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.
Must have an Instagram Business account
Access is managed through Meta Business Suite
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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 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.