaching,\u201d says Hennessey. \u201cWe made short videos with quick tips, cleared up common myths, and shared client success stories in 15 seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In one Reel, the team explained a common misunderstanding in their industry. The Reel was shared hundreds of times, doubling the brand\u2019s follower count and causing an uptick in free trial signups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two main approaches businesses and creators can take to make money from Reels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Instagram\u2019s built-in tools. <\/strong>For users in specific regions, Meta may provide bonuses for Reels that get lots of traction. You can also make money from social media subscriptions or product tagging that allows viewers to shop directly from your videos.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- External tools, partnerships, and affiliate marketing<\/a> . <\/strong>Brands can work together with content creators on paid deals, add links to Reels to create shoppable content<\/a><\/strong>, or use Reels to drive traffic to products and services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s worth noting that Meta has started shifting away from the original Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program<\/a> and is testing a new Performance Bonus<\/a> program on the Instagram app. The idea is still to reward creators based on how well their content performs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But there’s no roadmap for exactly how to use Instagram Reels to get these bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In short: for 2025, there\u2019s no direct way to monetize your Instagram Reels. There\u2019s no button to click to get paid for views. But there are <\/em>plenty of ways to use Reels to help drive profits for physical and digital products alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’ll focus on the three top Reels monetization strategies in this guide\u2014not on the ones that hinge on Meta\u2019s unpredictable nature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Tag Products Directly in Your Reels<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Sourced from https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CGah-9qBN9U\/?hl=en<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n One of the most straightforward ways to make extra money on Instagram is to link to your products in branded content on Reels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can do this by adding product tags to your Reels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before you begin, make sure you have a Business or Creator<\/strong> Instagram account. You\u2019ll also want to have already connected Instagram to Shopify<\/strong>\u2014or your ecommerce platform of choice\u2014or created an Instagram Shop<\/a>. You can\u2019t tag products in Reels otherwise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tagging products in your Reels is fairly simple: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Create a new Reel by recording it in the moment or uploading an existing video<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Add a cover image and caption<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click More options<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click Tag Products <\/strong>and choose the items (they must be physical products) you want to feature<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click Done <\/strong>and Share <\/strong>to post your Reel<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Keep in mind that Meta reviews every product, and everything you sell must align with<\/a> Meta\u2019s monetization policies<\/a>, and specifically Instagram\u2019s<\/a>. Do a full review of product eligibility beforehand to make sure you don\u2019t run into any roadblocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe talked to Sahil Kakkar<\/a>, CEO and Founder of RankWatch, a digital marketing agency, to get an on-the-ground perspective on linking to products in Reels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In one campaign for a wellness brand, says Kakkar, \u201cWe focused on educational Reels breaking down common myths around supplements in short and snackable segments.\u201d In each Reel, Kakkar\u2019s team linked to one of the brand\u2019s product bundles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The results were impressive. \u201cWithin 60 days, those Reels drove nearly 18% of all direct website traffic<\/strong>\u201d says Kakkar, adding that the top-performing Reel explained the best times to take vitamins. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Reel was informative without being preachy, and it racked up nearly 80K views. It offered viewers high-quality content, and they responded by engaging with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key takeaways: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Set up your<\/strong> Instagram Shop<\/strong> first.<\/strong> You can\u2019t tag products in Reels unless your Business or Creator account is connected to an eCommerce platform and has an active Instagram Shop.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tagging is part of the upload flow.<\/strong> When posting a Reel, go to More options <\/strong>\u2192 Tag Products<\/strong> to feature physical products directly in the video.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tagged Reels can boost site traffic.<\/strong> In one campaign, product-tagged Reels generated nearly 18% of direct traffic in just 60 days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Use Reels to Educate and Support Your Audience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
As part of our research for this piece, we spoke with several business owners who have boots-on-the-ground experience with monetizing Reels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One theme came up again and again: the best-performing reels educate the viewer or are genuinely helpful in some way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One case study that stands out? A successful series of Reels highlighting the value of heavy machinery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s what we learned when we spoke with Tracie Crites<\/a>, Chief Marketing Officer of HEAVY Equipment Appraisal<\/a>, a company that provides appraisals for heavy machinery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven for us, Instagram Reels can contribute to monetization, though it\u2019s not always a direct click-to-buy scenario like a B2C product,\u201d says Crites. Her company\u2019s monetization comes through lead generation that ultimately drives closed deals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, her team ran a series of Reels focused on the hidden value of specific heavy equipment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne Reel showed our appraiser doing a quick walk-around of a large, specialized piece of construction equipment at a client\u2019s site\u2014with permission,\u201d explains Crites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe video highlighted specific, often overlooked components that significantly impact the machine\u2019s value, like the condition of the undercarriage or the type of hydraulic system,\u201d she continues. \u201cThe appraiser briefly explained why <\/em>these details matter for an accurate appraisal, which linked the information back to financing or insurance needs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The key, according to Crites, was the call to action at the end of the Reel: \u201cIs your specialized equipment accurately valued? Get a complimentary consultation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result of this single Reel, the HEAVY Equipment Appraisals team saw: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 25 direct inquiries<\/strong> through Instagram DMs or clicks to the consultation request<\/strong> link in their bio.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 7 of those inquiries <\/strong>converted into qualified sales leads for the business development team.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 3 of those qualified leads <\/strong>eventually signed contracts for appraisal services, with a significant contract value.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
All within a span of three months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Reel, says Crites, attracted hyper-specific, relevant leads that understood the value of the company\u2019s specialized service. A mass audience wasn\u2019t needed for this type of Instagram monetization<\/a><\/strong>\u2014just the right one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJason Hennessey<\/a>, CEO of digital marketing agency Hennessey Digital<\/a>, has also found that genuine helpfulness in Reels drives trust\u2014and leads. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hennessey decided to try Reels after seeing less engagement on Instagram Stories and posts. \u201cBut instead of just trying to sell, we focused on teaching,\u201d says Hennessey. \u201cWe made short videos with quick tips, cleared up common myths, and shared client success stories in 15 seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In one Reel, the team explained a common misunderstanding in their industry. The Reel was shared hundreds of times, doubling the brand\u2019s follower count and causing an uptick in free trial signups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 7 of those inquiries <\/strong>converted into qualified sales leads for the business development team.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tagging is part of the upload flow.<\/strong> When posting a Reel, go to More options <\/strong>\u2192 Tag Products<\/strong> to feature physical products directly in the video.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click Tag Products <\/strong>and choose the items (they must be physical products) you want to feature<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- External tools, partnerships, and affiliate marketing<\/a> . <\/strong>Brands can work together with content creators on paid deals, add links to Reels to create shoppable content<\/a><\/strong>, or use Reels to drive traffic to products and services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n