While many people focus on affiliate marketing through websites, TikTok Shop, Facebook pages, and groups, today I’d like to share my experience using Instagram as a channel for affiliate marketing.

I started focusing on building my Instagram account before the Lunar New Year, and within about 50 days, I managed to reach nearly 600K impressions. Some of my Reels went viral, driving decent affiliate conversions. Here are my takeaways:

1. Content Types That Work Well for Affiliate Marketing on Instagram

• Informative Content:
  Reviews, product lists (books, daily-use products, etc.) that provide value to your audience.
• How-To Guides:
  Step-by-step instructions, tips, and tricks on niches like beauty, cosmetics, and home décor.
• Inspirational Content:
  Storytelling, personal experiences, before-and-after transformations, or advice on maintaining good habits (e.g., learning a language or self-improvement). You can link self-development products (courses, coaching, etc.) to earn commissions.

Although Instagram is a clean platform, affiliate earnings from product links aren’t as high as TikTok Shop. I recommend diversifying income streams by building accounts on TikTok, Instagram, or even Facebook fan pages simultaneously.

Quick Tip: To grow your account faster, organize giveaways or mini-games for milestones (e.g., 1K, 5K, or 10K followers). Offer small prizes related to your niche to increase followers, engagement, and professionalism for long-term growth.

2. Reels Going Viral and Boosting Affiliate Conversions

Initially, I thought Instagram videos were harder to make viral compared to TikTok. However, by following IG community guidelines and creating polished content, it’s possible to get millions of views.

• What Worked for Me:
  • Using trending songs on Instagram Reels.
  • Keeping videos short and engaging (7–15 seconds).
  • Capturing attention in the first 2 seconds.
  • Focusing on a specific niche (avoid random posts).
  • Sharing Reels to stories consistently to boost reach.

Interestingly, I reuploaded some TikTok videos to Instagram without edits. Some videos that didn’t trend on TikTok performed well on IG, increasing clicks to my website.

Why Reels Work for Affiliate Marketing:
Reels are visually engaging and concise, attracting clicks to affiliate links when paired with strong calls-to-action.

3. Leveraging Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories work similarly to TikTok Shop, though not as effectively. Initially, I thought Stories wouldn’t generate much interest, but to my surprise, people clicked through and made purchases.

• How to Use Stories for Affiliate Marketing:
  • Share personal experiences with products in a compelling way.
  • Add product links in the "Link" feature so viewers can directly purchase via e-commerce platforms.
  • Avoid overloading your audience with affiliate links unless your account focuses on reviews or sales.

Some platforms, like Lazada, Shopee, and Tiki, run campaigns with mid-month sales or special promotions. You can post about these on Stories to earn both cash rewards and affiliate commissions.

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing on Instagram may not yet rival TikTok Shop, but it’s a great supplementary platform. By combining efforts across TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook, you can maximize income streams.

If your TikTok videos aren’t gaining traction or TikTok Shop isn’t working well, try posting the same content on Instagram. You might just go viral and earn significant affiliate income, also use this network for good profit!