Instagram Tests New Features To Make It Easy For Content Creators To Get Sponsored

Image Credit: Doc. Instagram

JAKARTA - Instagram is testing a new tool that makes it easier for content creators to make money through managing branded content on Facebook's social media.

First, Instagram is testing a new Partnerships message folder in Instagram DMs, which will be a dedicated space for tracking sponsored content opportunities and communications.

The Partnerships message folder will be separated from incoming DM General and Requests. Instagram DMs are only for messages from brands, and those incoming messages will be filtered from Facebook's Brand Collabs Manager platform, or via the new brand search option. That way, this new feature will facilitate the connection between brands and content creators who follow their profiles.

It should be noted that all brands that are linked through this DM folder will meet the Partner Monetization policy, as a qualification for the new connection tool. This can be an easier way to facilitate collaboration agreements.

The second trial includes affiliate stores, a feature first introduced at Creator Week in June and is an extension of Facebook's existing shopping feature. However, the latest version allows content creators to link to products that are already part of their affiliate settings. Creators will earn commission fees when their followers purchase products from these stores.

The company says for now the shopping feature will only be available to content creators who are part of this affiliate program. The app is known to be working on a tool to match brands with content creators looking for sponsors.

With these tools, content creators can identify the brands they are interested in working with right from the app. Meanwhile, brands will be able to search for creator content that fits their needs based on factors such as age, gender and number of followers.

However, the tool is still in its early stages, with only a handful of companies and content creators participating for now. But Instagram has previously hinted the feature could expand significantly.

Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said earlier this year that Instagram was planning a branded content marketplace to help enable a larger middle class of creators. This is quoted from Social Media Today, Saturday, October 23.