Instagram Creator Marketplace: Everything Brands Need to Know

The Instagram Creator Marketplace is Instagram’s built-in tool for connecting brands with influencers directly on the platform. The ICM simplifies influencer outreach and discovery making it easier for brands to find Instagram influencers to partner with.

Below we dig into everything you need to know about Instagram Creator Marketplace, its requirements for brands and creators and whether it makes sense for your brand.

Skip to Section 👇 What is the Instagram Creator Marketplace? Who Can Access the Instagram Creator Marketplace? How to Access the Instagram Creator Marketplace How to Use Instagram Creator Marketplace to Find Influencers What are Instagram Partnership Messages? Pros & Cons of the Instagram Creator Marketplace

What is the Instagram Creator Marketplace?

The Instagram Creator Marketplace is an in-app feature designed to help brands find Instagram influencers and collaborate with them for paid partnerships.

 

The platform works similarly to the TikTok Creator Marketplace, offering a streamlined way to find Instagram creators, manage outreach and track campaigns without leaving the app.

 

The marketplace is accessible through the Professional Dashboard inside the Instagram app.

 

 

Who Can Access the Instagram Creator Marketplace?

Brands and creators must meet specific eligibility criteria to access the feature. Here's a brief summary of Instagram Creator Marketplace requirements for both.

 

For Brands

• Must have an Instagram Business account

• Access is managed through Meta Business Suite

For Creators

• Must have an Instagram Creator account

• Be at least 18 years old

• Reside in a country where the Instagram Creator Marketplace is available

• Meet Instagram’s eligibility criteria for branded content partnerships

• Compliance with Instagram's Community Standards, Content Monetization Policies, Branded Content Policies and Partner Monetization Policies.

How to Access the Instagram Creator Marketplace

The Instagram Creator Marketplace isn't quite as popular as TikTok's which explains why many brands are still trying to figure out whether it makes sense to join.

Here's a breakdown of where you can find the Instagram Creator Marketplace on the app:

For Brands

• Log into Instagram and navigate to the Professional Dashboard.

• Select "Instagram Creator Marketplace" to start discovering influencers.

• Enable branded content tools in Meta Business Suite if required.

For Creators

• Go to the Professional Dashboard in the Instagram app.

• Select Instagram Creator Marketplace and follow the on-screen prompts to apply.

• Make sure your profile is filled out and optimized (relevant niche, audience insights)

Once brands and creators reach an agreement, they can start working together. Brands can boost organic Instagram content as Partnership Ads through the partnership messages feature. Alternatively,  they can create new partnership opportunities in Ads Manager.

How to Use Instagram Creator Marketplace to Find Influencers

• Niche categories (beauty, fitness, tech, etc)

• Follower count and engagement rates

• Location-based targeting for geo-specific campaigns

The platform provides a variety of influencer metrics to help brands make data-driven decisions when selecting potential influencers.

What Are Instagram Partnership Messages?

Brands can send partnership messages directly through Instagram. The marketplace includes built-in influencer outreach and contract tools for a seamless workflow that involves one-on-one communication with creators.

As always, brands should stick to the best practices of Instagram influencer outreach including:

• Being clear about campaign goals, influnecer deliverables and expectations
  
  
• Using performance-based selection (engagement over follower count)
  
  
• Leveraging audience data to match influencers with brand objectives

Instagram Creator Marketplace Pros & Cons

Should your brand use the Instagram Creator Marketplace? It depends on your bandwidth and whether you want to manage influencers manually.

• The Instagram Creator Marketplace is best for small-scale collaborations with direct outreach
  
  
• Payments for creator collaborations are handled outside the platform, unlike TikTok’s Creator Marketplace
  
  
• Instagram influencer platforms like Statusphere offer scalability and automation with pre-negotiated collabs with 1,000s of vetted creators.

Should Your Brand Use the Instagram Creator Marketplace?

The Instagram Creator Marketplace is an option for brands looking to connect with influencers directly on the platform. The tool is ideal for brands that want hands-on control over influencer selection and outreach.

However, if you’re looking for a scalable, automated way to run influencer marketing campaigns, Statusphere makes it easy to get hundreds of creators posting about your brand without the manual work 

Want to see how our platform works? Get in touch with our team to see how Statusphere can scale your Instagram influencer collabs in a fraction of the time.