How to Tag a Post on Instagram

Tagging on Instagram is one of the simplest ways to expand your reach, build community, and connect with other accounts, but doing it right involves more than just tapping a screen. This guide covers everything you need to know about tagging people, products, and brands, from the basic steps for new posts and Stories to the strategic differences between a tag and a mention. We'll show you not only how to do it but how to do it effectively to grow your account.

Why Tagging on Instagram Matters

Before we get into the step-by-step, it's important to understand why tagging is such a fundamental part of the Instagram experience. It’s not just about letting a friend know they’re in a picture. For creators, marketers, and brands, tagging is a powerful tool with tangible benefits.

• It Increases Reach and Visibility: When you tag an account in your post, that photo or video appears in the "Tagged Photos" section of their profile. This exposes your content to their entire audience, who might not have discovered your page otherwise. For brands tagging influencers or customers, this extends your content's lifespan and reach organically.
• It Builds Community and Relationships: Tagging is a form of digital acknowledgment. Tagging a photographer gives them proper credit, tagging a coffee shop shows your support, and tagging friends builds shared online experiences. It sends a direct signal to other accounts that you value their contribution or presence, fostering goodwill and strengthening relationships.
• It Drives Engagement: The accounts you tag receive a notification. This prompts them to check out a new post, leave a comment, or even share it to their own Stories, all of which boost your engagement signals in the eyes of the Instagram algorithm. By tagging relevantly, you're starting a conversation directly with the people and brands most likely to interact with your content.
• It Enables Commerce and Collaboration: With product tags, you can turn your feed into a seamless shopping experience, allowing users to buy directly from a post. For creators, using the 'paid partnership' tag creates transparency with your audience while giving brand partners valuable analytics on campaign performance.

How to Tag People in a New Instagram Post

This is the most common form of tagging - adding people to a new photo or video you're about to share on your feed. Here’s the straightforward process.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Start a New Post: Tap the + icon at the bottom of the Instagram app and navigate to the “Post” option to start creating a new post. Select the photo(s) or video(s) you want to upload from your gallery.
2. Edit and Filter: Apply any desired filters or edits, then tap “Next.”
3. Access the Tagging Menu: On the final screen where you write your caption, you'll see a menu of options. Tap on "Tag People."
4. Place Your Tag: Your image or video will appear. Tap anywhere on the media where you want the tag to show up. A search bar will pop up for you to type in the username of the person you want to tag.
5. Select the Account: As you type, Instagram will suggest accounts. Select the correct one from the list. The tag will now appear on your image. You can drag it to reposition it anywhere you like.
6. Add More Tags (If Needed): You can repeat the process to add more people. Instagram allows you to tag up to 20 accounts in a single post. When you’re finished, tap “Done.”
7. Finish and Share: After adding all your tags, write your caption, add a location, and tap “Share” to publish your post.

How to Tag People in an Existing Instagram Post

Forgot to tag someone? It’s easy to go back and add tags to a photo or video that's already live on your profile.

Steps for Editing Tags:

1. Go to Your Post: Navigate to the post you want to edit on your profile grid.
2. Open the Edit Menu: Tap the three dots (...) in the top-right corner of your post. Select "Edit" from the menu that appears.
3. Add or Edit Tags: For photos, you'll see a small icon of a person in a tag at the bottom-left corner of your image. Tap it. For videos, you may see a "Tag People" option in the main edit screen.
4. Manage Your Tags: From here, you can tap anywhere on the photo to add a new tag by searching for a username. You can also tap on existing tags to remove or change them.
5. Save Your Changes: Once you've added or adjusted your tags, tap “Done” or the checkmark to save the edits. The post is now updated, and the new tagged accounts will get a notification.

How to Tag Someone in an Instagram Story

Tagging in Stories is a fantastic way to generate quick engagement. It sends the account a notification and, more importantly, gives them an "Add to Your Story" button, allowing them to instantly reshare your content with their followers. This is how brands get massive exposure from user-generated content (UGC) and creators share posts from their peers.

Using the @Mention Sticker:

1. Create Your Story: Open the Instagram Story camera by swiping right from your feed. Take a photo, record a video, or upload media from your camera roll.
2. Use the Sticker Tray: Tap the sticker icon (the square smiley face) at the top of the editing screen.
3. Select the @MENTION Sticker: Find and tap the "@Mention" sticker. Start typing the username of the account you want to tag.
4. Customize and Place: Select the correct account from the list. You can tap the sticker to change its color and style, then use two fingers to resize or rotate it before placing it where you want on your Story.
5. Share: When your Story is ready, share it to "Your Story". The tagged account will be notified via their DM inbox and given the one-tap option to reshare.

Pro Tip: You can also simply use the Text tool and type "@" followed by the username. This accomplishes the same thing, though the sticker is often more visually engaging.

Advanced Tagging: Products, Brands, and Collaborators

For businesses and creators, tagging isn't just social - it's strategic. Instagram offers tools for tagging products and formalizing partnerships, turning standard posts into assets for sales and collaborations.

How to Tag Products with Instagram Shopping

If you have an Instagram Business or Creator account set up with Instagram Shopping and a connected product catalog (usually through a Shopify or Meta Commerce Manager), you can tag products directly in posts and Stories.

1. Start a New Post: Create a post as you normally would.
2. Choose "Tag Products": On the final caption screen, right below "Tag People," you'll see the "Tag Products" option. Tap it.
3. Place the Product Tag: Tap on the product within your photo. A search bar will appear, allowing you to search your product catalog.
4. Select Your Product: Choose the correct product from the list. You can tag multiple products in a single post.
5. Share Your Post: Once published, your post will have a small shopping bag icon, and users can tap the photo to see product tags that link directly to your shop.

How to Tag a Brand in a Paid Partnership

If you're working with a brand on sponsored content, you need to be transparent. Instagram's Branded Content tool makes this easy.

1. Create Your Post: Follow the usual steps for creating a post. On the final caption screen, tap "Advanced Settings" at the very bottom.
2. Add Paid Partnership Label: Toggle on the "Add paid partnership label" switch.
3. Tag the Brand Partner: Tap "Add Brand Partners" and search for the brand you're collaborating with. They must have a Business or Creator account to be tagged. You can also allow the brand partner to boost your post from this menu, giving them permission to run it as an ad.
4. Post a Transparent Collaboration: When published, your post will display a "Paid partnership with [Brand Name]" label under your username. This not only informs your audience but also gives the brand access to the post's analytics.

Tag vs. Mention: What’s the Real Difference?

The terms "tag" and "mention" are often used interchangeably, but on Instagram, they have distinct functions and implications for your strategy.

• A Tag directly links a photo or video to a user's profile. The content physically appears in the "Tagged Photos" tab on their profile, creating a lasting and public association. It’s for content where the person is featured or directly involved.
• A Mention (@username) is when you simply type someone's handle in a caption, comment, or Story text. They get a notification, but the post does not appear on their profile. A mention serves as a shout-out or a way to draw someone's attention to a conversation.

Think of it this way: Tag people who are in the photo, mention people you want to see the photo.

Final Thoughts

Tagging on Instagram is far more than a simple notification feature, it's the digital thread that connects accounts, gives creators their credit, and makes communities feel alive. Mastering when and how to tag people, products, and partners is a foundational skill for anyone looking to build a meaningful presence on the platform.

Thinking strategically about your content, from product posts to brand collaborations, requires a solid plan. I know from experience that juggling different content formats and platforms can get disorganized quickly. That's why we built Postbase with a clean visual calendar that gives you a bird's-eye view of your entire social media schedule. It lets us plan our posts, including Reels and Stories, weeks in advance, making it so much easier to stay consistent and keep track of everything in one place.