Ever found yourself wondering how to make a collab post on Instagram? We don’t blame you!
When two or more creators team up, it’s more than just a mere sharing of content — it’s an endorsement. Each collaborator introduces their followers to the other’s content, expanding the potential reach exponentially. These partnerships merge diverse perspectives, styles, and audiences into a single post, generating heightened interest and engagement. Instagram collab posts allow creators to work together so closely they’re practically sharing the same feed!
By the way, Instagram’s algorithm loves this engagement, giving collaborative posts a boost in visibility, often leading to increased exposure across the platform.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of Instagram Collab posts, how to Collab post on Instagram like a pro, and some creative ideas for leveraging the tool to boost engagement.
What is an Instagram collab post?
An Instagram collab post is a lot like a regular post with two differences: it has more than one author and it’ll show up in every collaborator’s feed. You can spot one by looking at the very top.
In Instagram’s ever-evolving landscape, collaborations between creators are a potent force for expanding reach and fostering engagement. Enter Instagram collab posts, aka the dynamic duo (or trio) of content creation.
These posts aren’t just about joining forces with another creator; they maximize your visibility and audience interaction. At their core, Instagram collab posts are collaborative efforts between two or more accounts, pooling creative energies to produce content that resonates with both audiences. It’s like hosting a party where your friends bring their friends. Collabs allow you to create space for followers from different corners of the platform.
What’s the difference between a tag and an Instagram collab post?
Beyond a collab post showing the names of all collaborators at the very top and a tag only showing up when you tap on a post, there are three main differences between the two:
- A collab post is shared with the followers of all collaborators involved. A tag isn’t.
- When a creator is tagged in an Instagram post, that post is automatically added to their profile. When they’re added as a collaborator, they have to manually accept the collaboration invite before showing up on that post.
- Stories can’t have collaborators the way collab posts can, but they can have tags.
Who can be a collaborator?
There aren’t any specific eligibility requirements to use collab posts, meaning even creators with small audiences can join in! Just know that if a collab post goes against Instagram’s Community Guidelines, all creators involved might not be able to make future collab posts.
How to create a Collab post on Instagram
Step 1: Create a post
If you’re stressing over how to create an Instagram collab, don’t worry. Luckily, it’s super easy to create your Instagram Collab post the same way you would any other content.
First, Open Instagram. Tap Create (the + button) in the middle of the bottom menu, and choose Post.
Note: If you’re creating an Instagram Reel, tap Createon the top right and choose Reel. The following steps apply to both creating a post or Reel.
Step 2: Choose your content
Next, it’s time to choose your content. Like any Instagram post, you can choose between a single image, multi-image carousel, or a video post in the post details menu.
Step 3: Invite a collaborator
Once you’ve curated your content and crafted the perfect caption, it’s time to invite a collaborator. To do this, tap Tag People. Next, tap Invite Collaborator.
Type the name of the handle of your collaborator and tap it in the list of accounts that come up.
Keep in mind that tagging and Instagram Collabs are different functions. Tagging is putting a user tag on a post. Yes, they’ll still be notified that you tagged them, but you won’t access any of the cross-account actions that you do with the Collab feature.
Step 4: Adjust Collab tag
Just like the tagging feature, you can adjust your Collab tag by moving it around within the image or video post.
This is a useful feature if, say, you have multiple people or objects in the post and want to make it clear which part of the content your collaborator is associated with.
Step 5: Share your Collab post
Congratulations! You’ve created your first Instagram Collab post.
Tap Shareand pop that bubbly if you feel so inclined.
Once you’ve published your post or Reel and it’s live, your collaborator will receive a Collab request. If they accept the request, the post or Reel will automatically appear in their feed post as well, and their username will appear next to yours.
Pro tip: Just like any Instagram post, you want to make sure you’re posting at the right time to get the maximum amount of engagement. Before posting, make sure to check in with your collaborator on their high-traffic times.
How to accept an Instagram Collab post invitation
So, you’ve been invited to collaborate. First of all, awesome! Definitely take a moment to appreciate the opportunity.
Luckily, accepting a collab Instagram post invitation is just as easy as sending one. Read on for the full play-by-play:
- Tap the message symbol in the top right of your Feed.
- Tap the conversation from your Chats list where you’ve received the invite.
- Tap the collaboration invite.
- Tap Review.
- If it all looks good, tap Accept.
That’s it! In just five simple steps, you’re an Instagram collaborator.
Why use Instagram collab posts?
There are so many benefits to collaborating with other creators, including the potential to access a wider community, enhance discoverability, and improve engagement.
Read on to learn more about how a Collab can benefit you as a content creator.
Increased visibility
By partnering with another creator, you expand your content’s exposure beyond your immediate followers, reaching a new pool of engaged users within your collaborator’s network. This “new pool” could represent a more diverse demographic than your existing audience or a more global reach. Think of it as expanding your fanbase without breaking a sweat.
The combination of different perspectives and content styles often pulls people in, stimulating higher engagement levels and fostering a sense of novelty among your followers.
The collaborative impact goes beyond immediate visibility. Instagram’s algorithm tends to favor collaborative efforts, recognizing increased engagement and expanding the post’s reach across the platform.
Social proof
Ever checked reviews on Google before going to a restaurant? Or bought a product a creator recommended? That’s social proof in action. When we see people like us getting value out of something, we’re more likely to join in.
When people see that others are engaging with your collab post — liking, commenting, sharing — they’re more likely to engage because they see others doing the same. It’s the whole “everyone’s doing it, so why not me?” mentality. Having both another creator and their audience engaging with your content is powerful social proof.
That makes Instagram’s collab posts a powerful tool for building credibility, fostering engagement, and expanding your influence through the lens of social proof.
Higher engagement
These days, Instagram has been pumping out a bunch of new features like broadcast channels to help creators improve their audience engagement. And if there’s ever a feature that’s a total win-win situation, it would be the Instagram Collabs feature. Why?
Well, first off, you get to tap into a whole new audience. Partnering up means your content reaches your audience and your collaborator’s followers. That means a double dose of exposure, which leads to more likes, shares, comments, and saves all of which equals more engagement.
The more engagement you get, the more Instagram pays attention to you. So, if suddenly your post is getting some extra love on people’s feed, Instagram’s algorithm is more inclined to favor you. See what we mean by win-win?
Create more content with less work
Burnout is a real threat for creators. Creating content consistently across multiple platforms, looking for ways to make your career more sustainable, and poring over your analytics to make your content better can take their toll. Too many creators work crazy hours to make all this happen — which is why you see so many retiring.
By collaborating with other creators, you can keep up a consistent creation schedule without having to be responsible for everything yourself. Find like-minded creators, work together to make great content, and get it in front of both of your audiences in exactly the same way. You can get all the benefits of a usual collab except the algorithm will actually support you!
Build up your community
Creators often hit frustrating plateaus where creating content consistently doesn’t seem to be enough to keep growing. That’s when they start looking for tips and hacks to get even just a few more followers and feel like they’re growing again.
Collab posts are one of the best hacks for this. You’ve only got so much reach yourself, but when you pair up with another creator, you don’t just get to put your content in front of their audience, you get to build a new partnership.
Networking isn’t just for finance bros. Creators who actively reach out to others for collaborations because they can — rather than just to get more followers — can meet amazing people who help stimulate their creativity, keep them accountable, and help them make the best content they’ve ever made.
Better content (and fewer duplicates)
One of the best parts of collaborating with another creator? Making something you never could have accomplished on your own. Every creator brings their own perspective, and even the same prompt or trend can come out completely differently when two creators take it for a spin.
Want to get the best out of your collab post? Go out and find a creator who brings a completely different skillset to it. Beauty vlogger? Pair up with a fitness influencer and see what you can create together. Do you share tech tips and DIYs? How could a visual artist help you make something really unique?
Sure, collab posts are great for building your audience and getting more engagement, but at their core, they’re about making something amazing together.
8 Ways to use Instagram collab posts to boost engagement
1. Host a giveaway
Using Instagram’s Collabs feature for giveaways is a game-changer. Partnering with another creator magnifies your giveaway’s reach, tapping into their audience and yours simultaneously. This amplification sparks excitement, drawing more participants and boosting engagement.
Collaborative giveaways create buzz, leveraging combined follower bases to maximize visibility and participation. This all results in heightened engagement and increased brand exposure for both collaborators.
2. Cross-promote your Instagram accounts
If you’re a creator with multiple side projects (and multiple Instagram accounts), the Collab feature can be an invaluable tool for exposure. Think of it as one project acting as social proof for the other, with the added bonus of boosting engagement across multiple accounts at once.
Not only does cross-promoting your other projects or brands help boost engagement across all your accounts, but it also signals to the Instagram algorithm that you deserve some of that quality exposure on the Feed, which ultimately helps your audience see more of what you do.
3. Partnering with creators
In short, using the Collab feature for partnerships with creators is a savvy move.
When two Instagram accounts join forces, it elevates the content’s authenticity, making it feel more genuine to audiences. This shared endorsement amplifies engagement, as followers see a trusted collaboration rather than a blatant ad.
The combined credibility and relatability boost engagement rates and enhance the impact of the post for both collaborators.
Plus, when two creators produce a post together, that means less of the same thing popping up on everyone’s feed, which can feel a bit spammy, even for high-quality campaigns or content.
4. Showcase your work
For creators who make content that is highly visual — florists, makeup artists, stylists, photographers, filmmakers, graphic designers, etc. — Instagram Collabs can operate as a virtual exhibition and testimonial.
For example, if you’re a makeup artist, you might want to utilize Instagram Collabs to promote content featuring a particularly popular influencer client for a boost of engagement.
5. Promote an event
Whether it’s a concert, holiday market, bake sale, book-signing event, conference, or exhibition, leveraging Instagram’s Collab feature for event promotion is a smart play. Partnering with another creator amplifies event visibility among both audiences, generating more interest and attendance.
All that buzz draws in followers from both sides to engage, share, and attend. This combined effort boosts engagement, stirs up anticipation, and ensures a wider reach for the event, benefiting both you and your collaborator with increased engagement and event attendance.
6. Paid partnerships and sponsored posts
With collab posts, the days of just mentioning a brand in a caption or tagging them might be over. By having both a creator and the brand they’re promoting as authors, sponsored posts can show up in both feeds, which helps contribute to a brand’s organic content without their customers having to go somewhere else.
Don’t be surprised if your future brand partnerships involve collab posts in a big way.
7. Uplift smaller creators
If you’ve already built up a strong following on Instagram, collab posts are a great opportunity for you to give back. Find creators in your niche who don’t have as big of an audience and reach out to them. Offer some ideas for a collaboration, but listen to them and see what they think. As a newer creator, they bring a fresh perspective to your niche that might unlock some seriously cool ideas.
8. Launch a product
Creators can make serious bank launching their own products. While some products benefit from being attached to your brand as a creator, others (like Logan Paul’s Prime Hydration) need their own separate brand. But even when that’s the case, you can occasionally tie the two brands together with a collab post to give your product some love from your audience.
Collab your way to growth!
Wondering how to boost your engagement and monetize your audience? Leveraging Instagram’s Collabs feature is a great place to start.
For even more tips on how to make money from your creator hustle, check out our guide on How to Make Money on Instagram.
FAQ
How do I make a collab post on Instagram?
Wondering how to use the Instagram Collabs feature? Luckily, it’s a breeze to co-author content.
You can partner with another creator by initiating the post from your account, then tap Tag People and select your collaborator. They’ll receive a notification to join in, and once they accept, both of you can co-author the post seamlessly.
How many collaborators can you include in an Instagram collab post?
You can include up to five collaborators in a single post. You can also tag up to 20 people on your post.
Why can’t I do a collab post on Instagram?
If you’re experiencing difficulty creating a post on Instagram, a few reasons might be at play. First, check that all collaborators have the latest version of the app.
Next, check your account privacy settings. For example, while a private or public account can invite collaborators, a private account user can collaborate with only their account’s followers.
Sometimes, technical glitches occur, so restarting the app or trying again later often resolves the issue.
Can you collaborate on Instagram after posting?
No, you won’t be able to add a collaborator to a post after it’s posted. Make sure to add them before you post!
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