Everything You Need to Know About Instagram Collabs

Right on the heels of Instagram Live Scheduling comes another game-changer: Instagram Collabs.  

With Collabs, users will be able to co-author Instagram feed posts and Reels – opening up an entirely new way to reach new audiences. 

Here’s what you need to know.

What Are Instagram Collabs?

Instagram Collabs allow you to invite someone to collaborate on a Feed post or Reel, so they can share the content with their followers.

Essentially, you can co-author content with a fellow Instagram user, and the post will show up on both of your profiles.

This way, you’ll be able to share views, likes, and comments – allowing you to leverage and engage with each other’s communities. 

Instagram started testing this feature earlier in 2021, with users in select regions getting access. 

In fact, Later’s Blog Editor, Jill Warren, tried it out with online educator @growwithvix on a feed post about the best times to post on Instagram: 

“It’s such a great feature for tapping into new, relevant audiences,” shared Jill. “You do have to make sure the content works for both collaborator’s feeds, which can be a little tricky, but the payoff is worth it.”

We anticipate that this new feature will inspire a rise in collaborations within the creator community, especially for educational content that drives positive change.

For brands, the Collabs feature opens up a new way to partner with influencers, gain social clout by association, and reach engaged communities.

However, paid partnerships will still need to be appropriately disclosed according to regulatory guidelines, even when using Collabs.

NOTE: Instagram is still testing the feature so if you don’t have it yet – hang tight!

Plan, preview, and publish your Instagram posts with Later’s free Instagram scheduler. Sign up today!

How to Use Instagram’s Collabs Feature

Once you have access to the Collabs feature, you’ll be able to send and accept requests to collaborate on feed posts and Reels. 

To see how it works in real-time, watch this quick Later YouTube tutorial: 

How to Send a Collabs Request

After uploading your Reel or Feed post, go to the share screen as usual, and then tap “Tag People.” 

In the bottom right corner, you’ll now see an option to “Invite Collaborator.” After tapping, search and choose the user you’d like to collaborate with.

After you’ve chosen your collaborator, share the post as usual, and the creator will receive a request in their DMs. The post will not appear until they’ve accepted your request. 

NOTE: You can only collaborate with one person at the moment.

How to Accept a Collabs Request

If someone has requested to collaborate on a Feed post or Reel with you, you’ll receive their request in your DMs. 

Hit “Accept” for the content to appear on both of your profiles. 

It’s that simple!

Will you be trying out Collabs when you get access to it? Let us know on Later’s Instagram account. 

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