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How to Post Instagram Stories Together: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to level up your Instagram game and collaborate seamlessly with friends or brands on Stories? Posting Instagram Stories together is a fantastic way to engage your audience, reach new followers, and create dynamic content. This guide will delve into how to do it right, answering all your burning questions along the way.

The key to posting Instagram Stories together lies in leveraging the “Add Yours” sticker. It allows multiple users to contribute to a single Story, creating a collaborative chain that can go viral. Furthermore, the Collaboration feature allows you to co-author a Story with another account. Here’s how to do both:

Using the “Add Yours” Sticker for Collaborative Stories

Create Your Initial Story: Start by crafting your initial Story frame. This could be a photo, a video, or even just a text-based prompt. The key is to make it engaging and encourage participation.
Add the “Add Yours” Sticker: Locate the sticker icon in the Story editor (the square smiley face icon). Tap on it, and select the “Add Yours” sticker.
Set the Prompt: This is crucial. Write a clear and compelling prompt that tells others what kind of content you want them to add. Examples: “Show us your workspace,” “What are you reading?”, or “Pet portraits!”.
Post Your Story: Publish your Story with the “Add Yours” sticker.
Engagement and Growth: As others add to the chain using your sticker, their contributions will be visible within the “Add Yours” thread. You can view all contributions and even reshare your favorites to your own Story, amplifying the reach.

Using the Collaboration Feature for Joint Stories

Create Your Story: Begin by designing your Story content as you normally would. This can include photos, videos, text, stickers, etc.
Tag the Collaborator: Tap on the sticker icon (the square smiley face icon) and select the “Tag” sticker.
Invite as Collaborator: Instead of just tagging the account, tap on the option to “Invite as Collaborator”. Search for the account you wish to co-author the Story with.
Collaborator Approval: The invited account will receive a notification requesting their approval to be a collaborator. They must accept this invitation for the Story to be co-authored.
Shared Viewership: Once approved, the Story will be posted to both of your accounts, reaching both of your audiences simultaneously. Views, likes, and replies will be shared between both accounts.

FAQs: Deep Diving into Collaborative Instagram Stories

Let’s tackle some common questions to ensure you’re a collaborative Story pro.

1. How do I find “Add Yours” sticker threads to participate in?

There are several ways. First, keep an eye on your friends’ Stories. If someone you follow uses the “Add Yours” sticker, you’ll see a preview of the thread. Tapping on it lets you contribute. Second, explore the Instagram Explore page. Algorithmically, you might discover trending “Add Yours” threads based on your interests. Finally, search hashtags related to specific themes to find relevant threads.

2. Can brands use the “Add Yours” sticker effectively?

Absolutely! Brands can use the “Add Yours” sticker to run contests, collect user-generated content, gather feedback, and increase brand awareness. A well-crafted prompt is key. Consider prompts like “Show us how you style our product” or “Share your travel photos using our brand.”

3. What are the best practices for creating a successful “Add Yours” prompt?

Keep it specific and clear: Avoid vague prompts. Instead of “Share your day,” try “Share your morning coffee routine.”
Make it engaging and relatable: Choose prompts that resonate with your target audience’s interests.
Use relevant hashtags: This helps others discover your “Add Yours” thread.
Monitor and engage: Respond to contributions, reshare your favorites, and keep the conversation going.
Think about the visual: Does the picture or video on the initial Story capture people’s attention?

4. How do I remove myself from an “Add Yours” chain I accidentally joined?

Unfortunately, once you’ve added a Story to an “Add Yours” chain, you cannot directly remove it from the thread itself. However, you can delete the Story from your own archive, which will remove it from your profile’s Story highlights. The contribution will still remain in the “Add Yours” thread, viewable to those who tap on the sticker, but it won’t be associated with your public profile.

5. What are the benefits of using the Collaboration feature compared to just tagging someone?

The Collaboration feature offers significant advantages over simply tagging:

Shared Reach: The Story appears on both accounts, exposing it to both audiences.
Shared Engagement: All views, likes, and replies are attributed to both collaborators.
Credibility and Trust: Co-authoring suggests a stronger partnership, building trust with your audience.
Analytics: Both accounts receive insights into the Story’s performance.

6. Can I collaborate on a Story with someone who doesn’t follow me?

Yes, you can invite someone as a collaborator even if they don’t follow you, as long as their account is public. If their account is private, they will need to follow you back to accept the collaboration invite.

7. How many people can collaborate on a single Instagram Story?

Currently, Instagram allows only one collaborator per Story using the dedicated collaboration feature. The “Add Yours” sticker, however, allows for an unlimited number of participants, albeit in a less direct co-authoring format.

8. What if my collaborator declines my invitation to collaborate on a Story?

If your collaborator declines, the Story will be published only to your account. They won’t be credited or tagged as a collaborator. You can still tag them in the Story, but it won’t have the same impact as a full collaboration.

9. Can I edit a collaborative Story after it’s been published?

Once a collaborative Story is live, neither you nor your collaborator can edit it. If changes are needed, you’ll have to delete the Story and create a new one with the desired modifications.

10. Are there any limitations or restrictions on using the Collaboration feature?

Yes, there are a few limitations:

Account Eligibility: Both accounts must be in good standing with Instagram’s community guidelines.
Collaboration Limit: As mentioned before, only one collaborator per Story.
Feature Availability: The Collaboration feature might not be available in all regions or to all users immediately after a platform update.

11. How can I use Instagram Stories collaboration for marketing campaigns?

Influencer collaborations: Partner with influencers to create engaging Stories that reach their followers.
Product reveals: Collaborate with relevant accounts to build anticipation for new product launches.
Behind-the-scenes content: Give your audience an exclusive look at your company culture or production process with a collaborative Story.
Contests and giveaways: Partner with other brands or influencers to host joint contests and giveaways on Stories, driving engagement and reach.

12. What are the best analytics to track when posting collaborative Instagram Stories?

Focus on these key metrics:

Reach: How many unique accounts saw the Story?
Impressions: How many times was the Story viewed in total?
Engagement Rate: Track sticker taps, replies, and shares to measure audience interaction.
Website Clicks: If you included a swipe-up link (available for verified accounts or those with over 10,000 followers), monitor click-through rates.
Profile Visits: See how many people visited your profile after viewing the Story.
Follower Growth: Assess whether the collaborative Story led to an increase in followers for both accounts.

By mastering these techniques and keeping these FAQs in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to create compelling and successful collaborative Instagram Stories that resonate with your audience and achieve your engagement goals. So go forth, collaborate, and conquer the Instagram Story world!