How to Add Link to Instagram Story: A Complete Guide

By Cepy 9/15/2023 Post a Comment

Hi Online Friends,

Do you want to share your website, blog, product, or any other link with your Instagram followers? If yes, then you might be wondering how to add link to Instagram story.

Adding links to your stories is a great way to drive more traffic, engagement, and conversions from your Instagram account. But not everyone knows how to do it or what are the best practices for it.

That's why I have created this comprehensive guide on how to add link to Instagram story. In this guide, I will show you:

How to add link to Instagram story using the new link sticker feature
How to customize and optimize your link stickers for maximum clicks
How to measure and analyze the performance of your link stickers
Some tips and tricks on how to use link stickers effectively
Some frequently asked questions about link stickers

By the end of this guide, you will be able to add links to your stories like a pro and boost your Instagram marketing results.

So, let's get started!

What are Link Stickers and How Do They Work?

Link stickers are a new feature that Instagram introduced in 2022 to allow all users (regardless of their follower count) to add links to their stories. Previously, this feature was only available for verified accounts or accounts with over 10K followers.

Link stickers are similar to other stickers that you can add to your stories, such as location, hashtag, poll, question, etc. But instead of adding a graphic element, they allow you to add a clickable URL that leads your viewers to any destination you want.

When you add a link sticker to your story, it shows up as a small button with the text "See more" and the first part of the destination link (i.e. the domain name). For example, if you add a link to your blog post, it will show up as "See more combin.com".

When your viewers tap on the link sticker, they will see a preview of the destination page and an option to open it in their browser. If they choose to open it, they will leave the Instagram app and go to the destination page.

Why Use Link Stickers?

Link stickers are a powerful tool for Instagram marketing because they allow you to:

Drive more traffic to your website, blog, product page, landing page, or any other online resource
Increase your conversions, sales, leads, sign-ups, downloads, or any other desired action
Grow your email list, newsletter subscribers, podcast listeners, YouTube viewers, or any other audience
Promote your offers, discounts, deals, contests, giveaways, or any other incentives
Educate your followers about your brand, products, services, values, or any other information
Build trust and credibility with your followers by sharing valuable and relevant content
Enhance your storytelling and engagement by adding more context and depth to your stories
Test and experiment with different types of content and links to see what works best for your audience

How to Add Link Stickers?

Adding link stickers to your stories is very easy and simple. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Open the Instagram app on your smartphone and go to the Stories tab by swiping right or tapping on the camera icon at the top left corner.
Capture or upload content for your story by using the camera or selecting an image or video from your gallery.
Tap on the sticker icon at the top of the screen (the smiley face with corner peel) and select the link sticker from the sticker tray. You can also search for "Link" using the search box at the top.
Paste or type the URL that you want to share in the link field. You can only add one link per story.
Tap on "See preview" to check if your link is working properly and then tap on "Done". The link will appear on your story as a sticker.
Move, resize, and position the link sticker on your story as you like. You can also change the color of the sticker by tapping on it.
Add any other stickers, text, filters, or effects to your story and then share it with your followers or close friends.

That's it! You have successfully added a link to your Instagram story.

How to Optimize Your Link Stickers for Maximum Clicks?

Adding link stickers to your stories is not enough. You also need to optimize them for maximum clicks and conversions. Here are some tips on how to do that:

Use clear and catchy headlines for your stories that grab attention and generate curiosity. For example, "How I Made $10K in One Month with Instagram" or "The Ultimate Guide to Link Stickers".
Add a strong call-to-action (CTA) that tells your viewers what to do and why. For example, "Tap here to learn more" or "Swipe up to get 50% off".
Use relevant and high-quality images or videos that showcase your link content or offer. For example, a screenshot of your blog post, a product image, a testimonial, or a video teaser.
Use other stickers, text, GIFs, or emojis to highlight and draw attention to your link sticker. For example, a pointing finger, an arrow, a star, or a fire emoji.
Test different types of links, content, headlines, CTAs, images, videos, and stickers to see what works best for your audience and goals. Use Instagram Insights or other analytics tools to measure and compare the results.

How to Measure and Analyze the Performance of Your Link Stickers?

To measure and analyze the performance of your link stickers, you need to use Instagram Insights or other analytics tools. Here are some steps you can take:

Go to your profile page and tap on the menu icon (the three horizontal lines) at the top right corner.
Select "Insights" from the menu and then tap on the "Content" tab.
Scroll down and tap on "Stories" under the "Shared Content" section.
Select the story that contains the link sticker that you want to analyze.
Swipe up on the story screen to see the insights for that story.
Look for the "Taps Forward" metric under the "Interactions" section. This metric shows you how many people tapped on your link sticker and saw the preview of your destination page.
Look for the "Exits" metric under the "Navigation" section. This metric shows you how many people left your story after tapping on your link sticker and opened your destination page in their browser.

These two metrics will give you an idea of how many people clicked on your link sticker and how many people actually visited your destination page. You can also use other metrics such as impressions, reach, replies, shares, saves, etc. to measure the overall performance of your story.

If you want to get more detailed and accurate data on how many people visited your destination page from your link sticker, you can use other analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Bitly, or Later's Linkin.bio feature. These tools will allow you to track and measure the traffic, conversions, sales, leads, sign-ups, downloads, or any other action that you want from your link stickers.

Some Tips and Tricks on How to Use Link Stickers Effectively

To use link stickers effectively and get the most out of them, here are some tips and tricks that you can follow:

Create valuable and relevant content for your destination page that matches your audience's needs and interests. For example, if you are a fitness coach, you can create a blog post on how to lose weight fast or a landing page for a free consultation.
Use short and descriptive URLs that tell your viewers what they can expect from your destination page. For example, instead of using a long and random URL like https://www.combin.com/blog/add-link-to-instagram-story/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=link_sticker_guide_2023_01_26 , you can use a short and catchy URL like https://combin.com/ig-link-sticker-guide . You can use tools like Bitly or TinyURL to shorten and customize your URLs.
Create urgency and scarcity for your link content or offer by adding a countdown timer sticker or a limited-time text. For example, "Only 24 hours left" or "Last chance to get this deal". This will motivate your viewers to take action quickly before they miss out.
Use social proof and testimonials to build trust and credibility for your link content or offer by adding a quote sticker or a screenshot. For example, "See what our happy customers are saying" or "Featured on Forbes, TechCrunch, and Mashable".
Use stories highlights to save and organize your stories with link stickers for future reference. For example, you can create a highlight for your blog posts, products, services, offers, etc. This will allow your viewers to access your links anytime they visit your profile.
Use Instagram Live or Reels to promote your stories with link stickers and drive more views and clicks. For example, you can go live and announce that you have a new blog post or offer and tell your viewers to check out your story for the link. Or you can create a short and engaging video with Reels and tease your link content or offer.

FAQs About Link Stickers

Who Can Use Link Stickers?

According to Instagram, link stickers are available for all users who have a Business or Creator account on Instagram. However, new accounts and accounts that repeatedly share things like hate speech and misinformation, or other content that violates the platform's community guidelines will not have access to the link sticker feature.

How Many Link Stickers Can I Add to My Story?

You can only add one link sticker per story. If you try to add more than one link sticker, you will get an error message saying "You can only add one link per story".

Can I Add Link Stickers to My Feed Posts?

No, you cannot add link stickers to your feed posts. Link stickers are only available for stories. If you want to add links to your feed posts, you can use Later's Linkin.bio feature that allows you to create a landing page with multiple buttons and a fully clickable version of your Instagram feed.

Can I Add Link Stickers to My Reels?

No, you cannot add link stickers to your Reels. Link stickers are only available for stories. However, you can use Reels to promote your stories with link stickers and drive more views and clicks.

Can I Edit or Delete My Link Stickers?

Yes, you can edit or delete your link stickers before you share your story. To edit your link sticker, tap on it and then tap on the edit icon (the pencil) at the top right corner. To delete your link sticker, tap on it and then drag it to the trash icon at the bottom of the screen.

Conclusion

Link stickers are a new and exciting feature that Instagram introduced in 2022 to allow all users to add links to their stories. Link stickers are a great way to drive more traffic, engagement, and conversions from your Instagram account.

In this guide, I have shown you how to add link to Instagram story using the new link sticker feature. I have also shared some tips and tricks on how to optimize your link stickers for maximum clicks and conversions.

I hope you found this guide helpful and informative. If you did, please share it with your friends and followers who might benefit from it.

Also, don't forget to check out my other articles on how to use Instagram for marketing and growing your business. Here are some of them:

Thank you for reading and happy linking!

Google Ads Guide