Instagram just dropped a batch of updates that are… surprisingly useful. Yes, we’re talking about the Repost feature you’ve been dreaming about since the dawn of screenshotting, plus some other tweaks that could actually help your business—if you use them right.

Whether you’re running an Etsy shop, engraving tumblers in your garage, or selling your products at markets every weekend, this guide will walk you through Instagram’s new features and the old faithful ones (Stories, Posts, Favorites, etc.) so you know exactly when—and how—to use each.

The New Stuff

Reposts (aka “Instagram finally caught up”)

You can now reshare public Reels and feed posts directly to your own profile—no third-party apps, no downloading, no weird screenshots. Your reposts show up in your followers’ feeds and live in their own shiny “Reposts” tab on your profile. You can even add a little note or reaction for context.

Why this matters for your shop:
This is UGC (user generated content) gold. That customer who posted a gorgeous photo of your engraved cutting board? Repost. The event organizer hyping the market you’re vending at? Repost. It’s instant credibility, free content, and a built-in way to show you’re part of your community.

How to use it well:

• Customer shoutouts – Repost customer content with a quick note like, “We see you, @username. Looking sharp with that new [product name].”

• Event buzz – Repost partners, sponsors, or influencers talking about an event you’re attending.

• Weekly UGC time – Pick one day a week to search your mentions/tags and repost the best stuff.

• Keep it balanced—if your grid becomes all reposts, people may forget what your original content looks like.

Friends Tab (inside Reels)

This is a new feed that shows what Reels your friends have liked, commented on, reposted, or created. Translation: your content can travel further if people engage with it, because it now has a better chance of showing up in their friends’ feeds.

For you, this means:
Every like, comment, and repost matters more. Encourage engagement with prompts like, “Tap the heart if this made you smile” or “Tag a friend who needs this in their workshop.”

Instagram Map

An optional map that lets people share their personal location with friends. That part? Not so relevant for most businesses.

The part you should care about: geo-tagging your posts and stories when you’re at markets, events, or local spots. This makes you more discoverable when people browse the map for that location.

The Tried-and-True Features (and When They Actually Work)

Feed Posts

Your bread-and-butter. These stick around, they’re searchable, and they’re perfect for showing your products in their best light.
Best for: product photos, carousels with different angles, “how it’s made” sequences, testimonials.
Quick win: Use the first photo in a carousel to stop the scroll—clear, bright, and brand-aligned.

Reels

Instagram’s current golden child. Short videos get priority in the algorithm, and now, thanks to the Friends tab, engagement spreads further.
Best for: demos, transformations, quick tips, before/after shots, process videos.
Quick win: Hook viewers in the first 2–3 seconds. Even if you’re showing a process, give them the why upfront

Stories (and Highlights)

Stories disappear in 24 hours, but Highlights are your forever shelf.
Best for: behind-the-scenes, FAQ answers, polls, sales announcements, restocks, event coverage.
Quick win: Save Stories into Highlights for categories like “Reviews,” “Events,” or “Best Sellers.” This turns casual browsers into educated buyers.

Favorites

People can add your account to their “Favorites” list so your posts rank higher in their feed.
Best for: keeping your most loyal customers in the loop.
Quick win: Occasionally post a Story reminding people to add you to Favorites so they don’t miss launches or market dates.

Likes

Still important, but now they have extra weight because they can help push your content into Friends feeds.
Quick win: Directly ask for them. People are more likely to tap the heart if you tell them why it matters.

Tagged

This is your gallery of posts other people tag you in.
Best for: social proof and UGC you can reshare.
Quick win: Turn on manual tag approval so your tagged tab stays on-brand.

Collabs

The post appears on both your account and a partner’s, sharing engagement and audience reach.
Best for: influencer partnerships, vendor collabs, co-branded products.
Quick win: Use them for product launches or events so the announcement hits both audiences at the same time.

Putting It All Together: Your “Feature Mix” Formula

If you’re a business owner trying to keep Instagram from eating your entire day, here’s a simple framework:

• 2–3 Feed Posts/Reels per week → original content that drives sales and brand story.

• Daily Stories → light, interactive, and personal; reuse what you’re already making.

• 1 Repost per week → customer content, partner shoutouts, or event buzz.

• Engagement habit: Spend 10 minutes a day liking, commenting, and replying to DMs to keep your content in the social loop.

• UGC round-up: Once a week, search tags/mentions, save the good stuff, and plan reposts.

Instagram keeps throwing new features at us, but the businesses that win are the ones who know how to mix new tools with consistent content. The Repost button might be shiny and new, but it works best as part of a bigger strategy—not as your only move.