How to Add a Link to Your Instagram Story: The Ultimate Guide

By Cepy 8/23/2023 Post a Comment

Hi everyone, welcome to another article on how to make the most of your Instagram stories. In this article, we'll show you how to add a link to your Instagram story, a feature that can help you drive more traffic, engagement, and sales to your website, blog, or product page.

Adding a link to your Instagram story is a great way to share valuable content with your followers, whether it's an article, a video, a podcast, or a landing page. You can also use links to promote your products, services, offers, or events, and encourage your audience to take action.

What Are Link Stickers and How Do They Work?

Link stickers are a new feature that Instagram introduced in October 2021, replacing the old swipe-up feature that was only available to accounts with over 10,000 followers or verified accounts. Link stickers are interactive elements that you can add to your stories via the Instagram app. They look like a rounded square with a link icon and the domain name of the URL you want to share.

When you add a link sticker to your story, your viewers can tap on it and see a pop-up that invites them to visit the link. If they tap on the pop-up, they will be redirected to the linked website in the Instagram browser. Unlike the swipe-up feature, link stickers also allow your viewers to react and reply to your stories, opening up more opportunities for engagement.

How to Add a Link Sticker to Your Instagram Story

Adding a link sticker to your Instagram story is very easy and simple. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Open the Instagram app and swipe right on your home screen to create a new story.
Select or take a photo or video that you want to use for your story. You can also use filters, stickers, text, or other creative tools to enhance your story.
Tap on the sticker icon at the top of the screen. It looks like a smiley face inside a square.
Tap on the link sticker option. It looks like a chain link inside a circle.
Paste or type the URL that you want to share with your viewers. You can copy the URL from your browser or any other app. Make sure that the URL is valid and working.
Tap on Customize sticker text to change the text that appears on the link sticker. You can use up to 25 characters for your text. You can also tap on Done if you want to keep the default text, which is the domain name of the URL.
Tap on Done again to add the link sticker to your story. You can drag, resize, rotate, or change the color of the link sticker as you wish. You can also add other stickers, text, or GIFs to your story.
Tap on Your Story or Send To to share your story with your followers or specific people.

How to Edit or Delete a Link Sticker from Your Instagram Story

If you want to edit or delete a link sticker from your Instagram story, you can do so before or after you share it. Here's how:

To edit or delete a link sticker before you share it, simply tap on it and select Edit Link or Delete Link from the pop-up menu.
To edit or delete a link sticker after you share it, go to your profile and tap on Your Story. Then tap on More at the bottom right corner of the screen and select Edit Story or Delete Story from the menu.

Why You Should Use Link Stickers for Your Instagram Stories

Link stickers are not just a cool feature that lets you share links with your followers. They are also a powerful tool that can help you achieve various goals for your business or brand. Here are some of the benefits of using link stickers for your Instagram stories:

Drive More Traffic to Your Website or Blog

If you have a website or blog where you publish valuable content for your audience, such as articles, videos, podcasts, guides, tutorials, reviews, or case studies, you can use link stickers to drive more traffic from Instagram. By adding a link sticker to your story, you can direct your viewers to your website or blog where they can consume more of your content and learn more about your niche or industry.

To make this strategy effective, you need to create stories that are relevant and enticing for your viewers. For example, you can use stories to tease or preview your content, highlight key points or benefits, share testimonials or feedback, or ask questions or polls. You can also use catchy text, images, or GIFs to grab your viewers' attention and encourage them to tap on the link sticker.

Increase Engagement and Interaction with Your Audience

One of the advantages of link stickers over swipe-up links is that they allow your viewers to react and reply to your stories. This means that you can use link stickers to increase engagement and interaction with your audience, which can help you build trust and loyalty, as well as get valuable feedback and insights.

To increase engagement and interaction with your link stickers, you need to create stories that are conversational and inviting for your viewers. For example, you can use stories to ask for opinions, suggestions, questions, or feedback, share polls, quizzes, or challenges, or start a discussion or debate. You can also use emojis, stickers, or GIFs to express your emotions or personality.

Promote Your Products, Services, Offers, or Events

If you have a product, service, offer, or event that you want to promote to your followers, you can use link stickers to do so. By adding a link sticker to your story, you can direct your viewers to your product page, landing page, sales page, or registration page where they can learn more about your offer and take action.

To make this strategy effective, you need to create stories that are persuasive and compelling for your viewers. For example, you can use stories to showcase the features, benefits, or results of your product or service, share testimonials or reviews from satisfied customers or clients, offer discounts or incentives, or create urgency or scarcity. You can also use text, images, or videos to demonstrate how your product or service works or solves a problem.

A Breakdown of Link Stickers for Instagram Stories

To help you understand the link sticker feature better, here is a breakdown of its main aspects:

Aspect	Description
Availability	Link stickers are available to all business and creator accounts on Instagram. You can switch to a business or creator account in the settings menu of the app.
Appearance	Link stickers look like a rounded square with a link icon and the domain name of the URL you want to share. You can customize the text and color of the link sticker.
Functionality	When you add a link sticker to your story, your viewers can tap on it and see a pop-up that invites them to visit the link. If they tap on the pop-up, they will be redirected to the linked website in the Instagram browser.
Engagement	Unlike swipe-up links, link stickers allow your viewers to react and reply to your stories. You can see how many people have tapped on your link stickers in the story insights feature on Instagram.
Limitations	You can only add one link sticker per story. You can't use link stickers in ads or branded content stories. You can't edit the destination URL of a link sticker after you share it.

FAQs About Link Stickers for Instagram Stories

How do I get the link sticker on Instagram?

To get the link sticker on Instagram, you need to have a business or creator account. You can switch to a business or creator account in the settings menu of the app. Once you have a business or creator account, you can access the link sticker option in the sticker menu when you create a story.

How do I know if I have the link sticker on Instagram?

To know if you have the link sticker on Instagram, you need to check the sticker menu when you create a story. If you see the link sticker option with a chain link icon, it means that you have the feature. If you don't see it, it means that you don't have it yet. Instagram is gradually rolling out the feature to all users, so be patient and check back later.

How do I use the link sticker on Instagram?

To use the link sticker on Instagram, follow these steps:

Create a new story by swiping right on your home screen or tapping on Your Story.
Select or take a photo or video for your story. You can also use filters, stickers, text, or other creative tools to enhance your story.
Tap on the sticker icon at the top of the screen. It looks like a smiley face inside a square.
Tap on the link sticker option. It looks like a chain link inside acircle.
Paste or type the URL that you want to share with your viewers. You can copy the URL from your browser or any other app. Make sure that the URL is valid and working.
Tap on Customize sticker text to change the text that appears on the link sticker. You can use up to 25 characters for your text. You can also tap on Done if you want to keep the default text, which is the domain name of the URL.
Tap on Done again to add the link sticker to your story. You can drag, resize, rotate, or change the color of the link sticker as you wish. You can also add other stickers, text, or GIFs to your story.
Tap on Your Story or Send To to share your story with your followers or specific people.

How do I edit or delete a link sticker on Instagram?

To edit or delete a link sticker on Instagram, you can do so before or after you share it. Here's how:

To edit or delete a link sticker before you share it, simply tap on it and select Edit Link or Delete Link from the pop-up menu.
To edit or delete a link sticker after you share it, go to your profile and tap on Your Story. Then tap on More at the bottom right corner of the screen and select Edit Story or Delete Story from the menu.

How do I track the performance of my link stickers on Instagram?

To track the performance of your link stickers on Instagram, you can use the story insights feature on Instagram. Here's how:

Go to your profile and tap on the menu icon at the top right corner of the screen. It looks like three horizontal lines.
Tap on Insights from the menu.
Tap on Content You Shared from the insights menu.
Tap on Stories from the content menu.
Swipe left or right to find the story that contains your link sticker.
Tap on See All from the story insights menu.
Scroll down to see how many people have tapped on your link sticker under Interactions. You can also see other metrics such as impressions, reach, replies, shares, and saves.

How do I make my link stickers more attractive and clickable?

To make your link stickers more attractive and clickable, you can follow some tips such as:

Add a clear call-to-action to prompt your viewers to tap on the link sticker. You can use text, GIFs, or voice-overs to encourage your audience to follow your links.
Use relevant and high-quality images or videos for your stories that match the theme or topic of your links. This will help attract your viewers' attention and interest.
Choose links that provide value or information to your viewers, such as blog posts, articles, products, or services that relate to your niche or brand.
Test different types of links and see which ones perform better in terms of clicks and conversions. You can use tools like Later's Linkin.bio to create a landing page with multiple buttons and a clickable version of your Instagram feed.

What are some examples of how to use link stickers for different purposes?

Here are some examples of how to use link stickers for different purposes:

If you want to use link stickers to drive more traffic to your website or blog, you can create stories that tease or preview your content, highlight key points or benefits, share testimonials or feedback, or ask questions or polls. For example, you can say something like "Want to learn how to grow your Instagram account in 2021? Check out my latest blog post where I share 10 proven tips and tricks. Tap on the link below to read it now."
If you want to use link stickers to increase engagement and interaction with your audience, you can create stories that ask for opinions, suggestions, questions, or feedback, share polls, quizzes, or challenges, or start a discussion or debate. For example, you can say something like "What are your thoughts on the new Instagram update? Do you love it or hate it? Let me know in the comments below. And don't forget to tap on the link below to see my review and tips on how to use it."
If you want to use link stickers to promote your products, services, offers, or events, you can create stories that showcase the features, benefits, or results of your offer, share testimonials or reviews from satisfied customers or clients, offer discounts or incentives, or create urgency or scarcity. For example, you can say something like "Have you checked out my new online course on how to master Instagram marketing? It's packed with valuable lessons, worksheets, and bonuses that will help you grow your brand and business on Instagram. And for a limited time, you can get it for 50% off. Tap on the link below to enroll now before the offer expires."

What are some best practices for using link stickers on Instagram?

Some best practices for using link stickers on Instagram are:

Make sure that your links are relevant and useful for your audience. Don't spam your viewers with irrelevant or low-quality links that might annoy them or damage your reputation.
Make sure that your links are working and secure. Don't use broken or malicious links that might harm your viewers or expose them to unwanted risks.
Make sure that your links are mobile-friendly and optimized for the Instagram browser. Don't use links that are slow to load, hard to navigate, or incompatible with the Instagram browser.
Make sure that your links are compliant with the Instagram community guidelines and terms of service. Don't use links that violate the Instagram policies or promote illegal, harmful, or inappropriate content.

What are some alternatives to link stickers on Instagram?

If you don't have access to link stickers on Instagram or want to use other ways to share links with your followers, you can try some alternatives such as:

Adding a link to your bio. You can use tools like Linktree or Later's Linkin.bio to create a landing page with multiple links and a clickable version of your Instagram feed.
Adding a link to your IGTV video description. You can create an IGTV video related to your link and add the link to the video description. You can also share a preview of the video to your story and direct your viewers to watch it.
Adding a link to your direct messages. You can send a link to your followers or specific people via direct messages. You can also use tools like QRTiger or Beaconstac to create a QR code with your link and share it via direct messages.

Conclusion

In this article, we have covered everything you need to know about how to add a link to your Instagram story using the new link sticker feature. We have explained what are link stickers, how they work, how to use them, why you should use them, and what are some tips and best practices for using them effectively. We have also answered some frequently asked questions about link stickers and provided some examples and alternatives for sharing links on Instagram.

We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. And don't forget to check out our other articles on how to grow your Instagram account and business.

Thank you for reading and happy linking!

Google Ads Guide