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Instagram Subscriptions is the latest monetization feature for influencers (aka Creators) to grow their income directly on the platform.

Creators can set a monthly price of their choice and unlock a purple “subscribe” button on their profile.

In addition to supporting your favorite creators monetarily, benefits of subscribing include exclusive subscriber-only content such as:

• Subscriber Lives

• Subscriber Stories

Subscribers also get Badges that will appear next to comments and messages. This will help creators “easily identify their subscribers”—and it also sounds like a great way that the platform will elevate and advertise the subscription opportunity to non-subscribers.

The feature is only available to a few creators for now. If you want to check it out for yourself, the current influencers mentioned in the Insta announcement include:

• @jordanchiles

• @jackjerry

• @bunnymichael

• @donalleniii

• @lonnieiiv

• @alanchikinchow

• @sedona._

• @alizakelly

• @kelseylynncook

• @elliottnorris

Why it Matters

Paid subscriptions have been slowly infiltrating the social web, from Twitter Blue to OnlyFans. Subscriptions came to Instagram’s parent Facebook in 2020 (well, their parent is now “Meta”… but you get it). YouTube has been a boon to many video influencers since paid subscriptions and merchandise selling rolled out in 2018. TikTok is reportedly playing catchup.

The catch for creators is that with subscriptions, you need to create both public content and gated “special” content for your paid audience. Burnout can be a real concern. But for those who can make it work, it can become quite lucrative.

In the meantime, the influencer economy isn’t slowing down, so the platfroms’ ongoing battle to be the go-to platform for the best creators will continue.

See Also: If you’re a Creator looking to upgrade your measurement strategy, check out this Guide to Instagram Analytics from our friends at Adobe Express.

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Here are a few more shareworthy items we’ve been reading this month…

Channel Updates & News:

• Twitter Experiments with a New 'Flocks' Option for More Enclosed Tweet Sharing (Social Media Today)

• Why the LinkedIn Lite app is being retired (LinkedIn blog)

• New Updates To The Pinterest Algorithm In 2022 (TechAndTechs)

• TikTok Adds Live-Stream Intros to Better Facilitate Engagement (Social Media Today)

• Introducing Privacy Center (Meta blog)

• Instagram Adds Profiles Feature to Highlight Upcoming Streams (Social Media Today)

• Pinterest Testing Idea Pin Highlights (Social Media Today)

• Facebook Removing Profile Videos (Social Media Today)

• Snap upgrades its AR Shopping features with real-time pricing, more product details (TechCrunch)

• Snap Extends Content Deals with Major Media Companies (Snap newsroom)

• Twitter expanding Mute and Block options (@TwitterSupport)

• Introducing "Share on Clubhouse" and Web Listening (Clubhouse blog)

Stories & Analysis

• TikTok tops Google as the most visited website on the internet (CBS News)

• Promise of the Metaverse: A reflection on 2021, a look ahead to 2022 (FB Tech blog)

• Tap Into 2022 Instagram Trends (IG Business blog)

• 6 Mobile Commerce Trends to Watch for in 2022 (Snap Business blog)

• Global Talent Trends 2022 Report (LinkedIn)

• A Banner Year for Gaming on Twitter in 2021 (Twitter blog)

• LinkedIn Continues to see 'Record Levels' of Engagement (Social Media Today)

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