Table of Contents

How to Add a Tagged Post to an Instagram Story: The Definitive Guide

So, you’ve been tagged in a killer Instagram post and you want to share the love (and the post!) with your Story viewers. Good instinct! Adding a tagged post to your Instagram Story is a fantastic way to boost engagement, amplify reach, and showcase collaborations. The process is surprisingly simple, but understanding the nuances ensures you get it right every time. Here’s the lowdown: when you’re tagged in a post, you’ll receive a direct message notification. Inside that notification, you’ll see an “Add to story” button. Simply tap that button, and the post will be instantly imported into your Story editor, ready for you to customize and share.

Understanding the Power of Tagged Posts in Stories

Let’s face it: Instagram Stories are where the action is. They’re immediate, engaging, and fleeting, creating a sense of urgency and immediacy that captures attention. By sharing tagged posts to your story, you’re doing more than just reposting; you’re leveraging social proof, tapping into existing networks, and driving traffic back to the original post.

Why Share Tagged Posts to Your Story?

Increased Visibility: Sharing tagged content exposes your audience to the original post and the account that created it, leading to potential new followers and engagement for both you and the original poster.
Enhanced Credibility: If you’re tagged in a post by a reputable brand or influencer, sharing it to your story lends credibility to your own brand. It signals association with quality and authority.
Effortless Content Creation: Let’s be honest, sometimes you need a break from creating original content. Sharing a tagged post is a quick and easy way to keep your Story fresh and engaging without having to start from scratch.
Fostering Community: Tagging and sharing create a sense of community. It shows that you’re actively engaged with your followers and fellow creators.
Driving Traffic: A shared post to your story can drive traffic to the original post, as well as the profile and page that originally posted it.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Sharing Tagged Posts

While the process is generally straightforward, here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to ensure smooth sailing:

Receive the Notification: The first step is to be tagged in a post! After the post is created and the poster tags you, you’ll receive a direct message (DM) notification in your Instagram app.
Open the DM: Tap on the DM notification to open the conversation thread.
Locate the “Add to Story” Button: Within the DM, you should see the post you’ve been tagged in along with an “Add to Story” button. This button might sometimes say “Add Post to Your Story.”
Tap “Add to Story”: This will automatically open the Instagram Story editor with the tagged post as the base of your Story.
Customize Your Story: Now comes the fun part! You can resize, reposition, and rotate the tagged post. You can also add text, stickers, GIFs, polls, questions, or anything else you like to personalize your Story. Get creative!
Add a Call to Action (CTA): Encourage viewers to engage with the original post by adding a clear call to action. For example, you could write “Check out this amazing post!” or “Swipe up to see the original!”.
Post Your Story: Once you’re happy with your creation, tap the “Your Story” button at the bottom left of the screen to share it with your followers. You can also choose to send it only to a specific group of “Close Friends”.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned. Here are a few common issues and how to troubleshoot them:

“Add to Story” Button Not Appearing: This is usually due to the original poster having disabled resharing of their posts to Stories. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do in this case, other than politely asking them to enable it.
Notification Doesn’t Appear: Ensure that you have notifications enabled for Instagram DMs. Check your Instagram notification settings to confirm that you’re receiving notifications for direct messages.
Post Doesn’t Fit Properly: Experiment with resizing and repositioning the post within the Story editor. Consider adding a background color or image to fill the empty space and make the Story more visually appealing.
Low-Quality Image: If the image quality is poor, it might be due to the original post being low resolution. Try asking the original poster for a higher-quality version to share.
Account Privacy: If the account who originally posted the content is private, only mutual followers will be able to view the content.

Best Practices for Maximum Impact

Sharing tagged posts is more than just a mechanical process. Here are some tips to maximize the impact of your Story shares:

Context is Key: Don’t just blindly repost. Provide context! Explain why you’re sharing the post, what you like about it, or how it relates to your own brand.
Use Engaging Elements: Stickers, GIFs, polls, and question boxes are your friends. Use them to make your Stories more interactive and engaging.
Stay On-Brand: Even when sharing other people’s content, ensure that it aligns with your own brand identity and values. Don’t share anything that could be considered offensive or inappropriate.
Tag the Original Poster: Even though the post is already tagged, it’s good etiquette to manually tag the original poster in your Story as well. This ensures they get notified and can see that you’ve shared their content.
Time Your Posts Strategically: Consider when your audience is most active on Instagram and schedule your Stories accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can’t I see the “Add to Story” button?

The most common reason is that the original poster has disabled resharing of their posts to Stories in their settings. Unfortunately, you can’t bypass this setting.

2. How do I enable resharing of my posts to Stories?

Go to Settings > Privacy > Story and make sure the “Allow Resharing to Stories” toggle is turned on.

3. Can I add a tagged Reel to my Story?

Yes, the process is the same for Reels as it is for regular posts. You’ll receive a DM notification, and within that notification, you should see the “Add to Story” button.

4. What happens if I’m tagged in a post from a private account?

Only users who follow both you and the private account will be able to see the tagged post in your Story. Non-mutual followers will likely see a blank box or a message indicating that the content is from a private account.

5. How do I know if someone has reshared my post to their Story?

You’ll receive a notification in your activity feed when someone adds your post to their Story.

6. Can I add multiple tagged posts to the same Story slide?

No, you can only add one tagged post to each individual Story slide.

7. Can I add a tagged post to my Story after the 24-hour Story duration has expired?

No, the DM notification containing the “Add to Story” button typically disappears after 24 hours. However, you can screenshot the original post, manually add it to your story and tag the original poster.

8. Can I edit the tagged post’s appearance in my Story?

Yes, you can resize, reposition, and rotate the tagged post within the Story editor. You can also add other elements like text, stickers, and GIFs.

9. What’s the difference between sharing a tagged post and simply reposting it?

Sharing a tagged post uses the built-in Instagram Story feature, which automatically links back to the original post and account. “Reposting” typically involves taking a screenshot and manually adding it to your Story, which is less efficient and doesn’t provide a direct link.

10. Is there a limit to how many tagged posts I can share to my Story?

There’s no official limit, but avoid overwhelming your viewers with too many shared posts in a row. Aim for a balance between original content and shared content.

11. Can I add a tagged post to my Story if I’m not following the person who tagged me?

Yes, you can still add a tagged post to your Story even if you don’t follow the person who tagged you.

12. What if the tagged post gets deleted after I’ve added it to my Story?

If the original post is deleted, it will no longer be visible in your Story. Your viewers will see a message indicating that the content is no longer available.