Instagram has announced the expansion of its creator marketplace to 10 additional countries. This platform, initially launched in the U.S. in 2022, is designed to connect brands with creators to foster collaboration. Meta has now extended this feature to include 'thousands' of creators and brands, enhancing the scope of the marketplace significantly.
New Countries Included
The new countries added to Instagram's creator marketplace are:
1. South Korea
2. Germany
3. The Netherlands
4. France
5. Spain
6. Israel
7. Turkey
8. Mexico
9. Argentina
10. Indonesia
Initial Rollout and Expansion
The creator marketplace was first introduced in the U.S. in 2022 for a select group of users. In February, Meta expanded this feature to eight more markets, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, India, and Brazil. Despite the platform's inaccessibility to creators in China, Meta facilitates connections between China-based brands and creators in available regions.
Joining the Program
To join Instagram's creator marketplace, creators must:
1. Be at least 18 years old
2. Have a professional account
3. Fulfill the platform’s criteria, including having a 'significant following' (though the exact follower count is not specified by Meta)
Features for Creators
Once part of the program, creators can:
1. Indicate their topics of interest
2. Highlight relevant brands to increase visibility
3. View inbound collaboration requests through the 'partnership messages' inbox
Competitive Landscape
Other social networks are also enhancing their efforts to connect brands with creators:
1. Snap, YouTube, and TikTok are bolstering their brand-creator connections.
2. VSCO introduced a marketplace for brands to collaborate with professional photographers.
3. Startups like Catch+Release and Agentio are working to formalize interactions between brands and creators.
In Conclusion
Instagram's expansion of its creator marketplace to 10 new countries marks a significant step in connecting brands with creators globally. With this move, Meta aims to enhance collaboration opportunities and foster creative partnerships across a broader geographical spectrum.
