Have you ever wondered how those influencers and brands manage to expand their reach and engagement so widely on Instagram?
Well, one of their secret weapons is Instagram‘s tagging feature.
Strategically tagging other profiles in your posts and Stories is key for getting more eyes on your Instagram content. Whether you‘re trying to collaborate with others, give your friends a shoutout, or leverage bigger accounts to access new audiences, tagging can help grow your profile.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll provide a data-backed deep dive into everything you need to know about tagging users on Instagram.
A Brief History: The Evolution of Tagging on Instagram
Let‘s start with some background on how tagging has evolved over time since Instagram‘s launch:
October 2010 – Instagram debuts with the ability to tag other profiles only in photo captions.
December 2013 – Instagram expands tags to photos themselves and introduces Location Tags plus the ability to Like posts and videos.
August 2016 – Instagram Stories launches with tagging capabilities both in videos and via text or emoji stickers.
March 2017 – Location Tags on posts become SEO optimized to improve visibility in location browser results.
June 2019 – Users can tag people directly within Instagram Live broadcast videos.
Here‘s a look at how the average number of tags per Instagram post has grown exponentially over time:
┌─────────┬────────────────┐
│ Year │ Average Tags │
│ │ per Post │
├─────────┼────────────────┤
│ 2013 │ 1.21 │
│ 2016 │ 4.32 │
│ 2019 │ 13.41 │
│ 2022 │ 17.22 │
└─────────┴────────────────┘Statistics from Union Metrics Instagram Study 2022
As you can see, the average number of tags in an Instagram post has increased over 14x in less than 10 years.
This shows the growing importance of tagging as a tool for engagement and reach.
Next, let‘s explore exactly why tags matter so much on Instagram these days.
Key Reasons to Use Instagram Tagging
There are 3 main goals you can accomplish by tagging other users in your Instagram posts:
1. Give Credit to Collaborators
Have any friends modeled for your Instagram outfit photos or helped you film a YouTube video?
Tag them in your post!
Giving others credit for appearing in or helping create your content is a great way to make them feel valued.
2. Increase Engagement from Your Community
Every time you tag someone, Instagram sends them a notification with a preview of your post.
Seeing a personalized tag is likely to catch their attention and pique their interest in your post.
In fact, Instagram reports content with tags receives 12% more engagement on average.
And don‘t forget you can also tag full locations or relevant hashtags to grab even more eyeballs from broader audiences interested in those subjects.
3. Expand Your Reach to New Followers
Here comes the big payoff!
When trying to expand your reach and find new followers on Instagram, tagging larger accounts with an existing audience can be very effective.
For example, if you‘re an art student, tagging popular art supply brands may expose your work to their hundreds of thousands of followers.
Or if you tag celebrity fashion icons wearing an outfit similar to yours, their fans may discover your profile and decide to follow you for style inspiration too.
Now that you know why tagging matters for your Instagram growth, let‘s get into the step-by-step process for how to do it.
Step 1: Tag Someone in an Instagram Post
You have two options for tagging other profiles when sharing an Instagram post:
1. Tag in the Caption
When writing your Instagram caption, simply type "@" followed by the person‘s username to tag their account.
For example: Check out this new sweater @annasmith gifted me!
This will create a clickable tag in your caption.
2. Tag in the Photo/Video
You can also tag someone directly on a specific spot in the post itself:
- After creating a new post, tap "Tag people"
- Select the spot on the photo/video where you want the tag
- Type the username and tap "Done"
This tags them visually on that exact position in your post.
Here‘s a post example with both a caption tag and photo tag:
Note: Tagging in photos themselves requires the user‘s permission in their privacy settings.
Let‘s recap the pros and cons of both tagging methods:
┌───────────────────┬────────────────┬────────────────┐
│ │ Caption Tag │ Photo/Video Tag │
├───────────────────┼────────────────┼────────────────┤
│ Visually Appealing │ ❌ │ ✅ │
│ Tag Anyone │ ✅ │ ❌ │
│ Feedback Needed │ ❌ │ ✅ │
└───────────────────┴────────────────┴────────────────┘So in summary:
- Caption tags are universal while photo tags need consent
- Photo tags are visually engaging but can cover people‘s faces
- Caption tags don‘t alter someone‘s content directly
Either method makes the username clickable, but placement depends on your specific goals.
Now onto the next place you can tag people…
Step 2: Tag Someone in an Instagram Comment
In addition to posts, Instagram also allows users to tag each other in the comments:
Here‘s how to tag someone in a comment:
- Type "@" while commenting on a post
- Select the matching username when it pops up
- The tag will auto-populate based on your selection
The benefits of commenting with tags include:
- Directly contacting people even in long threads
- Making sure your message is seen by who it‘s meant for
- Joining online conversations easily
So if you specifically want your message to stand out to someone amidst a sea of comments, be sure to @ tag them!
Next up – the final place you can tag people on Instagram…
Step 3: Tag Someone in an Instagram Group Message
If you participate in group message chats on Instagram, you can also tag individuals directly in those conversations.
Here‘s an example group message with a tag:
To tag a fellow group member:
- Type "@" while composing a message
- Select their username from the suggestions
This ensures whatever you say is directly connected to them in the chat so context isn‘t lost.
You can even tag the entire group at once by typing @everyone to include all participants!
Now let‘s move onto some pro tips for mastering Instagram tagging…
Expert Tips to Boost Engagement With Tags
Here are my top 5 advanced tips for leveraging Instagram tags successfully:
1. Analyze Your Metrics
Use free tools like Union Metrics to examine your Instagram analytics related specifically to tags.
Look at which types of tags (caption, photo, location etc) perform best at driving traffic to your profile and engagement.
Then double down on what works!
2. Tag Thoughtfully
Avoid covering people‘s faces or sensitive areas unnecessarily when tagging photos.
Also be sure to ask permission and tag mindfully around children or private spaces like homes.
3. Engage Back
If someone tags you, always like and reply back! This motivates them to keep shouting you out while also boosting engagement algorithmically.
4. Leverage Trends
Use Instagram‘s Search tool to browse top trending hashtags and conversations around your niche.
Then add relevant trending tags to your posts strategically.
5. Collaborate Cross-Platform
If someone with a YouTube or TikTok presence tags your Instagram in their video, be sure to tag them back on your Instagram Stories or posts!
Cross-promoting each other across multiple platforms expands your reach exponentially.
Key Takeaways
Here‘s a quick recap of my best tips for mastering Instagram tags:
💡 Use tags to give credit, increase engagement and expand reach
💡 You can tag people in Instagram posts, comments or group messages
💡 Analyze your metrics to see which tags perform best
💡 Engage back when others tag you
💡 Be thoughtful and ask permission before tagging
Now put this advice into action to step up your Instagram tag game!
Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments. I‘m always happy to help fellow Instagrammers.
