Tap into external Instagram conversations involving your brand by checking out instances where your channel has been mentioned in post captions and/or comments, or tagged in images or videos.
Find out more about the mentions and tags you can expect to see in Engage, how you can interact, and how to set up your Engage feed.
In this article:
Instagram mentions vs. Instagram tags
Before getting started, it's important to note that Instagram treats mentions and tags as two different things.
A mention is when your Instagram channel's @ handle appears in text copy, such as a comment or a caption. Types of Instagram mentions include:
- Mentions of your Instagram channel in the caption of a Reel or Feed post
- Mentions of your Instagram channel in a comment on a Reel or Feed post, or in a reply to a comment
- Mentions of your Instagram channel in a Story, either as text or as a sticker
On the other hand, a tag is when your channel's @ handle is embedded in an image or video. Tags appear as an overlay when tapping or clicking on the tagged media.
Tip:
Find out more about mentioning and tagging on Instagram from Instagram's Help Center.
Available actions for Instagram mentions and tags in Engage
Both mentions and tags are available in Engage as Mentions. However, due to the limitations of the Instagram API, not all actions are available for all mention types.
In the next section, we'll review these actions in more detail.
| View in Engage | Respond in Engage | React in Engage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mentions from Reels or Feed posts | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mentions from comments | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mentions from replies to comments | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Mentions from Stories | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tags from Reels or Feed posts | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Mentions or tags from promoted posts | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Interacting with Instagram mentions in Engage
Interacting with Instagram mentions from Reels or Feed posts
When your Instagram channel is mentioned on a Reel or Feed post—either in the caption, a comment, or a reply—you can take the following actions in Engage:
- View the Reel or Feed post that mentions your channel in the caption
- Leave a comment on the Reel or Feed post that mentions your channel in the caption
- View the comment or reply that mentions your channel, as well as the parent Reel or Feed post
- Reply to the comment or reply that mentions your channel
To respond to a post, comment, or reply that mentions your channel, simply click the Reply button.
Please note that you can only respond to the content that mentions your channel directly. For example, if a comment mentions your channel, but its parent post does not, you will not be able to comment on the post.
You can also only view the comments or replies that mention your channel directly. For example, if a post mentions your channel, but its comments do not, you will not be able to view the comments.
If a reply mentions your channel, but its parent comment does not, the reply will appear under the parent post by itself.
Interacting with Instagram mentions from Stories
Mentions on Instagram Stories behave differently than mentions on other post types. When your channel is mentioned on an Instagram Story, you will receive a direct message (DM) with a preview of the Story. This preview will be available in Engage until the Story expires natively.
You can reply or react to a Story mention, but only while the Story is live. You reply will also be sent as a DM.
Interacting with Instagram tags in Engage
Engage can display any Reel or Feed post that tags your Instagram channel. However, for now, the Instagram API does not allow commenting on the tagged content, or viewing its other comments. It's also not possible to react to the tagged content.
Note:
If your Instagram channel was both tagged and mentioned on a Feed post or Reel, Engage will follow the rules for mentions.
Filtering for Instagram mentions and tags in Engage
To view your Instagram mentions and tags in Engage, please follow the steps below:
- In Engage, click Create feed in the top-right corner of your Feed overview.
- For On network(s), select the Instagram icon.
- For Of type(s), select Mentions.
- (Optional) Select channels, marked as read rules, or assigned users.
- Click Save Feed.