How to Get Sponsored on Instagram (2026 Guide)

Last updated: November 2026

To get sponsored on Instagram, build a focused profile, show brands the kind of content you would make for them, and then reach out to brands or apply to open campaigns. You do not need a big following to start, because brands pay for fit, content quality and trust with a specific audience.

This guide is for creators with small or new accounts who want their first paid or gifted Instagram sponsorship. It covers what a sponsorship is, how to get ready, where to find brands, how to pitch, and how to post the deal correctly once a brand says yes.

What does "sponsored on Instagram" actually mean?

A sponsored Instagram post is a post where a brand has given you something of value to feature its product or service. Instagram calls this branded content. Its Help Center describes branded content as organic content where the creator has been compensated by a brand, and it notes this can include products gifted for free.

That gives you two main deal types:

• Paid: the brand pays a fee for agreed deliverables, such as a Reel, a carousel or a set of Stories.
• Gifted: the brand sends a product or service in exchange for content. Gifted deals are a common first step because brands take less risk on a new creator.

Sponsored posts are different from ads a brand runs through Meta. In a sponsorship, the content lives on your account and you keep ownership of how it fits your feed.

Do you need a lot of followers to get sponsored?

No. Instagram's Help Center says anyone who meets its Partner Monetization Policies can tag a business partner in branded content, and it lists no follower count in that rule. Brands set their own bar, and campaign listings usually state it up front.

What brands look for beyond follower count:

• Niche fit: your audience matches who the brand sells to.
• Content quality: your recent posts look like something the brand would be happy to publish next to.
• Engagement: real comments, saves and shares from people in your niche. Check yours with the free engagement rate calculator.
• Reliability: clear communication and on-time delivery.

Step 1: Get your profile ready for brands

Brands check your profile before they reply. Spend an afternoon fixing the basics.

1. Pick one niche. Say it in your bio in plain words, such as "budget meal prep" or "skincare for sensitive skin".
2. Turn on branded content in your Instagram settings so you can use the paid partnership label once a deal is booked. Instagram's branded content setup guide shows where.
3. Add a business email to your bio. Make it easy for a brand to reach you outside the DMs.
4. Pin your best three posts to show the style of content you want to be paid for.
5. Post on a steady schedule you can keep up. A brand scrolling your grid wants to see recent, consistent work.

Step 2: Build a simple media kit

A media kit is a one-page summary of who you are, who follows you, and what you offer. Include your niche, audience location and age range from Instagram Insights, your best-performing posts, the deliverables you offer, and how to contact you. Our guide to the influencer media kit walks through each section, and you can build one on Jem Social with the media kit tool.

Step 3: Find brands that are ready to work with creators

There are three practical routes. Use more than one.

• Open campaigns: brands post what they need, and you apply. The public Jem Social Opportunity Board lists open gifted and paid campaigns, and each listing shows the platform, deliverables, compensation and deadline. You can also browse the board inside the app.
• Direct pitches: start with brands whose products you already use. Find the partnerships or marketing contact on the brand's website, then send a short email. Our guide on how to pitch brands has the structure.
• Tagging and being found: tag brands you genuinely use in your posts and keep your bio clear. This works slowly, so treat it as a supplement and not your main plan.

Keep a simple spreadsheet with the brand, contact, date you reached out and follow-up dates. Plan to follow up, because a first message is easy to miss.

Step 4: Pitch with a clear offer

A good pitch is short and specific. Use this structure and replace the brackets with your own details:

• Subject line: [Your niche] creator for [Brand]: [one specific content idea]
• Opening line: who you are and why you picked this brand, in one sentence.
• Your audience: [niche], [main location], [what they engage with].
• The idea: one concrete piece of content you would make, such as [format] showing [product] in [situation].
• The offer: your deliverables and your rate, or a request to hear their budget.
• Proof: a link to your media kit and one or two relevant posts.

The free brand pitch email generator can draft this for you. If you want to pitch many brands, the Brand Pitch Tool on Jem Social gives you access to brand contacts, AI-written personalized pitches and automatic follow-ups. See how it works here.

Step 5: Agree the deal before you create anything

When a brand replies, settle the details in writing before you shoot. Cover these points:

• Deliverables: how many posts, which formats, and how many revisions.
• Payment: the fee, the due date and how you will be paid. Meta states that it does not support payments made through the Instagram app, so payment happens off the platform. Jem Social bookings run through escrow.
• Usage rights: whether the brand can reuse your content, where and for how long. Wider use, such as in ads, is normally priced higher. The influencer rate calculator helps you build a quote.
• Timeline: when drafts are due and when the post goes live.
• Exclusivity: whether you can work with competing brands during or after the campaign.

If the deal is gifted, still agree what you will post and by when. A gift is a commitment, so only accept products you would use anyway.

Step 6: Disclose the partnership correctly

Disclosure protects your audience and your account. Instagram's policies require you to tag the business partner when there is an exchange of value, including free products. When you add the partner, people see a "Paid partnership with" label above your post. The brand needs a professional account and must approve your request, as explained in Instagram's guide to the paid partnership label.

The FTC also expects clear disclosure of material connections to brands. Read its Disclosures 101 for social media influencers before your first deal, and keep the rules in mind for Stories and Reels too.

Common mistakes that cost creators deals

• Pitching everyone with the same message. Brands can tell. Mention the product and your specific idea.
• Hiding your contact details. If a brand cannot find an email, many will move on.
• Quitting after one email. Plan two or three follow-ups.
• Skipping the written agreement. Unclear scope leads to unpaid extra work.
• Posting without the label. Instagram's policies require it for branded content.
• Taking any gift offered. Off-niche products weaken the trust that makes you valuable to the next brand.

For a wider view of how deals work across platforms, see our hub guide to brand deals, and for Instagram-specific tactics read how to get brand deals on Instagram.

Send your first five applications this week

Do this in order: tighten your bio and add your email, build a one-page media kit, choose five brands or open campaigns that fit your niche, and send each one a tailored message. Set a reminder to follow up in a week. Applying to open campaigns is the fastest way to start, so browse the Jem Social Opportunity Board and apply to the ones that match your niche, or create your creator profile so your media kit is ready when a match appears.