Headquarters posts a big launch on its account, while the dealer's account runs a completely different feed that same week. Instagram's Collab feature is one of the practical ways to bring the two together in a single post.
What is a Collab post and why does it suit dealer networks?
In a Collab post, one account creates the post and invites another account as a collaborator; once the invite is accepted, the post appears on both profiles and in both sets of followers' feeds, and likes and comments are shared.
Hootsuite points to businesses with multiple brands or separate accounts as an ideal use case for this feature. A network with headquarters and dealers has exactly this structure: different accounts of the same brand speaking to different local audiences.
How do you set it up, step by step?
Setup takes a few taps in the Instagram app; the real work is agreeing on the plan in advance.
- Create the feed post or Reel as you normally would.
- In the post details, open Tag People and choose Invite Collaborator.
- Search for and select the collaborator, finish and share the post; once they accept, the post appears on their profile too.
- Make sure the accounts are public; if the invite option is missing, check that the account is set to Business or Creator.
- If the invite doesn't arrive, check whether the collaborator allows tags from everyone in their tag settings.
Which content works best in a dealer network?
Not every post needs to be a Collab; it works best for moments that matter to both audiences.
- New model launch: headquarters posts, the dealer joins as collaborator; local followers see the national campaign on their own dealer's account.
- Delivery moment: the dealer posts and adds headquarters as collaborator; the brand account collects real customer stories on its profile.
- Local event or service campaign: the brand account adds visibility to the dealer's event as a collaborator.
- Influencer partnerships: for paid collaborations, disclose them clearly with Instagram's paid partnership label.
What should you check before you start?
A Collab post puts both account names on the same content, so brand standards and responsibilities need to be clear from the start.
- Decide upfront, by content type, which account creates the post and which one gets invited.
- Make sure visuals and copy follow the current brand template; the Collab post looks the same on both profiles.
- Don't fill the feed with Collab posts only; each account's own local voice should stay visible.
- Agree in advance on who replies to comments, so the same question doesn't get different answers from each account.
Where does DealerBot fit in?
The Collab invite itself is sent in the Instagram app. DealerBot helps with the preparation: dealers find approved visuals in the central media library, content goes through headquarters approval before publishing, and posts are planned on the calendar.
That way, the content behind a Collab post is prepared to a brand standard both accounts can stand behind.