What Is The New Instagram Subscription Feature

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Exploring Instagram’s New Subscription Feature

Instagram has joined the leagues of Patreon and Ko-fi by introducing a new subscription feature for content creators. This article talks about what the feature does and how it will benefit content creators.

Karina Gandola

Published on August 3, 2022

Learn what the new Instagram subscription feature is, and how you, as a creator, can benefit from this.

Instagram has long since been a favorite among content creators of all types. It is a platform that offers numerous opportunities to be identified and to grow. Despite all this, the app itself has offered no chances for content creators to make money off of their craft. You either had to search for and collaborate with brands, or create separate Patreon or Ko-fi accounts and encourage your followers to subscribe.

Well, Instagram has heard you and is bringing an end to this problem through its new subscription feature! Let’s learn what it is, how it works, and how you can benefit from it.

What Is The Instagram Subscription Feature?

Instagram subscription is a feature that allows you to monetize your content by putting some of it behind a paywall/ monthly subscription. Once you set up the subscription feature, users will be able to see a “subscribe” button on your profile.

This feature was first launched by Facebook and is now being expanded to Instagram to help content creators monetize their craft.

Source: Alan Chikin Chow

For a monthly fee, your subscribers would be able to access your exclusive content. They also get a cool purple badge that will let you identify them!

This badge will show up beside their username whenever they comment on your posts or send you a private message. You will also have the option of filtering your inbox to see messages only from your subscribers.

Apart from the badge, subscribers will get access to exclusive content such as:

Posts
Stories
Reels
Live broadcasts
Subscriber-only group chats

As the creator, you get to set the monthly subscription fee. As of now, you can set the price to be anywhere between $0.99 to $99.99. Subscriber payments will be made via in-app purchases. Since this feature is still being tested, Instagram will not take a cut from the money you make until it announces otherwise.

Note: This feature is currently only available to limited content creators in the U.S. Here are the lucky few who got early access to the subscription feature. If you want to see how it works, go ahead and click that subscribe button! Canceling your subscription is just as easy, I promise.

Even though this feature is limited to the US as of now, I have no doubt that it will soon be rolled out in other countries once its success has been measured. So stay tuned!

How To Set Up The Instagram Subscription Feature

Once the feature becomes available to you, follow these steps to set it up and watch the revenue roll in!

Go to your Instagram professional dashboard.

Click on “set up subscriptions.” You can also do this via Settings.
Select Next. You will be shown the terms and conditions.
Once you read through them, click on Agree and select Next again.
Choose the Publish option and then click on Create.
Congrats! Your subscription feature has been activated. Users will now be able to view the Subscribe button on your profile!

Benefits of The Instagram Subscription Feature

The Instagram subscription feature has several benefits. For starters, it offers people a way to support their favorite content creators without having to break their banks.

The feature allows content creators to make money by doing what they love. A large number of subscribers means more recurring revenue, which will also act as incentive for them to keep creating more content and putting it out there. This will also reduce creator fatigue.

Moreover, many content creators often have full-time day jobs to support themselves. So, content creation often falls to the wayside. Monetizing their content creation allows them to support themselves as well as gives them more time to focus on making their art. This is a win-win because their followers also get to enjoy more of their work.

Moreover, it also gives them a chance to form a deeper relationship with their subscribers through subscriber-only group chats.

Some Subscription Ideas For Your Account

By providing unique content, you have the chance to set yourself apart from other content creators and gain a loyal following. Here are some subscription ideas for your account:

Private coaching/ classes: Do you excel in your field? Do people always ask you to give tips and tricks? Conducting private classes exclusively for your subscribers might be a great option! They get to learn directly from you while you get to make money! For example, if you are a beauty influencer, you can take classes on how to perfect a makeup look. Moreover, you can also gauge the success of conducting such classes and then scale up in the future if it proves to be lucrative.

Exclusive merchandise: You can create and sell exclusive merchandise to your subscribers. This will make your subscribers feel special and you won’t have to worry about your stock running out. Alternatively, if you want to keep your merchandise open to everyone, you can offer a signed option to your subscribers.

Behind-the-scenes footage: Who doesn’t love a glimpse into the private life of their favorite content creator? You can post behind-the-scenes footage, take them on a trip through your day, or share little tidbits about your life that don’t usually make it on to social media.

Exclusive discounts/ giveaways: Let’s say you sell some products or services. You can offer exclusive discounts to your subscribers. For example: 20% off on their first purchase. Hosting giveaways is another option!

Allowing subscribers to participate in your content creation: You can hold exclusive live chats and ask your subscribers to give you ideas for upcoming content. You can, then, turn those ideas into actual content. You can also ask subscribers to create content, which you can share on your stories.

Feedback/ Live Q and A sessions: You can host feedback sessions where people get to share their work with you and you give them exclusive feedback and answer any questions they might have.

Instagram subscriptions can be a really great idea. If you have the bandwidth to create normal as well as exclusive content regularly, go for it! This may just be the thing that makes your dreams of being a full-time content creator come true.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new Instagram subscription feature?

The Instagram subscription feature is a tool that allows content creators to monetize their content by putting some of it behind a paywall or monthly subscription. For a monthly fee, subscribers gain access to exclusive content, such as posts, stories, reels, live broadcasts, and subscriber-only group chats.

How do I set up the Instagram subscription feature?

Once the feature is available, you can set it up by going to your Instagram professional dashboard, clicking on “set up subscriptions,” selecting next, reading and agreeing to the terms and conditions, choosing the publish option, and clicking on create.

Who is eligible to use the Instagram subscription feature?

As of August 2022, the Instagram subscription feature is only available to a limited number of content creators in the US. However, it is expected to be rolled out in other countries soon.

How much can content creators charge for subscriptions on Instagram?

Content creators can set the monthly subscription fee anywhere between $0.99 to $99.99. However, since this feature is still being tested, Instagram will not take a cut from the money made until it announces otherwise.

What are some benefits of the Instagram subscription feature for content creators?

The Instagram subscription feature offers content creators a way to monetize their content, make money by doing what they love, and reduce creator fatigue. It also allows them to form a deeper relationship with their subscribers through subscriber-only group chats. Additionally, it offers a chance for content creators to set themselves apart from other creators by providing unique and exclusive content to their subscribers.