Add A Collaborator On Instagram: A Quick & Easy Guide For 2025

Are you looking for a new way to double or triple Instagram reach for free? Then Instagram Collabs can be your game-changer. First announced in 2021, this feature facilitates partnerships between content creators, influencers, brands, and individuals, allowing them to boost their presence on Instagram exponentially. This guide will show you how to add a collaborator on Instagram quickly and easily, whether you are creating a post, story, or reel, or even after posting. Amplify your visibility today!

What Does Instagram Collaborator Mean?

Instagram Collaborator is a feature that allows users to invite other accounts to co-author a post and share engagement on Instagram. The post will simultaneously appear on all collaborators’ profile grids, and be shown to their followers. Meanwhile, their usernames will be listed on the header of the post, like the one below.

How To Add A Collaborator On Instagram: The Ultimate Guide (2025)

Adding collaborators on Instagram is pretty simple. Read on for the detailed instructions.

How to add a collaborator on Instagram for new posts and reels?

This is how to add an Instagram collaborator for a new post or reel:

Step 1: Open the Instagram app on your mobile device.

Step 2: Create a post or a reel. Do like what you usually do to edit it.

Step 3: Before publishing, select Tag People.

Step 4: Select Invite Collaborators.

Step 5: Search for the user you want to invite as a collaborator. You can type their username on the search bar. 

Step 6: Tap on Done (iPhone) or the check icon (Android).

That’s all! The collaborator has been successfully added to your post/reel. Now you can publish your post and wait for your invitation to be accepted. 

How to add a collaborator on Instagram stories?

Currently, adding a collaborator on Instagram is not available for stories. 

However, you can mention other accounts in your story by typing @ + their username. 

Then, they can add this to their story and reshare it with their followers. 

How to add a collaborator on Instagram after posting?

Instagram has rolled out a new ability for some users to add collaborators after already posting a reel or a post.

Here is how to add a collaborator on Instagram after posting:

Step 1: Access the Instagram app.

Step 2: Navigate to the post or reel you want to collaborate on.

Step 3: Tap the three-dot icon > Edit.

Step 4: Select Tag People > Invite Collaborators.

Step 5: Search the account and select it. 

Step 6: Tap on Done (iPhone) or the check icon (Android)

Please note this new feature is not available for all accounts. If you don’t see the option to Invite Collaborators, know that it’s not for you. 

Instead, you can make a new Instagram post and add the collaborator from the beginning. 

Benefits Of Adding Collaborators On Instagram

Adding collaborators on Instagram isn’t just tagging them to your post. It can do wonders for your visibility on the platform. Here are 4 main benefits you can get from Instagram Collabs.

Extended reach

Instagram Collabs allows you to tap into broader high-quality audiences–the existing followers of your collaborators. Extend your reach, build your brand awareness, and promote your product/service to potential customers without spending money on Instagram ads.

Elevated engagement

Adding collaborators on Instagram means you are working together on the post, blending your styles and perspectives to create fresh new content to engage both sets of followers. Interesting collaboration can drive more engagement and interaction. 

Increased followers

Instagram Collaboration is a great way to introduce your brand/business to potential followers, especially if you choose the right collaborator. And it can be a win-win partnership. You can encourage their followers to follow you and vice versa.

Boosting Instagram’s algorithm performance

The increased likes, comments, and shares after your collaboration can be a positive signal to Instagram’s algorithm. Your content will have more chances to be suggested to new audiences on the platform and get exponential reach. 

Instagram Collaborative Post Ideas: Add Collaborators Wisely

Adding collaborators on Instagram can benefit businesses and individuals working on joint projects or promotions. 

Here are some ways businesses and content creators can use the Instagram Collaboration feature:

• Add a brand partner as a collaborator. 
• Add an influencer or a content creator as a collaborator.
• Add an individual partner of a project as a collaborator.
• Add clients as collaborators.
• Add a vendor as a collaborator.
• Add a venue as a collaborator

Top Secrets For Successful Collaborations On Instagram 

Here are the top secrets for successful collaborations on Instagram:  

• Plan ahead: Plan and discuss before you send your invitation to a collaborator if possible to streamline the collaboration process. Last-minute invitations are more likely to be rejected.
• Communicate clearly: Maintain open and clear communication with your collaborator to ensure mutual comprehension and agreement.
• Tag politely: You should add collaborators to relevant posts only. Be respectful when mentioning them in your content and don’t excessively tag people or they may feel offended or irritated.  
• Work on your content: Make sure your content resonates with both your and your collaborator’s followers.
• Engage with audiences: Interact and reply to all the comments on collaborative posts to maximize reach.
• Track performance: Manage your collaborative content’s performance with Instagram Insights to learn what audiences like and make necessary adjustments for future collaborations.

Beyond Adding: A Complete Guide To Ruling Over Instagram Collaborations

Now that you know how to add collaborators on Instagram effectively, I will equip you with more handy instructions to rule over Instagram collaborations. 

Remove collaborators from a new post

• Tap Tag People.
• Tap the X icon next to the collaborators’ name.
• Tap Done (iPhone) or the check icon (Android).

Accept a collaboration invite

• Tap the Notifications icon in the upper right of your Instagram feed.
• Tap the collaboration invite. 
• Tap Review > Accept.

Decline a collaboration invite

• Open Instagram’s Notifications.
• Tap on the notification of the invitation.
• Tap Review > Decline.

Remove collaborators from a post or reel after publishing 

• Locate the post or reel.
• Tap the three-dot icon in the top right.
• Tap Edit > Tap Tag people.
• Select X next to the collaborator’s name.
• Tap Done or the check icon twice.

Remove yourself as a collaborator from a post or reel

• Find the post or reel you want to remove yourself.
• Tap the three-dot icon.
• Tap Stop sharing twice.

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Conclusion

While it’s simple to add a collaborator on Instagram, the thing is, you should know how to do it strategically and effectively. By following this comprehensive guide and additional practices, you will be able to nurture successful collaborations on Instagram. 

If you want to enhance reach, elevate engagement, get more followers, and tap on potential customers with organic content, don’t miss out on the Instagram Collaboration feature. You can also integrate it into your marketing strategy together with paid advertising campaigns to maximize your brand visibility and revenue. 

To elevate your campaigns, I highly recommend using agency ad accounts, the most premium kind of ad accounts, for more stability and less risk. Contact GDT Agency for details and follow our blog for more useful digital marketing tips. Happy collaborating!

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