Instagram doesn’t directly pay creators for views on reels. Instead, Instagram relies on partnerships with brands to monetize reels through sponsored content.
The amount an influencer or creator can earn from 1 million views on reels depends on many factors like follower count, engagement rate, niche, and most importantly – sponsored content deals.
Update from Instagram:
“On March 9, 2023, we stopped extending new and renewed Reels Play deals on Instagram in the US and India. We will honor the existing Instagram Reels Play deals until they expire.”
How Reels are Monetized
Unlike YouTube, Instagram doesn’t have built-in monetization options like YouTube Partner Program or Super Chats. So for Instagram creators, the main way to earn money from reels is through sponsored content.
Brands partner with influencers and creators to promote their products or services through sponsored reels. The influencer gets paid a pre-negotiated amount for the branded content. Rates vary greatly based on the influencer’s niche, followers, engagement metrics, etc.
So the amount earned per 1 million views depends on the sponsorship deal an influencer can secure. For nano and micro influencers with under 100k followers, each sponsored reel may pay around $100-$250. For macro influencers with 500k+ followers, sponsorships can be $2,000-$5,000 per reel.
Typical Instagram Reels Rates
As a benchmark, here are typical rates for sponsored reels, based on follower count:
- Nano influencer (1k – 10k followers): $10 – $100 per reel
- Micro influencer (10k – 50k followers): $50 – $250 per reel
- Mid-tier influencer (50k – 500k followers): $250 – $1,500 per reel
- Macro influencer (500k – 1 million followers): $1,000 – $5,000 per reel
- Mega influencer (1 million+ followers): $5,000 – $10,000+ per reel
However, rates don’t purely depend on followers. Engagement and video views also matter. An influencer with 100k highly-engaged followers may command higher rates than one with 500k inactive followers.
Niche also affects rates. Influencer marketing in lucrative niches like travel, fashion, and lifestyle tend to pay more per post than niches like home decor or parenting.
How Many Followers Do You Need to Get Paid on Instagram?
Technically you can get paid for sponsored content even with 1,000 followers. But it likely will be very low pay of $10 – $20 per reel.
To earn at decent rates of $100+ per reel, having at least 10,000 engaged followers is recommended. Mid-tier rates of $250+ are possible in the 50k – 100k follower range.
For full-time Instagram income, most influencers need 500,000+ followers and multiple paid partnerships. But a few strategically partnered brand deals can provide part-time income from 50,000 followers onwards.
How to Get Paid Brand Deals for Reels
Here are tips to land paid reel partnerships as an influencer or creator:
Create engaging, high-quality content – Brands want to partner with creators who produce entertaining or helpful videos that align with their target audience.
Understand your niche – Become a specialist in your niche to establish expertise and authority that attracts brands in your industry.
Build relationships with relevant brands – Don’t wait for brands to come to you. Reach out to brands that would value your audience and content style.
Track analytics – Use Instagram Insights to track views, engagement, audience demographics. This data helps prove your value.
Negotiate rates strategically – Research industry averages, but also consider factors unique to your account like engagement and production costs.
Maintain transparency – Disclose paid partnerships clearly and comply with FTC endorsement guidelines.
Maximizing Your Earnings from 1 Million Reels Views
Simply getting 1 million views on reels does not guarantee income. Views must come from sponsor-aligned content to drive earnings. Here are tips to maximize monetization from 1 million reels views:
- Secure multiple mid-tier brand sponsorships in the $500 – $1,000 range rather than fewer high-paying deals.
- Intersperse sponsored reels between regular content to keep feed varied and engaging.
- Experiment with different types of branded content like reviews, unboxings, brand mentions, etc. to see what resonates most with your audience.
- Repurpose top-performing organic reels as paid partnerships by incorporating branded elements.
- Promote your reels off-platform to increase views and demonstrate wider reach to potential sponsors.
Diversifying monetization strategies beyond just sponsored posts also helps maximize income from reels. Consider:
- Launching ecommerce merchandise promoted through reels
- Cross-promoting affiliate links
- Promoting premium content like ebooks, courses, memberships
- Licensing reels content for use in brand ads
Other Ways for Creators to Earn from Instagram
While reels monetization depends on sponsorships, here are some other built-in Instagram monetization features creators can leverage:
Instagram Shop – Sell products directly through Instagram storefronts.
Instagram Subscriptions – Offer exclusive content and experiences to paying subscribers who pay a monthly fee.
Badges – Fans can purchase badges to get special perks in Instagram Lives.
Affiliate Links – Share affiliate links via Link Stickers to get commission on any sales driven.
Keys to Unlocking Income from 1 Million Reels Views
In summary, here are the key factors that determine how much money 1 million Instagram reels views can make:
- Having an engaged, high-value audience that brands want to reach
- Strategic sponsored content partnerships matched to your niche and audience
- Diversified monetization beyond just branded reels
- Consistently creating entertaining and helpful video content optimized for reach
- Leveraging built-in Instagram monetization tools like Shop, Subscriptions, etc.
While 1 million views alone does not guarantee income, by following proven influencer marketing strategies, creators can maximize their earnings potential from a large reels audience.