How to Mention Someone in Instagram Reels

Tagging another account in your Instagram Reel is one of the easiest ways to boost your reach, engage your community, and give credit where it's due. Whether you're collaborating with another creator, shouting out a favorite brand, or just including a friend, adding a mention connects your content directly to their audience. This guide breaks down exactly how to mention someone in your Reels - both before and after you post - and offers some simple strategies to make your tags count.

Why Mentioning Someone in Instagram Reels is a Smart Move

Before getting into the how-to, let's quickly cover why this is such a valuable feature. A simple @-mention might seem small, but it has a surprisingly big impact on your content's performance and your account's growth.

• It Expands Your Reach: When you mention someone, they get a notification. If they love what you've created, they might share your Reel to their own Stories, instantly putting your content in front of a new, relevant audience. This is one of the fastest ways to get more eyes on your work organically.
• It Builds Community and Relationships: Social media is, well, social. Tagging creators who inspire you, brands you genuinely love, or followers who create user-generated content (UGC) shows that you're paying attention. It can be a powerful networking tool that turns a simple video into a conversation and relationship-builder.
• It Gives Proper Credit: If you're using someone's amazing idea, audio, or reposting their video, tagging them is non-negotiable. It's the right thing to do and shows respect for other creators, fostering goodwill within the community.
• It Opens Doors for Collaborations: Regularly and authentically tagging other accounts can be the first step toward a formal collaboration. When brands or creators see that you're a genuine fan, they're much more likely to want to work with you in the future.

How to Mention Someone in a Reel Before You Post

There are two primary ways to tag an account as you're publishing a Reel: in the caption itself or by using the "Tag People" feature. For maximum impact, you should consider using both.

Method 1: Tagging in the Reel Caption

This is the most direct and publicly visible way to mention an account. People reading your caption will immediately see the tag and can click through to the other user's profile. It's perfect for shout-outs, giving credit, or calling attention to a specific person or brand.

Here's the step-by-step process:

1. Create Your Reel: Record your video clips directly in the Reels editor or upload a pre-made video from your camera roll.
2. Edit Your Content: Go through the editing process - add your audio, trim your clips, record a voiceover, and add any text overlays or effects. When you're happy with the video, tap "Next."
3. Write Your Caption: On the final share screen, you'll see a box labeled "Write a caption." This is where you'll put your tag.
4. Use the "@" Symbol: To mention someone, simply type the "@" symbol followed immediately by their Instagram username. For example, if you wanted to tag the user "YourFriend," you would type @YourFriend.
5. Select the Correct Account: As you begin typing, Instagram will provide a list of suggested accounts that match the username. Be careful to select the correct one from the list! It's easy to accidentally click a fan page or an account with a slightly different spelling. Once you tap the correct username, it will appear highlighted in your caption, meaning the tag is active.

This method is simple and effective. The tagged user will receive a notification that you mentioned them in your caption, giving them a chance to check it out.

Method 2: Using the "Tag People" Feature and Inviting Collaborators

This method is a bit different from a caption mention. It works more like tagging someone in a photo. The tag doesn't appear directly in your caption, but it attaches to the Reel itself and posts the video to the "Tagged" tab on the other person's profile. This is often seen as a more "official" tag and is ideal for anyone who is physically in the video or was directly involved in creating it.

A more powerful option within this feature is "Invite Collaborator." This lets you co-author the Reel, so it shows up on *both* of your profiles, sharing engagement and reach between your two audiences. This is the gold standard for partnerships.

Here's how to do it:

1. Create and Edit Your Reel: Follow the same first two steps as above. Get your video looking perfect and proceed to the share screen.
2. Find the "Tag People" Option: On the share screen, just below the caption box, you'll see an option labeled "Tag people." Tap on it.
3. Choose Between "Tag" and "Invite Collaborator": You'll see two options at the top:
   • Add Tag: If you just want to tag them (so the Reel appears on their Tagged tab), tap the screen where you'd like the tag to appear or in the search bar. Start typing their username, select the correct account from the dropdown list, and their tag will appear on the Reel preview. You can tag multiple accounts this way.
   • Invite Collaborator: Tapping this button allows you to search for and select one other account to be a co-author. When they accept your invitation, your username and their username will both appear on the Reel post, and the Reel will be shared to both of your profile grids and feeds. All the views, likes, and comments will be shared between the two posts.
4. Finish and Post: After you've added your tags or invited a collaborator, tap "Done." Complete your caption, choose a cover image, and hit "Share" to post your Reel.

Which Method Should You Use?

So, which is better: a caption mention, a tag, or a collaboration invite? It depends on your goal.

• For general shout-outs or giving credit: A caption mention (@username) is great. It's highly visible and easy to do. For extra certainty they'll see it, use the Add Tag feature as well.
• When someone is in the video or helped you create it: Use the Add Tag feature so the content is cataloged on their profile. It's a good idea to also mention them in the caption for visibility.
• For joint projects or partnerships: The Invite Collaborator feature is an absolute must. Nothing matches its power for combining audiences and mutual growth. Remember, you can only have one collaborator, and they have to accept the request.

The Pro-Move: For an important collaborator or brand you really want to reach, do both: invite them as a collaborator (or tag them) *and* mention them in the caption. This maximizes the chances they will see your content and engage with it.

Can You Tag Someone in a Reel *After* Posting?

This is the question marketers and creators ask all the time. You've just hit "Share" and realize you forgot to tag a crucial brand or performer. Don't worry, you have options - but they are limited.

What You CAN Do After Posting: Mention Them in the Caption

You can always go back and edit your Reel's caption to add an @-mention.

1. Navigate to the Reel on your profile grid.
2. Tap the three dots (...) on the side of the screen.
3. Select "Edit" from the menu.
4. You can now edit your caption. Type "@" followed by the username and select their account from the list.
5. Tap "Done" to save your changes.

The person you tag will still receive a notification, even though you added it after the fact. It's the best way to fix a forgotten tag.

What You CAN'T Do After Posting: Add Direct Tags or Collaborators

This is the important part: you cannot use the "Tag People" feature or "Invite Collaborator" feature on a Reel that has already been published. That functionality is only available on the share screen *before* you post. If you absolutely need to use the collaborator feature, your only option is to delete the Reel and re-upload it with the collaboration invite sent from the start.

Alternatively, you can mention them in a comment on your own Reel. However, this is far less effective, as your comment can quickly get lost, and the notification is less prominent.

Strategies and Etiquette for Great Reel Mentions

Knowing how to tag is one thing, knowing when and why is what separates beginners from pros.

• DON'T spam-tag big accounts. Mentions should be genuine. Randomly tagging huge celebrities or brands in irrelevant content won't get you noticed, it will just make you look spammy. Tag accounts that have a real connection to your content.
• DO tag small businesses and creators. If you're at a local coffee shop or showing off a product from an indie brand, tag them! These smaller accounts are often more attentive to their mentions and are highly likely to appreciate it and share your content.
• DON'T overdo it. Stuffing your caption or your Reel with dozens of tags can look cluttered and desperate. Tag only the most relevant participants or inspirations. Instagram limits you to 20 tags per post for a reason.
• DO double-check the username. The internet is full of similar handles and fan accounts. Before hitting Share, quickly tap on the @-mention in your caption draft to make sure it leads to the correct profile.
• DO engage back when you're tagged. Tagging is a conversation. When someone mentions you, make an effort to like, comment on, or even share their Reel. It builds good faith and encourages others to do the same for you.

Final Thoughts

Tagging people in your Instagram Reels is a straightforward technique that delivers real rewards for your social media strategy. It helps you amplify your message, network with others in your niche, and build a more engaged community around your content. Mastering when to use a caption mention versus a direct tag or a collaboration invite gives you flexible tools to get the most out of every video you create.

Of course, consistency is everything, and planning out your content - including your collaborations and tag strategies - is what really drives growth. At Postbase, we designed our platform with today's creators in mind, focusing on the features that matter most, like a visual calendar to see your entire content plan at a glance. We help you create, schedule, and publish all of your content (especially video!) reliably across all your platforms, so you can spend less time scrambling to post and more time building relationships with the accounts you're tagging.