How to Share an Instagram Post on Your Story: A Definitive Guide

Want to amplify your favorite Instagram content and inject some life into your Story? It’s surprisingly easy. Just hit the share icon (the paper airplane) under the post you want to share, tap “Add post to your story,” and then customize it to your heart’s content before posting it to your eager audience.

Why Share Instagram Posts to Your Story? The Power of Amplification

Sharing posts to your Instagram Story is like giving a VIP pass to content you think deserves more attention. It’s a fantastic way to boost engagement, cross-promote profiles, and spark conversations within your community. Think of it as your curated corner of the Instagram universe, highlighting the best bits for your followers to enjoy. Whether you’re showcasing a product launch, shouting out a fellow creator, or simply sharing something that resonates with your brand, this feature is a game-changer.

Benefits of Sharing Posts to Stories

• Increased Visibility: Reaches a wider audience, including those who might have missed the original post in their feed.
• Direct Engagement: Encourages interaction through polls, questions, and reactions directly on the Story.
• Brand Building: Reinforces your brand identity by curating content that aligns with your values and aesthetic.
• Collaboration Opportunities: A simple way to give a shoutout to other accounts and foster community.
• Driving Traffic: Can lead viewers directly back to the original post for further engagement.

Step-by-Step: Mastering the Art of Sharing

Let’s break down the process into clear, actionable steps.

1. Find the Post: Scroll through your feed or visit the profile of the account whose post you wish to share.
2. Tap the Share Icon: Locate the paper airplane icon (also known as the direct message icon) beneath the post, right next to the comment and like buttons.
3. Select “Add Post to Your Story”: A menu will appear. Choose the option that says “Add post to your story.” This will open the post within your Story creation screen.
4. Customize Your Story: Now the fun begins! You can resize, reposition, and rotate the post to fit your aesthetic. Add text, stickers, GIFs, polls, questions, or any other creative elements you desire.
5. Add Context: Don’t just share the post blindly. Provide context! Write a caption explaining why you’re sharing it, ask a question related to the content, or add a call to action.
6. Choose Your Audience: Decide whether you want to share the Story with all your followers (“Your Story”) or a select group of close friends (“Close Friends”).
7. Post Your Story: Once you’re satisfied with your creation, tap the “Your Story” button to share it with your general audience, or the “Close Friends” button for a more private share.

Pro-Tips for Maximizing Impact

• Tag the Original Poster: Always tag the account you’re sharing the post from. This gives them credit and increases the chances of them seeing and engaging with your Story.
• Use Interactive Stickers: Polls, questions, and quizzes are fantastic for driving engagement. Ask your followers what they think of the post, or quiz them on its content.
• Maintain Brand Consistency: Ensure your Story aligns with your overall brand aesthetic and messaging. Use consistent colors, fonts, and tone.
• Schedule Your Stories: Use scheduling tools to plan your Story content in advance and ensure you’re posting at optimal times for engagement.
• Track Your Analytics: Pay attention to your Story analytics to see which types of shared posts resonate most with your audience. This data will inform your future content strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why Can’t I Share a Post to My Story?

This usually boils down to privacy settings. If the account that posted the content has disabled resharing to stories, you won’t see the “Add post to your story” option. It can also be due to account type. Private accounts don’t allow their posts to be shared.

2. Can I Share a Story to My Story?

No, you cannot directly share another user’s story to your own story as a clickable, re-shareable item. You can take a screenshot of the Story and post that, but it won’t link back to the original account or Story. You CAN share posts that are on the user’s feed to your story, if their account privacy allows it.

3. How Do I Share Someone’s Post Anonymously?

Instagram doesn’t offer a built-in anonymous sharing feature. However, you could create a separate, anonymous account specifically for sharing content without revealing your identity.

4. Can I Share Multiple Posts in One Story?

Yes, you can add multiple posts to a single Story. After adding the first post, go back to your feed and repeat the process to add more posts. Each post will appear as a separate slide in your Story.

5. What’s the Best Size for Sharing Posts in Stories?

While Instagram handles the resizing automatically, it’s generally recommended to use a 9:16 aspect ratio for optimal viewing on mobile devices. This is the standard aspect ratio for Instagram Stories.

6. How Do I Share a Post to My Story on Desktop?

Unfortunately, you can’t directly share posts to your Story from the Instagram desktop website. This feature is primarily available on the mobile app. You can however, upload the images to a 3rd party app like Later or Buffer, to schedule story posts.

7. Can I Share a Post From a Private Account to My Story?

No, you cannot share posts from private accounts to your Story unless you are a follower of that account and they have allowed resharing. This is a privacy measure to protect the content of private accounts.

8. How Do I Share a Post to My Story Without Showing the Account Name?

The post will always show the account name by default. You can cover the account name with stickers or text if you want to obscure it, but this is generally discouraged as it’s best practice to give credit to the original creator.

9. Will the Original Poster Know If I Share Their Post?

Generally, the original poster will receive a notification when you share their post to your story, especially if you tag them in the story. It promotes engagement so Instagram wants to keep users aware when their content is being shared.

10. How Can I Reshare My Own Old Posts to My Story?

Simply go to your profile, find the old post you want to share, and follow the same steps as sharing someone else’s post: tap the share icon and select “Add post to your story.”

11. What If the “Add Post to Your Story” Option Isn’t Showing?

Double-check that the account you’re trying to share from has enabled resharing to stories in their privacy settings. If they haven’t, the option won’t appear. Also, make sure you’re using the latest version of the Instagram app.

12. How do I share reels to my story?

The process for sharing reels is the same as sharing a regular post. Tap the paper airplane icon below the reel, then select the “Add reel to your story” option, and you can customize it like you would with any other post.

Mastering the art of sharing Instagram posts to your Story is a simple yet powerful tool for engagement, collaboration, and brand building. By following these tips and understanding the nuances of the feature, you can unlock its full potential and create a more engaging and dynamic Instagram presence. Get out there, start sharing, and watch your community thrive!