How to Tag Someone as a Collaborator on Instagram

Adding another person as a collaborator on Instagram allows you to share a single Feed post or Reel across two different accounts. This article gives you a step-by-step guide on how to use the feature, why it’s a game-changer for growth, and what to do if you run into any trouble.

What Exactly Is an Instagram Collab Post?

An Instagram Collab post lets two users co-author a single piece of content. When you invite someone as a collaborator and they accept, the post will appear on both of your profile grids, reaching both of your audiences simultaneously. The best part? It also shares all the engagement. Every like, comment, and view from either audience accumulates on that one post, creating powerful social proof.

This is much more than a simple photo tag. A standard tag just links to a user's profile and puts the photo in their "Tagged Photos" tab. A collaboration, on the other hand, puts your post directly on their main profile grid as if they had posted it themselves. Both account handles appear in the post's header, making it an official, shared piece of content.

Why the Collab Feature is a Superb Tool for Growth

Beyond the simple convenience, using the collab feature is a strategic move for almost any creator, brand, or business. It's one of the most organic ways to grow your presence on the platform.

Exponentially Increase Your Reach

The most obvious benefit is audience exposure. When you post a collaboration, you’re not just reaching your followers - you’re instantly reaching the collaborator’s followers, too. This isn't theoretical, the post physically appears in their followers' feeds and on their profile grid. It’s an authentic way to get in front of a new, often highly relevant, audience that you might not have reached otherwise.

Example: A local coffee shop collaborates on a post with a neighborhood bakery. The coffee shop’s followers learn about an awesome bakery nearby, and the bakery’s followers discover a new spot for their morning caffeine fix. Both businesses reach potential local customers with a single post.

Build Authentic Partnerships and Credibility

Successful social media marketing is built on authenticity. Collab posts are a visual co-sign from another creator or brand. It tells their audience, "Hey, we trust and work with this account," which builds immediate credibility for you. It feels far less like a paid ad and more like a genuine recommendation.

Example: A fitness influencer creates a workout Reel collaborating with a sustainable activewear brand. Her followers see the gear in action and get an authentic endorsement, while the brand gains visibility and trust from its target demographic.

Consolidate Social Proof

Having all likes and comments appear on a single post is incredibly powerful. Instead of splitting engagement between two separate posts about the same thing, you pool it together. A post with thousands of likes and hundreds of comments feels more authoritative and important than two separate posts with half the engagement each. This amplified social proof can increase view-throughs, profile visits, and follows.

Streamline Content Creation for Joint Ventures

If you’re launching a product together, co-hosting an event, or running a joint giveaway, the collab feature simplifies your content strategy. Rather than figuring out who should post what and when, you can create one high-quality piece of content that serves both audiences. It keeps the messaging consistent and makes promotion feel more united and organized.

How to Tag Someone as a Collaborator: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process is straightforward for both Feed posts (photos and carousels) and Reels. The key is that you must invite the collaborator before you hit publish, you can't go back and add one to an existing post.

For Feed Posts (Photos & Carousels)

1. Start a New Post: Open Instagram and tap the "+" icon at the bottom of the screen to create a new post. Select "Post" from the menu.
2. Select Your Media: Choose the photo or videos you want to include in your post. Tap "Next" once you’re happy with your selection.
3. Edit and Filter: Apply any edits or filters you want and tap "Next" again.
4. Access the Tagging Menu: On the final "share" screen where you write your caption, scroll down and tap on "Tag People."
5. Invite Your Collaborator: At the bottom, you'll see two options: "Add Tag" and "Invite Collaborator." Tap "Invite Collaborator."
6. Search and Select: A search bar will appear. Type in the username of the person or brand you want to collaborate with and select them from the list. Note: Instagram now allows you to invite up to five collaborators for a single post!
7. Position the Tag & Share: Once you've selected your collaborator(s), their tag will appear on the image. You can move it around just like a regular tag. Tap "Done," finish writing your caption, and then tap "Share" to publish your post and send the invite.

For Reels

The process for Reels is almost identical, taking place on the final share screen.

1. Create Your Reel: Record or upload your video clips, add audio, text, and effects. When you're finished editing, tap "Next."
2. Go to the Share Screen: Just like with a Feed post, you'll land on the final screen to write your caption, select a cover image, and so on.
3. Tap "Tag People": This option is located in the menu on this screen.
4. Tap "Invite Collaborator": Again, you'll choose this option over the standard "Add Tag" function.
5. Find and Add Your Partner: Search for your collaborator's username, select them from the list, and finalize.
6. Share Your Reel: Once you're ready, tap "Share." Your Reel will be posted, and your partner will receive an invitation to accept the collaboration.

What Happens After You Send a Collab Invite?

Once you share the post, the invited collaborator receives a notification and a message in their DMs with a request to join the post. They have two choices:

• Accept: If they tap "Accept," the post or Reel will instantly appear on their profile grid and in their followers' feeds. Their username will be added to the post's header, and all engagement metrics will officially be shared.
• Decline: If they decline the invitation, the post remains on your feed just like a normal post, without them listed as a co-author. It’s a good idea to discuss the collaboration beforehand so a decline doesn’t catch you by surprise.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Sometimes you might run into issues. Here are some of the most common hiccups and what to do about them.

"I Can't Find the 'Invite Collaborator' Button."

This is the most frequent issue. There are usually a few reasons for it:

• Account Type: The collaboration feature only works between public accounts. If your account or your partner’s account is private, the option will not be available or the invitation will fail. Both profiles must be set to public to initiate and accept a collab.
• App Updates: This feature might not be supported on a very old version of the Instagram app. Head to your phone’s app store and make sure your Instagram app is fully updated.
• Feature Rollout: Occasionally, Instagram rolls out features gradually. If you have a brand new account, it’s possible you just haven’t gotten the feature yet, though at this point it should be available to nearly everyone.

"I Can't Add a Collaborator to an Existing Post."

This is a limitation of the feature, not a bug. Collaborators have to be invited during the initial creation of the post. If you've already posted the content and wanted to add a collaborator later, your only option is to delete the original post and repost it using the steps above. This isn't ideal since you'll lose any existing engagement, which is why planning collabs ahead of time is so important.

"The User I Want to Invite isn't Showing Up in the Search."

First, double-check that you are spelling their username perfectly. One wrong character can prevent them from appearing. If the spelling is correct, confirm again that their account is public. Private accounts cannot be invited to collaborate. It’s also possible the user has settings that disable them from being tagged, though this is less common.

Final Thoughts

Adding a collaborator on Instagram is a fantastic strategy for reaching new people, building worthwhile partnerships, and creating content that feels more community-driven. Following the steps properly allows a single, powerful post to do the work of two, connecting and exciting audiences across different profiles.

Managing a full content calendar, especially one filled with partnerships and collaborations, can quickly become draining. At Postbase, we designed our visual planning calendar specifically to handle this chaos. We find being able to see all of our scheduled posts for every platform in one spot lets us easily plan campaigns with partners, spot gaps, and rearrange content without getting lost. This gives you time to focus less on juggling a schedule and more on building those great relationships.