While Instagram may have started out as just a photo-sharing app, it’s turned into something so much larger. It’s now a hub that millions of people use each and every day, where brands, creators, and influencers can work together.
One of its most powerful features for extending reach and engagement are Instagram collab posts, which allow multiple accounts to share a single piece of content and combine their audiences for an even bigger impact.
Whether you’re interested in marketing campaigns or influencer partnerships, we’ll show you creative ways to use this interesting feature. We’ll also highlight real-world examples and offer practical tips to help you make the most of your next collaboration.
What Is an Instagram Collab Post?
You’re no doubt wondering, “how do collab posts work on Instagram?” They’re actually a relatively simple concept. First, you need to know, “What is a collaboration post?”
An Instagram collaborative post, also known as a “collab post” for short, is a unique feature of the service that allows up to six accounts to co-author content on a single post. You can use them to create a Feed post or Reel.
Once you post your collab, each account you collaborated with can share the post on their own profile. In turn, all comments, likes, and other engagement are shared across all the participating profiles. Yep, you read that right: Both the original author and all the collabs get to share the exact same post.
How to Do a Collab Post on Instagram
It might sound like a bit of work, but creating an Instagram collab post is actually a fast and straightforward process. Here are the steps you need to follow, whether you're posting to your regular feed or uploading a Reel.
Creating a Standard Collab Post
It’s easiest to use the Instagram app when creating posts, so make sure to download it on your mobile device. From there:
- Create an Instagram collab by tapping the plus-sign icon at the bottom of the app to create a new post
- Choose the photo you want to include in your post
- Edit your post to include text, filters, and other adjustments as needed
- Invite your collaborator(s) by tapping Tag People on the New Post screen
- Select Invite Collaborator, and then search for your collab’s account and select it
- Write a caption for your post and include location information, if necessary
- Tap Share to post, and then wait for your collaborator to accept the invite they’ll receive via direct message
- That’s it! Your Instagram collab post will now appear on both of your profiles!
Creating a Collaboration Reel
Creating an Instagram collab reel is a very similar process, with some key differences:
- Create a new Reel by tapping the plus-sign icon at the bottom of the app
- Record or upload a video, and tap Next
- Customize your Reel by adding audit, text, and other effects, and then tap Next
- Invite your collaborator(s) by tapping Tag People
- Select Invite Collaborator, and then search for your collab’s account and select it
- Add a caption or hashtags to your Reel, and then tap Share to publish it
- That’s it! Your Instagram Reel collab will now appear on both of your profiles when your collab accepts your invite!
The Benefits of Instagram Collab Posts
There are a lot of unique benefits to creating Instagram collab posts. When done right, they can boost your authority, engagement, and visibility, metrics that you can easily track when you use our Instagram profile tracker. With our tracker, you'll enjoy a clear view of any public Instagram account's performance over time. Monitor follower count, likes, comments, engagement trends, and more to see the incredible impact of your collabs.
More Reach and Exposure
Everyone wants to get more eyes on their posts, and that’s exactly what you get when you collab. As soon as you publish an Instagram collaboration post, it appears on both your profile and the profiles of all your collaborators. This instantly multiplies your audience reach, connecting you to new followers who might not yet be familiar with your brand or content.
More Likes and Comments
After the eyes, you want the likes and comments – engagement is what it’s all about! And with collabs, you get that too! This is because all the likes and comments from your collab audiences combine into a single post. On top of that, this unified engagement enhances visibility within Instagram’s algorithm. This makes it more likely that your post will appear on Explore pages and feeds so that even more Instagram users find you.
Genuine Audience Growth
Most collabs occur between users in similar or related niches, so it only makes sense that collab posts on Instagram can help you organically gain followers who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer. Since your content reaches multiple related audiences at once, your follower growth is targeted in a meaningful (and usually effective) way.
Improved Brand Credibility
Coming across as authentic on Instagram isn’t always easy; social media is awash in fakeness. However, co-authoring content with reputable brands and creators goes a long way in enhancing your credibility and trustworthiness. Simply put, when you collab with genuine users, that credibility extends to you too.
Better Content Creativity
When you work with other like-minded people, it’s natural that your interactions will spark creativity. You’ll find yourself with lots of fresh ideas and unique perspectives, all of which lead to more engaging, innovative content that stands out.
Effective Marketing
Collabs are usually borne out of a desire to more easily spread a message. Whether you want to promote announcements, events, or product launches, collab posts on Instagram can make a huge impact on your marketing efforts.
5 Great Examples of Instagram Collab Posts
Instagram collab posts are meant to attract and command attention, and the best often result in an amazing number of likes, comments, and other interactions – easily accomplishing the goal.
Pepsi and Cool Whip
Brands love to showcase cohesion – “look how well we go together; you definitely need both of us!” While Pepsi and Cool Whip might seem like strange partners, the brands tapped into each of its audiences by cashing in on a popular social media post trend: recipes.
Burger King and Glass Goof
Sometimes, brands will partner with creators that are far outside their niche, using their creativity to easily (and sometimes humorously) bring these worlds together. That’s what Burger King did when it partnered with a popular glassblower. The resulting content sparked a lot of happy faces and conversation!
Sabrina Carpenter and Prada Beauty
Some Instagram collabs are natural and expected, but that doesn’t take away from their impact. Both Sabrina Carpenter and Prada are massive names within their own rights, but when they came together, the reception was overwhelmingly positive. Though there was already likely some crossover between their audiences, both brands clearly won over new fans too.
Drew Talbert and Mellow Mushroom
Even the unconventionally famous can result in incredible engagement. Social media star Drew Talbert hasn’t been in any movies or TV shows, but he has a massive following on social media and has leveraged his popularity to help bring more customers to local businesses (and cash to his own pocket!) This particular post garnered over 40,000 likes!
Little Cotton Clothes and Humblebee Atelier
One of the most exciting things about Instagram collab posts is that it allows even smaller brands to incredibly expand their reach. In this case, a niche clothing brand partnered with a designer popular on social media to showcase a giveaway. Their efforts resulted in over 2,500 likes on their post in only a week.
Creative Ideas for Instagram Collab Posts
By now, you understand that collabs can drive engagement, expand reach, and bring creativity to your feed. But pulling them off right can be a little easier said than done. Here are a few Instagram collab post ideas you can use to make the biggest impact.
Giveaways
Everyone loves the chance to win something, so capitalize on that by running a joint contest with another brand or influencer to double your exposure. In one of our examples above, a giveaway post between two smaller brands resulted in over 2,500 post likes in only a week.
Product Launches
Build hype for one of your new products and increase your credibility at the same time when you partner with a credible collaborator for your next product launch. Not only will you have the eyes of your own customers on your new offering, you’ll also be on the radar of new potential buyers.
Social Causes
Partnering with nonprofits or social causes allows you to highlight shared values and bring meaningful engagement and awareness to something that is near and dear to your heart. Breast Cancer Now, for example, often collaborates with creators to connect real faces and stories to this heartbreaking cause.
Demos and Tutorials
If you’re selling a product or service, you can boost credibility and engagement by partnering with an influential creator who literally shows their audience and yours how and why to use you. Do this by publishing a tutorial, product demo, or even some behind-the-scenes content.
Conclusion
Instagram collab posts are a powerful way to amplify your message, reach new audiences, and foster genuine community engagement. Whether you're partnering with influencers, teaming up with related brands, or creating buzz with giveaways and product launches, Instagram collab posts unlock creative possibilities and extend your brand’s influence.
FAQ
Can you boost a collab post on Instagram?
Yes, you can! Instagram allows you to boost collab posts just like regular posts, so long as they meet Instagram’s promotion guidelines. Once your collab post is live, you can use the Boost Post option from your profile to promote it and reach an even broader audience.
Keep in mind that only the original creator of the Instagram collaboration post (the account that initiated the collaboration) can boost it. Instagram will then mark the post as a paid promotion, but it will continue to appear on the pages of all collaborators.
How to add a collaborator on Instagram?
It’s incredibly easy to collab on Instagram; the Instagram collab feature is built right into the app! All you have to do is create a new post or Reel, tag collaborators, and share. When all of your collaborators have accepted your Instagram collab post invite, your post or Reel will go live on all of your accounts.
How many people can collab on an Instagram post?
You can invite up to five collaborators on each collab post on Instagram. With you as the original poster, that’s a total of six co-authors per post. Does this mean you should collab with as many users as possible? It depends. Collaborating with multiple accounts can dramatically expand your reach, especially when each partner brings its own distinct audience. Having multiple collaborators is an ideal strategy for multi-brand campaigns or events. However, the more accounts that are involved, the harder it can be to maintain a clear message. You know the saying: Too many cooks in the kitchen…
If you’re a smaller business or creator, it makes more sense to collaborate with one or two well-aligned partners. Doing so keeps your post focused and makes the partnership feel personal and authentic, which naturally leads to higher engagement and trust.
How to collaborate on Instagram?
Wondering how to collab on Instagram? Well, the key is to find the right partner. You want someone whose audience, style, and values align with your own. You can start your search by browsing relevant hashtags and location tags in your niche to discover creators already engaging your target market.
Before reaching out to a potential collaborator, spend some time engaging with their content. When you like, comment, and reply to their Instagram posts, you’ll build familiarity and increase your chances of a warm reception when you propose a partnership.
