Instagram Badges: Go Live, Make Money!

Instagram Badges are basically like tips that your Instagram viewers can give you in chat (once your account is eligible) during your live streams on the social media platform Instagram.

But you don’t have to wait tables to get them (well, unless your Insta live stream is of you waiting tables) - you just create the live content that you normally create, and let your fans show their appreciation by tossing Badges in chat, which you can later cash out through Instagram.

Tell Me More About Instagram Badges! 

Badges on IG allow your followers to financially support you while you’re live streaming on Instagram. You get the majority of your revenue from Badges, as Instagram doesn’t take a cut; but Google and Apple do take a percentage for in-app mobile purchases (usually around 30%.) You can track your earnings from Badges, and then get paid by setting up a payout account, also with Instagram.

Onscreen graphics like hearts and glowing purple boxes around user photos indicate which of your viewers are purchasing badges for you, so you can thank them for their support while you’re live, or include them in an Instagram Story later. They’re an entertaining way for your fans to show support, and have also become something of a status symbol for your viewers!

So How Do I Get These IG Badges?

To get Instagram Badges unlocked for your Instagram account, you first have to meet the eligibility requirements to make Badges available to you during your Instagram Lives. To use Badges, you need to:

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Have a Professional account on Instagram (Creator or Business)

• Have a minimum of 10,000 Instagram followers

• Meet Instagram’s community guidelines and monetization policies 

All set? Then switch on Badges! Go to “Profile” and tap your Professional Dashboard. If you’ve met the eligibility requirements, you’ll see a button there called “Set Up Badges.” Once you have access, Badges will automatically be activated any time you go live on your Instagram account! 

And How Do Badges Work?

For your followers to purchase and use Badges during one of your Instagram live streams, they just need to tap your profile photo during your live broadcast; they can then tap the Badges icon, selecting a Badge amount to give you (viewers can purchase Badges in $0.99, $1.99, and $4.99 increments, but are limited to $250 U.S. in Badge purchases per live stream.)

This monetization feature even lets your big-time fans buy multiple Badges during a single live stream, to show their support, get their in-chat questions highlighted, and to have a chance at getting their comments pinned by you.

When viewers purchase a Badge, you’ll see a heart next to their usernames (which stay active for the duration of your live stream.) You might also see multiple hearts if your viewer has purchased more than one Badge for you; and you can watch your Badge earnings increase as you continue your stream. 

Make sure you remind your viewers that they can buy Badges to support your Insta efforts - those who tune in partway through your live stream might not realize that they can support you with Badges unless you tell them that Badges are available! 

You can set Badge goals for your live streams, too, and pin them as a comment, to let your fans help you hit a financial milestone or buy a new piece of streaming gear.

After each completed Instagram live stream, use the Badges tab on your Professional Dashboard to keep track of your Badge earnings. And to get paid from Badges, you’ll need to set up a payout account on Instagram, providing info like your name, business info, and a payout method like your bank or PayPal for the direct deposits. 

Getting your Badges earnings is easy - just head to your dashboard and fill out the form!

Badges: Boosting Finances and Fans!

The first thing a creator will think when reading this article about Badges is probably “money” - and you’re not wrong! But Badges also join your viewers in a common goal (to support you via another revenue stream) and lets Badge buyers get rewarded in turn by being seen and acknowledged in the comments as contributing individuals and Insta cheerleaders.

So while Badges do technically monetize your Instagram audience, letting you earn money from your Lives, they’re also helping you build your IG fan base and community. Get those Badges set up as soon as you qualify, and then make sure you get on your Stories to shout out the people who are using Badges to support your content!