How to Repost on Facebook: A Comprehensive Guide to Sharing Content
Facebook, the social media giant, is a powerful platform for sharing information, connecting with friends and family, and engaging with communities. While Facebook doesn’t have a direct “repost” button like Twitter’s retweet or Instagram’s share feature for feed posts, there are several effective methods to share content you find interesting or relevant with your own network. This comprehensive guide will walk you through various ways to repost on Facebook, ensuring you can amplify the voices and messages you want to spread. We’ll cover everything from sharing posts from friends and pages to reposting your own older content, along with helpful tips and best practices.
## Understanding the Term “Repost” on Facebook
Before diving into the methods, it’s important to understand what “repost” means in the Facebook context. Since there’s no dedicated repost button, sharing content on Facebook essentially involves creating a new post that references or incorporates the original content. This can be done through various techniques, each with its own nuances and best-use scenarios.
The primary methods we’ll explore include:
* **Sharing Public Posts:** Sharing posts from public pages or profiles directly to your timeline or to a group.
* **Sharing Posts with Restricted Privacy:** Dealing with posts that have privacy settings that limit sharing.
* **Copying and Pasting Content:** Manually copying text and images from a post to create a new one.
* **Sharing Links:** Sharing website links posted on Facebook.
* **Sharing to Stories:** Sharing posts to your Facebook Story.
* **Reposting Your Own Content:** Bringing older posts back to your audience’s attention.
## Method 1: Sharing Public Posts Directly
This is the most straightforward method for reposting content on Facebook. It applies to posts from public pages or profiles where the sharing option is enabled.
**Steps:**
1. **Locate the Post:** Find the post you want to share on Facebook. This could be on a public page’s timeline, in a group, or on a friend’s profile (if the post is public).
2. **Look for the “Share” Button:** Below the post, you should see a “Share” button. It’s usually located next to the “Comment” button.
3. **Click the “Share” Button:** Clicking the “Share” button will present you with several options.
4. **Choose Your Sharing Destination:**
* **Share to News Feed or Story:** This option shares the post directly to your timeline, making it visible to your friends. Clicking this will often immediately share the post, or it might open a window where you can add a comment.
* **Share to a Group:** This allows you to share the post in a Facebook group you’re a member of. A window will appear where you can select the group and add an optional message.
* **Share to a Page:** If you manage a Facebook page, you can share the post to that page’s timeline. A window will appear where you can select the page and add an optional message.
* **Share to a Friend’s Timeline:** This allows you to share the post directly to a friend’s timeline. However, note that Facebook has limited this feature, and it might not always be available.
* **Send in Messenger:** This option lets you send the post directly to a friend or group of friends via Facebook Messenger.
5. **Add an Optional Comment:** Before sharing, you’ll often have the option to add a comment or message to the post. This is a great way to provide context, share your thoughts on the content, or explain why you’re sharing it. This is *highly* recommended as it makes the share more personal and engaging.
6. **Post:** Once you’ve chosen your sharing destination and added an optional comment, click the “Post” or “Send” button to share the content.
**Example:**
Let’s say you see a post from a local animal shelter about adoptable pets. You want to share this with your friends to help them find loving homes. You’d find the “Share” button on the post, click it, choose “Share to News Feed or Story,” add a comment like, “Look at these adorable animals! Please share to help them find homes!” and then click “Post.”
## Method 2: Sharing Posts with Restricted Privacy
Sometimes, you’ll encounter posts that have privacy settings that limit sharing. This means the “Share” button might be missing, or it might be greyed out and unclickable. This usually happens when the post’s author has set the privacy to “Friends” or “Only Me.” While you can’t directly share these posts, there are alternative approaches.
**Options:**
1. **Ask the Original Poster to Change the Privacy Settings:** The most ethical and straightforward approach is to contact the person who posted the content and ask them to change the privacy settings to “Public” or “Friends of Friends.” This will allow you and others to share the post directly.
2. **Copy and Paste (With Attribution):** If the original poster is unwilling or unable to change the privacy settings, you can manually copy the text and images from the post and create a new post on your timeline. However, it’s crucial to give credit to the original source. Clearly state that you’re sharing content from another person and, if possible, tag them in your post. *Always* give credit where it’s due; failure to do so is plagiarism.
3. **Take a Screenshot:** If the post contains an image or a visual element that you want to share, you can take a screenshot and upload it to your timeline. Again, remember to give credit to the original source if you know who created the image or content.
**Important Considerations:**
* **Respect Privacy:** Always respect the privacy settings of the original poster. If they’ve chosen to limit the visibility of their content, avoid finding ways to circumvent those settings without their permission.
* **Avoid Misrepresentation:** When copying and pasting content, be clear that you’re not the original creator. Avoid presenting someone else’s work as your own.
**Example:**
A friend posts a heartfelt story about a personal experience but sets the privacy to “Friends.” You want to share this story because you think it’s inspiring. You could message your friend and ask if they’d be willing to change the privacy to “Friends of Friends” so you can share it. If they decline, you could copy and paste the text into a new post, starting with, “My friend [Friend’s Name] shared this incredibly moving story: [Paste Story Here].”
## Method 3: Copying and Pasting Content
This method is useful when you want to share content that isn’t easily shareable, such as text-based updates or content from websites that aren’t directly integrated with Facebook.
**Steps:**
1. **Identify the Content:** Find the text, image, or video you want to share.
2. **Copy the Content:**
* **Text:** Select the text you want to copy and press `Ctrl+C` (Windows) or `Cmd+C` (Mac) to copy it to your clipboard.
* **Images:** Right-click on the image and select “Copy Image” or “Copy Image Address.” If you choose “Copy Image Address,” you’ll need to paste the address into the Facebook post’s image upload field. Alternatively, you can save the image to your computer and then upload it to Facebook.
* **Videos:** If the video is embedded from YouTube or another platform, you can usually copy the video’s URL and paste it into your Facebook post. Facebook will often automatically embed the video.
3. **Create a New Post on Facebook:** Go to your Facebook timeline or the timeline of the page or group where you want to share the content.
4. **Paste the Content:**
* **Text:** Click in the “What’s on your mind?” box and press `Ctrl+V` (Windows) or `Cmd+V` (Mac) to paste the copied text.
* **Images:** Click the “Photo/Video” button to upload the image you saved or paste the image address if you copied it.
* **Videos:** Paste the video URL into the “What’s on your mind?” box. Facebook should automatically generate a preview of the video.
5. **Add Context and Attribution:** It’s crucial to provide context for the content you’re sharing. Explain why you’re sharing it, add your own thoughts or commentary, and, most importantly, give credit to the original source. If you know who created the content, tag them in your post.
6. **Post:** Click the “Post” button to share the content.
**Example:**
You read an interesting article on a news website and want to share a key quote with your Facebook friends. You’d copy the quote, go to your Facebook timeline, paste the quote into the “What’s on your mind?” box, and then add a sentence like, “This quote from [Article Title] on [Website Name] really resonated with me: [Paste Quote Here].” You might also include a link to the original article.
## Method 4: Sharing Links
Sharing links is a simple and effective way to direct your audience to external websites or articles that you find valuable. Facebook automatically generates a preview of the link, making it visually appealing and informative.
**Steps:**
1. **Copy the Link:** Find the URL of the website or article you want to share and copy it to your clipboard. You can usually do this by right-clicking on the link and selecting “Copy Link Address” or by highlighting the URL in the address bar and pressing `Ctrl+C` (Windows) or `Cmd+C` (Mac).
2. **Create a New Post on Facebook:** Go to your Facebook timeline or the timeline of the page or group where you want to share the link.
3. **Paste the Link:** Click in the “What’s on your mind?” box and press `Ctrl+V` (Windows) or `Cmd+V` (Mac) to paste the link.
4. **Wait for the Preview to Generate:** Facebook will automatically generate a preview of the link, including a title, description, and image. This might take a few seconds.
5. **Add Context and Commentary:** Before posting, add a comment or message to provide context for the link. Explain why you’re sharing it, highlight key points, or ask a question to encourage engagement.
6. **Remove the Link (Optional):** Once the preview has generated, you can often remove the link from the text box. The preview will remain, and removing the link can make your post look cleaner. However, make sure the preview is accurate and contains all the necessary information.
7. **Post:** Click the “Post” button to share the link.
**Example:**
You read a blog post about sustainable living and want to share it with your Facebook friends. You’d copy the link to the blog post, go to your Facebook timeline, paste the link into the “What’s on your mind?” box, wait for the preview to generate, and then add a comment like, “This article on sustainable living has some great tips! Check it out: [Link to Blog Post].” You might then remove the link from the text box.
## Method 5: Sharing to Stories
Facebook Stories are a great way to share content in a temporary and engaging format. Stories disappear after 24 hours, making them ideal for sharing timely or casual updates.
**Steps:**
1. **Locate the Post or Content:** Find the post, image, or video you want to share to your Story.
2. **Look for the “Share” Button (If Applicable):** If you’re sharing a post from another user or page, look for the “Share” button below the post.
3. **Select “Share to Story”:** Click the “Share” button and choose the “Share to Story” option. This will open the Story editor.
4. **Customize Your Story (Optional):** The Story editor allows you to add text, stickers, drawings, and other effects to your Story. You can also tag other users or add a location.
5. **Add a Comment (Optional):** You can add a comment or message to your Story to provide context or encourage engagement.
6. **Share Your Story:** Click the “Share to Story” button to publish your Story. It will be visible to your friends for 24 hours.
**Alternative for Content Without a Share Button:**
If you’re sharing content that doesn’t have a share button, such as a website link or a photo from your camera roll, you can create a Story directly from the Facebook app.
1. **Open the Facebook App:** Launch the Facebook app on your smartphone or tablet.
2. **Tap “Add to Story”:** Tap the “Add to Story” button at the top of your News Feed.
3. **Choose Your Content:**
* **Photo/Video:** Select a photo or video from your camera roll.
* **Text:** Create a text-based Story.
* **Link:** Add a link to a website or article.
4. **Customize Your Story (Optional):** Add text, stickers, drawings, and other effects to your Story.
5. **Share Your Story:** Click the “Share to Story” button to publish your Story.
**Example:**
You see a funny meme on Facebook and want to share it with your friends in a more casual way. You’d click the “Share” button on the meme, choose “Share to Story,” add a funny sticker, and then click “Share to Story.”
## Method 6: Reposting Your Own Content
Sometimes, you might want to bring older posts back to your audience’s attention. This can be useful for promoting evergreen content, reminding people of past events, or simply sharing a favorite memory.
**Options:**
1. **Find the Old Post:** Scroll through your timeline or use the Facebook search function to find the post you want to repost.
2. **Share the Post (If Possible):** If the post is public and has a “Share” button, you can simply click the “Share” button and choose “Share to News Feed or Story.” This will create a new post on your timeline that links to the original post.
3. **Copy and Paste (If Sharing Isn’t Available):** If the post doesn’t have a “Share” button, you can copy and paste the text and images from the post into a new post on your timeline. Be sure to mention that it’s a repost from an older post.
4. **Create a New Post with a Reference:** You can also create a new post that references the older post. For example, you could say, “I was just thinking about this post from [Date]… [Share a brief summary of the original post].” You could then include a screenshot of the original post or a link to it if it’s still available.
**Example:**
You wrote a blog post a year ago that’s still relevant today. You want to share it again to reach a new audience. You’d find the original post on your Facebook timeline, click the “Share” button, choose “Share to News Feed or Story,” and then add a comment like, “This blog post is still relevant today! Check it out if you missed it the first time: [Link to Blog Post].”
## Best Practices for Reposting on Facebook
* **Always Give Credit:** Whenever you’re sharing content created by someone else, always give credit to the original source. This is not only ethical but also helps to build trust with your audience.
* **Add Context and Commentary:** Don’t just blindly share content. Add your own thoughts, insights, or commentary to provide context and make the content more engaging for your audience.
* **Be Mindful of Privacy:** Respect the privacy settings of the original poster. If they’ve chosen to limit the visibility of their content, avoid finding ways to circumvent those settings without their permission.
* **Consider Your Audience:** Think about what your audience is interested in and share content that’s relevant and valuable to them.
* **Use High-Quality Images and Videos:** When sharing images or videos, make sure they’re high quality and visually appealing. This will help to capture your audience’s attention.
* **Proofread Your Posts:** Before posting, always proofread your content for errors in grammar and spelling. This will help to maintain your credibility and professionalism.
* **Engage with Comments:** Respond to comments and questions from your audience to foster a sense of community and engagement.
* **Use Hashtags:** Use relevant hashtags to help people find your posts and increase their visibility.
* **Vary Your Content:** Don’t just share the same type of content over and over again. Mix it up with different types of posts, such as text updates, images, videos, and links.
* **Be Authentic:** Be yourself and share content that reflects your personality and interests.
## Tools and Apps for Facebook Reposting
While Facebook doesn’t have a built-in reposting tool, several third-party apps and tools can help you manage and schedule your Facebook posts. These tools often offer features such as:
* **Scheduling Posts:** Plan your posts in advance and schedule them to be published at specific times.
* **Content Curation:** Discover and curate content from various sources to share with your audience.
* **Analytics:** Track the performance of your posts and gain insights into your audience’s engagement.
* **Social Media Management:** Manage multiple social media accounts from a single platform.
Some popular social media management tools include:
* **Hootsuite:** A comprehensive social media management platform with scheduling, analytics, and content curation features.
* **Buffer:** A simpler social media management tool focused on scheduling and content sharing.
* **Sprout Social:** A more advanced social media management platform with a focus on customer engagement and analytics.
* **Later:** Primarily focused on Instagram, but also offers Facebook scheduling and analytics features.
However, be cautious when using third-party apps and tools with Facebook. Always ensure that the app is reputable and has a clear privacy policy. Avoid granting unnecessary permissions to the app, and be aware of the risks of sharing your Facebook login credentials with third-party services.
## Conclusion
While Facebook lacks a direct “repost” button, the methods outlined above provide effective ways to share content you find valuable with your network. By understanding these techniques and following the best practices, you can amplify important messages, engage with your audience, and contribute to meaningful conversations on the platform. Remember to always prioritize ethical sharing, give credit to original sources, and add your own unique perspective to the content you share. Whether you’re sharing public posts, copying and pasting content, or simply sharing links, be mindful of your audience and strive to create a positive and engaging experience for everyone involved.
By mastering these techniques, you can effectively “repost” on Facebook and leverage the platform to share information, connect with others, and build a strong online presence.