How to Make an Instagram Story Repostable

Ever see your brand tagged in an amazing Instagram Story and wish you could instantly share it with your own audience? That single reshare is one of the most powerful forms of social proof available, transforming a fan into a brand advocate. But for that to happen, your account needs to be set up correctly, and you need a strategy to encourage those tags. This article will show you exactly how to make your Instagram Stories repostable, how to reshare the content you're tagged in, and how to build a community that loves sharing your brand.

Why Making Your Stories Repostable is a Game-Changer

Allowing others to share your Story - and knowing how to repost theirs - isn't just a nifty feature, it’s a core component of a strong organic social media strategy. It builds authentic connections and amplifies your message without costing you a dime in ad spend. Here’s why mastering this simple function is so valuable for your brand.

Tap into the Power of User-Generated Content (UGC)

User-Generated Content is the holy grail of modern marketing. When a customer, fan, or follower posts about your product, service, or brand, it acts as a genuine recommendation. Reposting their Story to your own feed validates their post and puts their authentic testimonial in front of your entire audience. Nielsen studies consistently show that consumers trust recommendations from people they know above all other forms of advertising. Reposted Stories are the digital version of word-of-mouth marketing, giving you a steady stream of authentic content that builds trust.

Build a Stronger Community

Social media is about being social. When you reshare a Story someone tagged you in, you’re doing more than just filling your content calendar. You are publicly acknowledging and celebrating a member of your community. This small act makes your followers feel seen, heard, and appreciated. It fosters a sense of belonging and transforms passive viewers into active participants in your brand’s narrative. This positive reinforcement loop encourages others to tag you in the future, creating a vibrant and engaged community around your brand.

Expand Your Reach Organically

Each time someone creates a Story and mentions your account, your brand is exposed to their entire network of followers. When you then repost that Story, you signal to your audience that your community is active. Furthermore, when you post an original Story that is compelling or valuable, and you have sharing enabled, other users can share it directly to their own Stories. This exposes your content to new audiences you might not otherwise reach, fueling organic growth and brand awareness completely for free.

The Golden Rule: You Must Be Tagged with the @Mention Sticker

Before any of the reposting magic can happen, there's one non-negotiable rule: a user must tag your account in their Story using the official @mention sticker. This is the technical trigger that makes a Story repostable.

If someone simply types your handle as plain text (e.g., "loving my new shoes from @yourbrand"), Instagram won't recognize it as a tag. They have to specifically select the "Mention" sticker from the sticker tray and choose your account. When they do this correctly, two things happen:

• Their followers can tap the sticker in the Story to go directly to your profile.
• You receive a notification and a Direct Message (DM) containing a special link to "Add to Your Story."

Without that specific sticker, the mechanism doesn't work. The "Add to Your Story" button will not appear in your DMs, and you won't be able to reshare it directly. This is the most common reason people get frustrated, wondering why they can't seem to repost a mention. Always remember: the sticker is the key.

How to Enable Story Sharing on Your Account

While being tagged is the main requirement for reposting content from others, you also want to make sure your own original stories can be shared by visitors. This setting allows people to send your story to their friends via DMs or add their commentary when sharing your original post to their own Story. It's a simple setting to check and enables another avenue for organic reach. Here’s how to enable Story sharing on your account:

1. Go to Your Profile: Open the Instagram app and navigate to your main profile page.
2. Open the Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Access Settings: From the menu, select Settings and Privacy.
4. Find Sharing Options: Scroll down to the section titled "How others can interact with you" and tap on Sharing and remixes.
5. Toggle on Sharing: Under the "Stories" sub-section, you will see a few options. Make sure the toggle for Allow story sharing to messages is turned on. You can also review toggles for allowing others to share your feed posts and Reels to their stories here.

By enabling this, you are giving your content the best possible chance to spread. A follower might see your promotional Story and share it with a friend who they think would be interested, creating a direct and trusted referral.

A Step-by-Step Guide: Reposting a Story You’re Tagged In

So, someone has tagged your brand with the @mention sticker in their Story. Congratulations! Now it's your turn to share it and show them some love. The process is simple and only takes a few seconds.

1. Check Your Direct Messages (DMs): As soon as someone tags you, you will receive a notification in your DMs from that person. The message will read "@[Username] mentioned you in their story."
2. Look for the "Add to Your Story" Button: Inside that DM conversation, you’ll see a preview of the Story you were tagged in. Directly below it will be a prominent button that says Add to Your Story. This button is your gateway to reposting.
3. Customize Your Repost: Once you tap the button, Instagram will open its Story editor with the other person’s Story already placed as a sticker. Now, it's your chance to add your own flair! You can:
   • Resize and Reposition: Pinch to make the shared story smaller or larger. Drag it around the screen to place it wherever you like. Most brands shrink it slightly to leave room for their own text or GIFs.
   • Add Context: Use the text tool to add a comment like "So glad you love it!" or "Thanks for sharing!" This personalizes the repost and shows you’re not just blindly sharing.
   • Include Stickers or GIFs: Add relevant GIFs, polls, or other stickers to make the repost more engaging.
   • Change the Background: Tap the background to cycle through a few default color options, or use the draw tool to create a solid color background of your choosing.
4. Publish It: Once you're happy with your additions, just tap the "Your Story" button at the bottom of the screen to post it for your followers to see. That’s it! You've successfully amplified a piece of user-generated content and strengthened a community connection.

Strategies to Get More Repostable Mentions

Just sitting back and waiting for tags to roll in isn't a strategy. You need to actively encourage your audience to mention you. Here are some actionable ways to get more UGC flowing.

1. Run a UGC Campaign or Challenge

Give your audience a reason to post. Create a simple campaign with a branded hashtag and a clear call to action. For example, a coffee shop could run a #MyMorningMug campaign, asking users to post a Story of their morning coffee (from your shop, of course) and tag the brand for a chance to be featured on your page every week. It gives them a shot at recognition and gives you a steady pipeline of content.

2. Host a Contest or Giveaway

Contests are one of the fastest ways to generate mentions. A common and effective entry method is to ask participants to follow your account, post a Story about why they love your product or demonstrating them using it, and tag your account in the Story using the @mention sticker. The incentive of a prize motivates action, and you'll get a concentrated burst of UGC you can reshare over the course of the campaign and beyond. Learn more about how to run a contest or giveaway effectively.

3. Create "Shareable" Story Templates and Phone Backgrounds

Design beautiful, fun, or useful Story templates that are branded but not overly salesy. These could be checklists, "this or that" games, or bingo cards related to your industry. In the template, include a small line at the bottom like, "Tag @yourbrand so we can see your answers!" When people use and share your templates, your handle comes along for the ride.

4. Make It Easy by Showcasing Your Handle

If you have a physical location, make sure your Instagram handle is clearly visible. Put it on your packaging, on a small sign at the checkout counter, or in a neon sign on the wall designed for photo ops. The easier you make it for people to remember your handle, the more likely they are to tag you when they post.

Common Snags: Why Can't I Repost a Story?

Ran into an issue? Don't worry, it's usually one of a few common problems that are easy to diagnose.

• The Mention Sticker Wasn't Used: As mentioned, if they just typed your handle as text, it won't trigger the reposting feature.
• The Story Expired: Instagram Stories only last for 24 hours. If you don't reshare it within that window, the "Add to Your Story" button will disappear along with the original story. You have to be quick!
• The Tagger's Account is Private: If a user with a private account tags you in a Story, only their approved followers can see it. You will still receive a notification, but you won't be able to reshare the story publicly.
• Their Sharing Settings Are Off: The user who tagged you might have sharing disabled in their own privacy settings, which can prevent the feature from working as intended.

Final Thoughts

Making your Instagram Stories repostable goes far beyond a simple toggle in your settings. It’s an intentional strategy for building a community, generating powerful social proof, and extending your organic reach. By understanding how the @mention sticker works and actively encouraging your followers to tag you, you can transform your Stories from a simple broadcast tool into a dynamic platform for engagement and conversation.

Effectively managing all this positive engagement, from tagged Stories to comments and DMs, can quickly become overwhelming as your brand grows. This is exactly where we knew a modern, streamlined tool was needed. At Postbase, we built a unified inbox that brings all your conversations from every platform into one clean space, making it simple to see every mention and respond without missing a beat. When you combine this kind of streamlined engagement with a visual content calendar to plan your Story content in advance, you can build a powerful, UGC-driven strategy without the chaos.