Instagram is introducing a new native affiliate tool that will allow creators and influencers to discover new products available on checkout, share them with their followers, and earn commissions for the purchases they drive.

The Facebook-owned platform already enables users to use Instagram to partner with brands, sell their own merchandise, earn money from their supporters, and earn a portion of revenue from ads that run against their video content.

With the new tool, when people come across an affiliate post from a creator featuring tagged products, they will see ‘Eligible for commission’ at the top of the post, so that it’s clear that their purchases help support that creator.

‘Affiliate’ will test with a small group of US-based creators and businesses including Benefit, Kopari, MAC, Pat McGrath Labs and Sephora, and will expand to more partners in the future.

Facebook said that for those who want to sell their own merchandise, it is making it easier to add an existing shop or open a new shop on their Instagram profile.

“For creators who already have their own product lines, they can now link their shop to their personal profile in addition to their business profile,” it said. “This allows them to display and sell their products directly to fans. The ability to link a shop to a personal profile will be available globally starting today.”

Sellers will also be able to set up a new shop and exclusive product launches from the Instagram app by linking their account with one of our four merchandise partners: Bravado/UMG, Fanjoy, Represent, and Spring.

This tool will roll out to all those eligible in the US by end of the year.

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