How to Add a Collaborator on Instagram (Collab Posts)

A Collab post is one of the neatest tools Instagram has for working with other people. Instead of each of you posting the same thing and splitting the attention, you publish one post that appears on both profiles and reaches both audiences. For a small business teaming up with a supplier, a speaker, a venue or a fellow creator, that's a real advantage.

The steps are short, but there are rules about who can be invited and what happens afterwards that catch people out. I've gone through Instagram's Help Centre article on collaborative posts, and everything below comes from it.

What an Instagram Collab post does

Instagram's help says Collabs let you co-author a post with other accounts. The creator of the original post invites the other account. If that account accepts, its username is added to the post, the post is shared with its followers and it shows on its profile too.

The collaborator also gets something useful. Instagram says accounts that accept a collaboration invite can see all the likes and comments on the post. So you each see how the post is doing, without anyone passing screenshots around.

Inviting a collaborator while you create your Instagram post

Here are Instagram's steps for the phone apps. The key point is the timing: you do this before you publish.

1. Create your post as normal and get to the final screen where you add details.
2. Tap Tag people.
3. Tap Invite collaborator.
4. Search for the account you want to add as a collaborator, then tap the account.
5. Tap Done (the label sits slightly differently on iPhone, iPad and Android).
6. Finish and share the post.

If your screen uses slightly different words, look for the Tag people option, since the invite sits inside it. App versions move things around, so go by the labels rather than the position.

Who you can invite to collaborate on Instagram

The help page ties this to your account's privacy settings:

• A public account can invite both public and private accounts to be collaborators.
• A private account can invite both private and public accounts, but only if the invited account follows the private account.

If your account is private, Instagram shows an explanation the first time you invite someone. It also warns about a quirk. If a public account accepts a private account's invite, the post will be shared publicly through the public collaborator. Once you've acknowledged that, you can invite anyone who follows you on future posts.

The limits on Instagram Collab posts

A few facts from Instagram's help page are worth knowing before you plan a big collaboration:

• You can add up to 5 collaborators to a post.
• The person who created the post is the primary creator, and only that person can delete it. If they do, it disappears from the collaborator's profile as well.
• If the original creator switches to a private account, only their followers can see the post.
• If the original creator deactivates their account, the post no longer exists and is removed from the collaborator's profile. Instagram says it comes back on both profiles if the creator reactivates.
• If a post goes against Instagram's Community Standards, Instagram may remove it and take action against the original creator and the collaborators' accounts.

Accepting an Instagram collaboration invite

If someone invites you, Instagram says you'll receive a message. To accept:

1. Tap Messages at the bottom.
2. Open the conversation where you received the invite.
3. Tap the collaboration invite.
4. Tap Review, then tap Accept.

To say no, follow the same path and tap Decline instead of Accept. You aren't stuck with it afterwards either, because Instagram says an invited account can remove itself at any time.

Removing an Instagram collaborator

Before you publish, tap Tag people, tap Remove on the right of the collaborator's name, then tap Done. After publishing, Instagram gives these steps:

1. Find the post and tap Options in the top right.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Tap Tag people.
4. Tap Remove on the right of the collaborator's name, then tap Done.

If you're the collaborator and want out, find the post, tap Options, tap Stop sharing, and follow the on-screen instructions. Instagram says the creator can remove a collaborator at any time, and a collaborator can leave at any time. If the creator blocks the collaborator, or the collaborator blocks the creator, the collaboration ends, but the post stays on the creator's profile.

Collab posts versus tagging or mentioning on Instagram

People often use tagging when they mean collaborating, so this is worth a table. Instagram's help draws the same line.

	Tag or mention	Collab
Shared with the other person's followers	No	Yes
Appears on their profile	Only if tags are added automatically to their profile	Yes, once they accept
Listed as an author	No	Yes
Needs acceptance	No	Yes

For a business, the author listing is the point. It tells people you made this together.

Making a Collab post work for your business

Choose partners whose audience overlaps with yours but doesn't duplicate it, and agree the caption together before you publish, since the creator holds the post. If you want ideas for what to make once the invite is accepted, my guide on ten ways to improve your Instagram engagement is a good start, and how one brand built its Instagram marketing strategy shows the bigger picture.

If you can't invite a collaborator on Instagram

• Check you're adding them before you publish. The invite sits inside Tag people.
• If your account is private, remember the invited account must follow you.
• Check you haven't reached the 5-collaborator limit.
• Update the Instagram app, then try again.
• Instagram says accounts that have gone against its guidelines may not have access to Collabs.
• Some features reach accounts gradually. If the option is missing, report the problem via Profile, Menu, Help, Report a Problem.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a collaborator on Instagram?

Before you publish a post, tap Tag people, tap Invite collaborator, search for the account, tap it and then tap Done. They need to accept the invite.

How many collaborators can I add to an Instagram post?

Instagram says you can add up to 5 collaborators to a post.

Can I add a collaborator after posting?

Instagram's article describes inviting before you publish. After publishing, its steps cover removing a collaborator, not adding one, so plan the invite before you share.

Can a private account use Collabs?

Yes, but a private account can only invite someone who follows it. Instagram explains the visibility effects the first time you invite someone.

Who can delete a Collab post?

Instagram says only the original creator can delete it. If they do, it's also removed from the collaborator's profile.