Monetizing Instagram Stories – how to earn from “disappearing” content?

Instagram Stories are the most underrated tool for making money in 2025. Most creators view them as a backstage, a place for quick posts without a strategy. The truth is, a well-set series of Stories can generate more clicks, DMs, and sales than your entire feed combined. And no, you don’t need 100K followers or a product – just a system that works even with a small community. How to make money on Stories – from links, DMs, stickers, Highlights, and even… from nothing of your own? We have some tips!

Earning on Instagram Stories? Yes, even if you have only a thousand followers 

A few years ago, you needed to have 10,000 followers to even be able to insert a link into a Story. Today? The Link Sticker works for everyone – regardless of the number of followers, account age, or “influencer” status. This means one thing: everyone can earn money on Instagram Stories, even if they’re just starting out.

Why is it worth getting interested in this? Because Stories have higher engagement rates than feed posts. They appear higher, people click on them more often, and watch them daily. Stories have a sense of urgency (disappearing after 24 hours) and provide the opportunity to build a closer relationship. This is exactly where purchases and messages most often happen – and messages are the shortest path to sales.

Instagram Stories are a place where you actually make money through interaction with people, not through beautiful graphics. If you’re present every day, speak clearly, and provide value, you can earn regularly – without any filters or deception.

Stories with a link, or how to earn with one tap – a simple technique for every creator

Don’t have your own product? Great – it’s even better to start. Begin with affiliate marketing and use the Link Sticker, which is now available for all accounts, regardless of reach. Thanks to it, you can insert an interactive link into your Story, and every person who clicks it and buys something generates a commission for you.

It works simply:

• choose a product or service from affiliate programs,
• generate your link,
• post it in the Story with a sticker,
• give a specific CTA (“Click here before it disappears”, “This course changed my sales – tap”)

It sounds trivial, but if you have a well-chosen product (e.g., a course you genuinely recommend or equipment you use), commissions can reach from 10 to 50% of the product’s value. That’s more than many self-made e-books.

Most importantly – this works even with 1-2 sales a day. And with greater reach or good copywriting in Stories – it scales very quickly.

Not just a link – 7 Story formats that work like a mini sales funnel

Stories are not just one photo with a link. It’s a whole sequence that can guide a user from interest to purchase – in a few minutes. If you approach Stories like a mini-funnel, you can achieve surprisingly good results without pushy sales tactics.

The best-performing elements:

• Polls and quizzes – build engagement and keep the viewer,
• Countdown Sticker – adds urgency (“offer ends in 2h”),
• Question box – generates questions that you turn into Stories,
• Hook slide + value slide + CTA slide – a ready skeleton of every story funnel.

This structure allows for a smooth transition from relationship to transaction. People first see something interesting, then something valuable, and only at the end – a CTA. There’s nothing random here – Stories can work like a landing page, only better.

Have something to sell? Show it in Stories – step by step on how to build a series that converts

Selling in Stories isn’t about posting a price and link. It’s about building context. People don’t buy because they see something – they buy because they understand something. Therefore, Stories should be a sequence that takes the viewer through the problem, solution, and only at the end – the offer.

Tried and tested structure?

• Slide 1: Problem – “Are you tired of your content not working?”
• Slide 2-3: Solution – “See what I did to increase reach by 300%.”
• Slide 4-5: Social proof – screenshots, comments, reviews.
• Slide 6: Offer – “Here is a mini-course that will show you how to do it yourself.”
• Slide 7: CTA – “Click the link / send a DM: COURSE”.

This storytelling works because you’re providing value before asking for something. And even if someone doesn’t purchase immediately, they are left with something tangible, and you build credibility for the future.

DM instead of a link – why conversion from messages is 3 times higher (and how to automate it)

DMs sell better than links. And it’s not just a theory – it’s data. Private messages (e.g., with the keyword “DM COURSE”) generate on average a 3 times higher conversion rate than a regular link click. Why? Because it’s more personal, less anonymous, and greatly increases engagement.

People who send you a message have already taken the first step. They are active, engaged, and thus ready to make a purchasing decision. But… you can’t manually respond to everyone, right? That’s where automation through ManyChat comes into play.

You set up a simple bot that:

• responds to specific words (e.g., “DM COURSE”, “EBOOK”, “OFFER”)
• automatically sends a response, such as a PDF, discount code, or link
• collects data (e.g., email) and feeds it into a nurturing sequence

This works because you’re still present – but you don’t have to be online 24/7. The best part? You can see who clicked, who responded, and who is ready to buy. You operate like a salesperson with a CRM, but in Instagram DMs.

Don’t have products? No worries – you can earn on Stories without your own offer (and without a shop)

You don’t need your own products to earn on Instagram. Now you don’t start with “I’ll create a course first, then I’ll sell it”. You start with smartly using other people’s products – legally, profitably, without needing to start a business.

How does it work? You go to RefSpace, create an account, and set up your Space – a place where you collect products from other brands (e.g., planner, course, consultation). You have your link, your recommendation, and every purchase through this link = your commission.

You have your own page, your own store, your own “hub”. Stories are perfect for leading there – just add a Link Sticker, show the product, talk about it honestly. No storage, no shipping, no formalities. Just your influence, your content, and your results.

RefSpace is also a good solution if you don’t feel ready for your own offer but want to start earning here and now.

Monetizing Stories is a system – an action plan for 30 days that will realistically earn you first money

Earning on Stories is not by chance, but a process. If you want to see real results (e.g., 300–1000 PLN monthly), you need a system of action – step by step, day by day. Fortunately, you don’t have to invent it from scratch.

Week 1: Preparation:

• set up a creator/business account,
• join 3+ affiliate programs,
• prepare Highlights and a Link Sticker,
• create a landing page or space in RefSpace.

Week 2-3: Publication + testing:

• daily Stories (5-7), in a 50/30/20 structure,
• testing DM CTA vs. Link Sticker,
• analyze metrics: Completion Rate, Tap Forward, DM reply.

Week 4: Automation + scaling:

• DM bot (e.g., ManyChat),
• follow-up email sequences,
• test Stories Ads (optional),
• expand the offer (more products, more options in RefSpace).

This plan does not require 10K followers, an advertising budget, or your own offer. All you need is consistency. Remember: better to have 3 well-done Stories a day than 20 pointless ones.

FAQ

Do I need to have 10,000 followers to make money from Stories? 

No. Since 2022, every user has access to the Link Sticker – you can earn through affiliation, sales, or consultations regardless of the number of followers.

How often should I post Stories to make it worthwhile? 

Optimal is 5–7 Stories a day, but the content composition is more important than the quantity. Ensure a balance of value, engagement, and sales.

Is it worth investing time in Highlights? 

Yes. Highlights remain on your profile and can convert for months. They are your sales portfolio and a “home page” for new followers.

What products sell best in Stories? 

Products that are easy to understand and have immediate value convert best – courses, e-books, consultations, planners, beauty products.

How much can you actually earn from Stories alone? 

It depends on engagement and the product. Even with a small community, you can earn 300–1000 PLN monthly from affiliation. With scaling and automation – much more.

How to start if I have nothing? 

Create your Space in RefSpace, add a few products from the marketplace, and start recommending them in Stories. You don’t need your own offer to start earning today.