7 Creative Ways To Collaborate on Instagram

Brands and content creators collaborate on Instagram for different reasons. They may want to increase their visibility on the platform or join forces in supporting a worthy cause.

Collaborating is one of the most effective ways to create an impact on Instagram. The platform even offers a Collab feature that combines two accounts to expand their reach.

If you haven’t yet collaborated with another content creator or brand, this handful of strategies will inspire you to explore the benefits of collaboration.

Benefits of Collaborating on Instagram

There are millions of people on Instagram, including brands, influencers, content creators, and more. Everyone is competing for the attention of Instagram users, so to speak. If you want to make a big splash, you should collaborate with another account in your niche.

You can collaborate with an influencer, fellow brand, or a popular content creator. Doing this will allow you to get your content in front of a new but established audience. It also helps you grow your following organically, creating an even more engaged audience.

Moreover, by collaborating with trusted brands and influencers, you can build more trust in your own brand.

When Instagram users trust your brand, they will buy from you. You can also implement user-generated content (UGC) to build a foundation of trust. UGC means that people have already interacted with your brand and want to tell the rest of Instagram about their experience.

You can use these ‘reviews’ to create even more interest in your brand as you collaborate with your followers.

Lastly, collaborations are very light on the budget. If you don’t have money for traditional marketing, collaborations can help you gain the same, if not better, results.

How To Collaborate on Instagram

There are many ways to collaborate on Instagram. Some of the most popular strategies include:

• 1. Exchanging Challenges

  Challenges are huge on Instagram. You can exchange a unique niche challenge with the brand or influencer you want to collaborate with.

  For instance, if you are both makeup artists, your challenge could include transforming a person into a vampire for Halloween using only makeup. Users can vote for the best transformation while you and the other artist show off your skills.

  Or you could exchange a challenge that neither of you have attempted before. This will bring some laughs and engagement to your profile. Challenges are fun, and they encourage content sharing. When enough people share your challenge collaboration, your account may go viral.

• 2. Host a Guest Takeover

  Guest takeovers are also a lot of fun. You can get an influencer or fellow brand to take over your Stories for the day. This way, you can get fresh content on your feed and give your audience another perspective into your niche or industry.

  Takeovers work well when they last for a day. Don’t stretch a takeover out longer than that because you may risk losing some of your followers.

• 3. Create Educational Content

  They say two heads are better than one. On Instagram, two accounts are often better than one (in moderation).

  If you create a lot of educational content, you can enhance your posts by collaborating with another content creator. For instance, you could produce a series of DIY videos or interactive infographics.

  Collaboration essentially means double the educational value of a single post. This type of content will provide more value for users, keeping them coming back for more.

• 4. Launch a New Product

  If you have a new product on the horizon, you can team up with an influencer to launch it on Instagram. Ideally, you want an influencer to demonstrate how to use the product and the value of it.

  For this type of collaboration, you must choose an influencer who is well-known on Instagram. If you work with someone most people don’t know, your product launch may fall flat.

  For instance, if you want to launch a new sports shoe, you want an athlete to test and review it. This way, you will draw more attention to your product and generate more buying interest.

• 5. Make an Appearance in a Collaboration Video

  You could also create a funny video with another brand or content creator. Use products from both sides to set up a hilarious skit or show your audience how quickly the creative process can go wrong.

  You can post videos up to a minute long (to maintain your audience’s attention) and include links to both profiles in the caption. Doing this will increase engagement for both parties and can even get you more followers in a short time.

  You can also use the Duet feature to create even funnier videos. You could show off your hilarious dance skills or produce response videos to increase the fun factor.

  Even if you just dance and your collaborator rolls their eyes at regular intervals, you will motivate your audience to respond or even post their attempts at a hilarious dance.

• 6. Create a Co-curated Feed

  Building a professional and polished feed takes a lot of planning and hard work. You need to consider the Instagram grid as well as your brand colors. At the same time, your content should always reflect your brand voice and personality.

  Combining your feed with that of a collaborator can provide the unique touch your profile needs. You could dedicate a specific day or time to showcase another account’s content on your feed.

  You and your collaborator can also alternate posts highlighting your styles and perspectives on any theme or topic. This is a great way to attract audiences using visual and audio skills.

• 7. Use the Collab Feature

  Instagram’s built-in Collab feature allows you to co-create content with a collaborator and post it on both profiles simultaneously. This feature can help you achieve the engagement you’re after while shining a spotlight on both accounts.

Ready To Collaborate?

When you’re ready to collaborate, choose partners who share your brand values and content style. Take enough time to brainstorm all content, and don’t forget to cross-promote. Before you know it, you will have a truly engaged audience to create content for while building your brand step by step.