How to Repost a Mention on Instagram

Seeing your brand get a shoutout on Instagram is a fantastic feeling. Whether it’s a customer unboxing your product in their Stories or a creator featuring you in a beautiful feed post, these mentions are powerful social proof. But what’s the next step? Leaving that positive buzz on someone else’s account is a missed opportunity. This guide breaks down exactly how to repost those mentions in your Stories and on your feed, turning customer love into compelling content that builds trust with your audience.

Why Reposting Mentions is a Smart Move for Your Brand

Before we get into the step-by-step instructions, it helps to understand why this is such an effective strategy. When you share content from your community, it’s not just about filling your content calendar. You’re leveraging User-Generated Content (UGC), one of the most authentic forms of marketing available.

• It Builds Credibility and Trust: A five-star review is great, but a real person showing off your product is even better. Reposting UGC acts as a public testimonial, showing new followers that real people love what you do. It’s an authentic endorsement you simply can’t buy.
• It Fosters a Stronger Community: When you feature a customer's post, you make them feel seen, valued, and appreciated. This simple act of recognition strengthens their connection to your brand and encourages them (and others) to share more content in the future. It turns customers into loyal brand advocates.
• It Provides High-Quality Content (For Free!): Let’s be honest, creating original content every single day is demanding. UGC is a goldmine of authentic, high-quality photos and videos that you can add to your content mix, saving you time and resources while keeping your feed fresh and engaging.

How to Repost an Instagram Story Mention (The Easy Way)

This is the most straightforward way to share a mention, as Instagram has built this functionality directly into the platform. When someone tags your account in their Story, you get a notification that makes reposting incredibly easy.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

1. Check Your DMs: When someone @mentions your account in their Story, Instagram sends you a direct message notification. Open your DMs and you’ll see the message, which includes a preview of their Story.
2. Look for the "Add to Your Story" Button: Right below the Story preview in your DM, you'll see a prominent button that says “Add to your story.” Tap it.
3. Customize Your Repost: This is where you can add your own touch. The original Story will appear in your Story editor as a sticker. From here, you can:
   • Resize and Reposition: Pinch to make the sticker smaller or larger. Drag it around the screen to place it wherever you like. Most brands position it in the center.
   • Change the Background: If you leave it as is, the background will be a default color gradient pulled from the original post. To customize it, tap the drawing tool at the top, select a color (use the eyedropper for a branded color!), then press and hold on the background to fill it.
   • Add Context: Use the text tool to add your own message. A simple “Thanks for the love!” or “So glad you’re enjoying it!” adds a personal thank you. You can also add relevant GIFs, stickers, or even a poll to increase engagement.
4. Share it to Your Story: Once you’re happy with how it looks, just tap the “Your story” button at the bottom to publish it. That’s it! The repost will be live on your profile for 24 hours.

What if You Only Want to Repost the Photo or Video, Without the Original User's Text and Stickers?

Sometimes the original Story has text or GIFs that don't quite fit your brand's aesthetic. When the Story appears as a sticker in your editor, simply tap on it. This toggles between two views: one that shows the original Story with a border and the username, and another full-screen view that shows only the media itself. This gives you a clean canvas to add your own branded elements.

How to Repost a Feed Post Mention

Things get a little different when someone tags you in a regular feed post (a photo or Reel). Instagram doesn't have a built-in "repost to feed" button, but you have a few excellent options to share the content without breaking etiquette.

Method 1: Share the Feed Post to Your Story (Recommended)

This is the safest, easiest, and most respectful way to share a feed post. It doesn't republish the content directly on your feed, but it highlights it in your Story and, most importantly, links directly back to the original post, giving the creator full credit and traffic.

• Step 1: Go to the feed post you want to share.
• Step 2: Tap the paper airplane icon (the share button) below the post.
• Step 3: Select “Add post to your story” from the menu.
• Step 4: The post will appear as a sticker in your Story editor. You can tap on it to toggle between two designs: one with a clean border and another that shows the original caption.
• Step 5: Customize it with background colors, text, and GIFs just like you would with a regular Story mention, then publish. Viewers can tap the sticker in your Story to go directly to the original creator's post.

Method 2: Use the Screenshot Method for Your Feed

If you really want the post to live permanently on your own grid, the screenshot method is a common approach. However, it requires careful handling to ensure you're giving proper credit and maintaining quality.

Getting Permission is Essential

Before you post a screenshot on your feed, you should always ask for permission first. Re-uploading someone else’s content to your permanent grid is different than a temporary Story share. Send the creator a friendly DM. You could say something like:

“Hey [Name]! We absolutely love this photo you posted. Would you be okay with us sharing it on our feed? We’ll be sure to give you full credit in the caption and tag!”

Most content creators and customers will be thrilled you asked and will happily agree.

How to Do It Right:

1. Once you have permission, take a high-resolution screenshot of the post.
2. Crop the image carefully to remove the surrounding user interface elements.
3. Start a new post on your Instagram and select the cropped image.
4. Write your caption. This is the most important part. Give prominent credit right at the top. Don’t bury it at the end of your caption or hide it in hashtags. Start your caption with something like:
   "A stunning shot from the talented @[username]! 📸" or "We love seeing our products in the wild! Thanks for sharing, @[username]."
5. Tag the original creator in both the photo itself and in the caption to ensure they receive notifications and proper credit.

Note: While this method works in a pinch, be aware that screenshots can sometimes result in slightly lower image quality.

Best Practices and Pro-Tips for Reposting

Following a few simple rules will make your reposting strategy far more effective and foster goodwill with your community.

• Never Edit the Original Photo: Resist the temptation to add your own presets or filters to someone else’s image, unless you have their explicit permission. It alters their creative work and can sometimes be seen as disrespectful.
• Engage, Genuinely: Before you even think about reposting, leave a thoughtful comment on the original post. Thank them by name and tell them what you like about it. This initial interaction shows you're not just there to grab content, you genuinely appreciate their support.
• Create a UGC Highlight Reel: Don't let that great content disappear after 24 hours. Create a dedicated Story Highlight on your profile called “Community,” “Reviews,” “#YourBrandName,” or something similar. Every time you share a mention in your Story, add it to this Highlight. This creates a permanent collection of social proof that new visitors can browse anytime they visit your profile.

Final Thoughts

Reposting mentions on Instagram is a powerful cycle. It builds an authentic connection with your audience by celebrating their contributions, which in turn encourages them to create and share more. By following these simple steps for Stories and feed posts, you can transform happy customer shoutouts into a steady stream of trustworthy, engaging content that elevates your brand and develops a real sense of community.

Managing all these community interactions and planning your UGC schedule can feel like a lot to juggle. That's why we designed Postbase with features to simplify this exact workflow. You can use our visual content calendar to plan when you'll feature UGC posts, and our unified inbox brings all your DMs and comments into one place, so you never miss a tag or an opportunity to connect with a happy customer. It streamlines an organic process that can otherwise get chaotic.