What are Instagram subscriptions?
Instagram is introducing ‘subscriptions’… here’s everything you need to know about the new feature
Instagram Subscriptions, allow you to create money from Instagram by giving your 'subscribers’ access to exclusive content and benefits, by allowing your followers to pay for premium content on your Instagram Lives and Instagram stories.
This is akin to how users on Only Fans or Patreon can charge those who follow them for exclusive content. ‘Creators’ on Instagram will see a subscriber badge next to comments and messages so they can easily identify their subscribers.
At the moment the feature isn’t available to everyone, and is only being tested on a handful of U.S. based ‘creators’ on Instagram. Instagram said that they have plans to expand access to more creators over the next few months. (So come back here for more updates as we find out more.)
In a statement on their website Instagram explained, “a handful of creators will be able to set a monthly price of their choice, unlock a “subscribe” button on their profile… and offer benefits to their subscribers”
What can you charge for on Instagram Subscriptions?
Subscriber Lives: Creators can broadcast exclusive Lives to their subscribers, allowing them to engage more deeply.
Subscriber Stories: Creators can create stories just for their subscribers, allowing them to share exclusive content and to use interactive story stickers with their most engaged followers only.
How can I see how Instagram Subscriptions works?
If you want to see Subscriptions in action, you can currently follow and subscribe to these creators: @alanchikinchow, @sedona._, @alizakelly, @kelseylynncook, @elliottnorris, @jordanchiles, @jackjerry, @bunnymichael, @donalleniii and @lonnieiiv.
A bit of history:
The feature has actually been around for a while although not on Instagram. Back in 2020 Facebook (or Meta as it is now known) introduced ‘Subscriptions’ on the Meta platform. As part of their “continued commitment to supporting creators”, the company shared that Meta would not collect any fees from creators on Facebook Subscriptions purchases until 2023 at the earliest… and this will also apply to Instagram Subscriptions.
How can you prepare for Instagram Subscriptions?
Instagram guru and the Head of Social Media at Grazia UK, Phoebe Parke, has outlined her top tips for how you can prepare for the new feature once it rolls out to the rest of the world and more creators here: