Mastering the Art of Reposting on Instagram: A Comprehensive Guide

Instagram, a powerhouse of visual content, is constantly evolving. One of the key aspects of engaging with this platform is the ability to share content created by others, commonly known as reposting. While Instagram doesn’t have a built-in ‘repost’ button like Twitter or Facebook, there are several ways to effectively share content from other users, enhancing your engagement and showcasing curated content to your followers. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various methods of reposting on Instagram, offering detailed steps and instructions for each.

Why Repost on Instagram?

Before diving into the ‘how’, let’s understand ‘why’. Reposting serves several crucial purposes:

• Showcasing User-Generated Content (UGC): Sharing content created by your followers or customers builds community and demonstrates appreciation.
• Promoting Other Creators: Supporting artists, influencers, and businesses by sharing their work can foster collaboration and expand your network.
• Curating Content: Reposting allows you to share relevant and engaging content with your audience that you didn’t create yourself. This can be particularly useful if you want to share valuable information or humorous content relevant to your niche.
• Filling Content Gaps: If you’re short on time or ideas for original content, reposting can provide valuable filler without compromising quality.
• Increasing Visibility: When you repost, the original creator’s username is clearly displayed, helping them gain visibility and followers, and potentially leading to reciprocal reposts.

Methods of Reposting on Instagram

Now, let’s explore the various methods you can use to repost content on Instagram. While some methods involve using third-party apps, others require a bit of creativity with the built-in tools. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages, and the best method for you will likely depend on your specific needs and preferences.

1. Using Reposting Apps (The Easiest Option)

The most straightforward way to repost on Instagram is by using dedicated reposting apps. These apps are designed specifically for this purpose and streamline the process considerably. Here’s how it generally works, using a popular app called ‘Repost for Instagram’ as an example. Keep in mind that similar apps operate on a comparable principle.

Step-by-Step Guide: Reposting with a Repost App

1. Download and Install the App: Go to your device’s app store (Google Play Store for Android or Apple App Store for iOS) and search for a reliable repost app like ‘Repost for Instagram’ (or another app that you trust, considering reviews and ratings). Download and install the chosen app.
2. Grant Necessary Permissions: Once installed, open the app. It will likely request access to your photos, camera, and other permissions. Grant these permissions as required.
3. Find the Instagram Post You Want to Repost: Open the official Instagram app and navigate to the post you want to repost.
4. Copy the Post Link: Tap the three dots (ellipsis) located in the top-right corner of the post. From the menu that appears, select ‘Copy Link’. The link to the post will be copied to your device’s clipboard.
5. Open the Repost App: Return to the repost app you previously installed.
6. Paste the Link: The repost app should automatically detect the copied link. If it doesn’t, you may find a designated button or area within the app to paste the link. Once pasted, the app will retrieve the post information.
7. Customize the Repost: Most repost apps allow you to customize how the repost will look. You might be able to choose the position of the watermark (with the original author’s username), its color, or even opt to hide it entirely (though this is not generally recommended due to attribution concerns).
8. Prepare Your Caption: The app will usually copy the original caption, but you can edit it to add your own commentary. It’s a best practice to credit the original creator by including “Reposted from @[username]” or similar. Always ask for permission before reposting, especially when not using the original caption, or if you’re a business account.
9. Share to Instagram: Finally, tap the ‘Share to Instagram’ button within the repost app. This will open the official Instagram app, where you can finalize the post by adding filters, further editing the caption, or tagging other accounts.
10. Post to Your Feed or Story: You can choose to share the repost as a regular post on your profile feed or as a story, depending on your preference.

Advantages of Using Repost Apps

• Ease of Use: Repost apps are extremely user-friendly, making the reposting process quick and simple.
• Preserves Original Content: Most apps ensure the original image or video quality is maintained during the reposting process.
• Automatic Attribution: They automatically add a watermark with the original creator’s username, ensuring proper credit is given.
• Caption Copy Feature: Repost apps typically copy the original caption, making it easy to include it in your repost.

Disadvantages of Using Repost Apps

• Third-Party Reliance: You rely on a third-party app, which might not always be updated or secure.
• Potential for Ads: Free versions of repost apps often include ads, which can be distracting.
• Privacy Concerns: Be mindful of the permissions you grant and choose reputable apps.

2. Manually Screenshotting and Reposting (The DIY Method)

Another method, though less elegant, is to manually screenshot the post and repost it. This method allows you to control how the repost appears, but it requires more manual work and doesn’t provide a direct link back to the original post. This is a more time consuming way and may decrease the quality of an image.

Step-by-Step Guide: Screenshot and Repost

1. Find the Post: Open the Instagram app and navigate to the post you want to repost.
2. Take a Screenshot: Take a screenshot of the post on your device. Ensure you capture the entire post, including the image or video, as well as the original poster’s username. Avoid capturing surrounding interface elements like your phone’s status bar or Instagram navigation icons.
3. Crop the Screenshot: Open your device’s photo gallery and find the screenshot you just took. Use the editing tools to crop the screenshot, removing any unnecessary elements or background parts.
4. Open Instagram and Create a New Post: Launch the Instagram app and create a new post as you normally would.
5. Select the Screenshot: Select the cropped screenshot from your photo gallery.
6. Adjust if Necessary: Use Instagram’s built-in editing tools to further adjust the image if needed (applying filters or making adjustments for brightness or contrast).
7. Craft Your Caption: Write a caption for your repost. Be sure to give credit to the original poster by tagging their username using the @ symbol. You can also credit them in a message such as “Photo by @[username]”. It is advisable to ask permission first.
8. Share to Your Feed or Story: Choose whether to post it on your feed or story and tap the ‘Share’ button.

Advantages of Screenshot and Repost

• No Third-Party App Required: You don’t need to install any additional apps.
• Full Control Over Presentation: You have complete control over the appearance of the repost, including cropping and editing.

Disadvantages of Screenshot and Repost

• Lower Image Quality: Screenshots may result in lower image quality compared to reposting using dedicated apps.
• Manual Process: It’s more time-consuming than using a repost app.
• Missing Direct Link: You do not have an automatic link to the original post, and you will have to manually tag the poster to give them credit.
• Risk of Forgetting Attribution: It’s easy to forget to give proper credit to the original creator when manually reposting, which can be perceived as unethical and can be damaging to your reputation.
• Potential for Inaccuracies: If you manually type the original author’s handle, it’s possible to make mistakes and miss tagging them, causing them to not get the due recognition for their work.

3. Sharing a Post to Your Instagram Story (A Temporary Repost)

Instagram also offers a built-in way to share posts (and reels) to your story. This is ideal for short-term sharing as stories disappear after 24 hours. This is not considered as ‘reposting’ in the traditional sense as the post will be available only as a story for 24 hours. However, it allows for easy content sharing on a temporary basis, highlighting the original poster’s work.

Step-by-Step Guide: Share to Instagram Story

1. Find the Post: Navigate to the post you wish to share.
2. Tap the Share Button: Below the post, you’ll see a ‘paper airplane’ share icon. Tap on it.
3. Choose ‘Add Post to Your Story’: From the options that appear, select ‘Add post to your story’. The post will be added as a sticker on the story canvas.
4. Customize the Story: You can customize the story with text, stickers, GIFs, drawings, or music. You can also change the size and position of the shared post on the canvas.
5. Share to Your Story: Once you’re happy with how your story looks, tap the ‘Share’ button in the bottom-right corner to publish it to your story.

Advantages of Sharing to Your Story

• Built-In Instagram Feature: It’s a native Instagram feature, so you don’t need any additional apps.
• Interactive Options: You can easily add interactive elements to the shared post in your story (e.g. polls, quizzes, questions).
• Easy to Share and View: Quick and convenient for both sharing and for your viewers to see.

Disadvantages of Sharing to Your Story

• Temporary Sharing: The repost is only available for 24 hours.
• Not a Permanent Feed Post: The post will not appear on your permanent profile grid.

4. Using the ‘Add to Feed’ Feature for Reels (Specifically)

For Instagram Reels, there’s an additional option to directly add it to your feed through the ‘Add to Feed’ functionality after posting it in your story. However, this is also a form of temporary sharing and is available only to Reels. This can be an additional step to showcase a Reel that you have shared on your story before, on your feed as well.

Step-by-Step Guide: Add a Reel from Story to Feed

1. Share the Reel to your Story: Use the previously mentioned ‘Share to Story’ method to share the Reel to your Instagram story.
2. Go to your Story Archive: After posting the Reel in your Story, navigate to your story archive through your profile menu.
3. Select the Reel: Find the Reel you have previously shared in your Story archive.
4. Tap on ‘Share’: Once you view the selected Reel in the archive, you will find the share button on the right corner of the screen. Tap on it.
5. Select ‘Add to Feed’: From the share menu, select ‘Add to Feed’. This will now enable you to post the Reel as a normal post in your feed.
6. Customize and Post: You can change the caption, tag users, add location details and other information before finally posting the Reel to your feed.

Advantages of Using ‘Add to Feed’ for Reels

• Direct sharing to your Feed: The Reel can be shared on your Feed after it has been shared on your story.
• Easy Sharing: Very straightforward and convenient for those who use Reels regularly.

Disadvantages of Using ‘Add to Feed’ for Reels

• Limited to Reels: The method is limited to Reels only. You can not use it for standard image or video posts.
• Not considered traditional reposting: This is not the traditional method of reposting. This is an additional feature for Reels.

Best Practices for Reposting

No matter which method you choose, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

• Always Ask for Permission: It’s always best practice to request permission from the original creator before reposting, especially if you’re using their content for commercial purposes or if you are significantly altering their message. A simple DM asking if you can share is often sufficient.
• Give Proper Credit: Always include the original creator’s username prominently in your caption. Tag them directly and also include a phrase like ‘Reposted from’ or ‘Photo by’.
• Respect Original Content: Avoid significantly altering the original post. If you need to crop or edit, be mindful to retain the original intention and context of the content.
• Add Your Own Perspective: While giving credit, add your own insights and why you’re sharing the post. This makes your repost more valuable to your audience.
• Engage with the Original Poster: Comment on the original post to show that you appreciate their work.
• Be Mindful of Copyright: Be aware of copyright restrictions, especially when reposting commercial or artistic content.
• Consider Your Audience: Only share content that is relevant and valuable to your audience and that aligns with your brand’s or profile’s values.

Conclusion

Reposting on Instagram can be a powerful way to engage with your audience, support other creators, and curate interesting content. Whether you opt for a repost app, the manual screenshot method, or the temporary story-sharing feature, adhering to best practices is paramount. Remember to always give credit where it’s due, respect the original content, and add your own unique touch. With the right approach, reposting can be a valuable addition to your Instagram strategy, fostering community and driving engagement. While Instagram may not have a ‘repost’ button, the options described above give you considerable flexibility in sharing others’ content effectively.