When we put paid budget behind your content, Instagram requires your one-time permission. It takes about 10 seconds, you stay in control, and you can revoke it at any time. Here is exactly what happens, step by step, with screenshots from a real approval.
Before you start (one-time)
Your Instagram must be a professional account (Creator or Business). If it is not: Instagram > Settings > Account type and tools > Switch to professional account. It is free and takes a minute.
Step 1. You receive our request
As soon as Lissen sends the partnership request, Instagram notifies you automatically in two ways, and we also email you a direct link as backup. Any of the three works:
A push notification: "benlissen has requested to become an ad partner"
An Instagram DM with a "Request to run partnership ads" card. Tap "View ad partners"
The link in our communication (e.g. email)
All three take you to the same place: your Partnership ad permissions screen, where our request appears under "Pending requests".
Step 2. Review and approve
Tap the request. Instagram shows you exactly what you are allowing before you decide:
We can create partnership ads from your archived, submitted or tagged content
Ads may show your username, but nothing is ever posted to your profile
We can see insights on partnered content (so we can report results back to you)
You can stop ads and remove permissions at any time
Tap "Allow".
Once approved, we appear under "Active permissions" with a "Remove" button next to our name. That button is your kill switch: tap it whenever you want and any ads stop running from your handle.
Step 3. Tag us to make your content available for an ad
Tag @BenLissen in your campaign posts (a mention, the paid partnership label, or a collab post). Instagram only lets us boost content we are tagged in, so the tag is what lets us put budget behind your post without asking you anything further. Untagged posts stay untouchable.
Step 4. What a live campaign looks like
You are notified when an ad featuring you goes live: "A partnership ad featuring you and benlissen is now running."
The ad shows both names in the header, your handle and Lissen's, with the Paid partnership label. It is your post, your voice, amplified. Nothing appears on your grid and your account is never accessed.
You can open the ad details at any time to see its status, destination link, placements (Feed, Stories, Reels), insights, and a "Stop ad" button that is yours to use.
Boosting an older post that has no Lissen tag
For a post published before we partnered, Instagram uses a per-post code instead:
Open the post > tap the three dots (top right) > "Partnership label & ads"
Toggle on "Get partnership ad code"
Copy the code and DM or email it to us
You can disable the code at any time by toggling it off: running ads finish, no new ones start.
If "Partnership label & ads" does not appear in the post menu, enable branded content tools first: Professional dashboard > Partnership ads (or search "branded content" in Instagram Settings).
Frequently asked questions
Does this give Lissen access to my account? No. We never log into your account and cannot post as you. The permission only lets us run ads built from content you are tagged in.
Will the ads change my post's likes or views? No. The ad is a separate object; its likes, comments and views live on the ad. Your original post is untouched. Profile visits and new followers driven by the ad do come to your account.
Can I stop it whenever I want? Yes, two ways: "Remove" next to Lissen in Partnership ad permissions (stops everything), or "Stop ad" inside a specific ad's details (stops that one ad).
Who pays for the ads? Lissen runs and funds the campaigns from our own ad account, per the terms of your partner agreement. Your payouts are never touched.
I did not get the notification or DM. What do I do? Go to Instagram > Settings > Professional dashboard > Partnership ads > Pending requests and approve from there. If nothing is pending, message us and we will re-send the request.
Why does the request say "benlissen"? That is Lissen's Instagram account sending the partnership request. The name you approve is the name that appears next to yours in the ad header.