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How to post a web link on instagram


5 Ways on How to Post a Link on Instagram

One of the rare things missing from Instagram is the option to share your links in captions. Yes, you cannot directly copy your website URL and insert it in an Instagram post in the form of a hyperlinked URL, but there are several ways to get around it.

But guess what? There are several ways that make it possible to add links to your favorite social platform.

Yes, using a link in bio tool is one of the popular options but in this article, we’ll show you all 5 simple ways to share links on Instagram, explained step-by-step.

In this article:

show

  • 1. How to add a link in Instagram Bio
  • 2. How to add a link to an Instagram post
  • 3. How to add a link to an Instagram Story
  • 4. How to share a link on IGTV
  • 5. How to add a link on your Instagram profile
  • To wrap up

If happened to all of us – you are scrolling through your Instagram feed, and when reading the caption to some cool post, you are asked to go to ‘link in bio’ for more detailed info.  

As you know, ‘Link in bio’ refers to the clickable URL that users can see on top of your Instagram profile, and when they click on the link, they will be taken straight to the desired website. This URL can be a product page, landing page, about us section, etc.

This is the simplest way of adding a link to your Instagram profile. 

Here is how you can do it:

  1.  Go to your Instagram account and tap ‘Edit Profile’
  2. Paste your desired link into the empty Website field
  3. Save the changes

As you can see, you are limited to placing just one link.

This is what the Feedlink link in bio tool by EmbedSocial is focused on solving. 

It is a simple feature that assembles your Instagram feed in one place and allows you to use a unique link for each of your feed photos. 

So, the next time someone clicks on your link in bio, they will land on this clickable version of your Instagram feed.

See how your Instagram feed turns out when converted to a web and mobile-optimized landing page:

https://feedlink. link/

For more detailed instructions, check out this video tutorial:

2. How to add a link to an Instagram post

There are several approaches if you want to share your link in an Instagram caption.

I will start with the free one.

Shorten your link

You can shorten your link with tools like Bitly, share it in your post caption, and hope that users will memorize the link and type it in their browsers. 

However, it is not likely that someone will actually bother to remember your link and type it all over again. 

Use Instagram Checkout and Product Tags

If you have an online shop, hurry up to enable your checkout option. This way, you can tag your Instagram posts that show products with shopping links synced with an external e-commerce platform.

We created a detailed step-by-step guide on How to Use Instagram Checkout and Product Tags to Sell More, so make sure to check it out.

If you have an Instagram business profile, you can always pay for a sponsored post with linked call-to-action at the bottom of the post. 

These post ads will appear to your target range even to users who don’t follow you.

Pay for a link in captions

According to a patent application by Facebook, Instagram may charge you if you want to add links to your captions. The platform will detect a link within a caption and display a pop-up if you want to pay to make the link clickable. 

In the patent application, the price for activating links is $2, but the actual price will be known once this feature is officially rolled out.

3. How to add a link to an Instagram Story

Here are a few options you can consider for sharing links on your Instagram Story:

Add Link Sticker

This is the latest big Instagram update, that the platform finally allowed adding links to all users not just for users with 10,000+ followers (an option that previously was known as a ‘Swipe up’).

Here is how to add the Link Sticker:

  1. Tap on your profile photo and hold to add a story
  2. Take a photo or upload it from your phone gallery
  3. Tap on the top Sticker icon
  4. In the sticker menu, browse for the Link Sticker
  5. Select it
  6. Add the link and tap ‘Done’
  7. Place it on the story as other stickers and tap to change color

That’s it. The link will appear as a sticker overall and the viewers of the story can interact and click on it, to navigate to the link URL.

Support stickers

Recently, with physical stores no longer being an option, Instagram announced 3 types of Story stickers to help small business continue their business activities online. 

This way, business and creator accounts can include stickers in their Instagram stories like Order food, Gift card, and Donate that will navigate users to the place where they can order food delivery, donate or purchase a gift card.  

Feel free to check out our complete article on how your business can get the most of these Story stickers (step-by-step examples are included). 

Stories Ads

There is always an option to pay for Instagram Story ads.

To launch Stories ads, you should use Ads Manager.

But before you get started, think of the ad objective that aligns with your marketing goal, and then proceed to complete all the campaign details and select the ad placement.

If interested to try, here is the official step-by-step guide on how to get started with Instagram Story ads.

If you are an IGTV creator, you probably know that you can also share a link to your IGTV video description. 

The tricky part here is that your audience may not realize that there is a link until they tap to expand the description and discover the link.

However, you can easily re-use the IGTV video and make sure a much wider audience sees your efforts by posting the video on your Instagram Stories.

Here is how you can do that:

  1. Open your Instagram Story camera
  2. Tap on the top ‘link’ icon
  3. Choose an IGTV video
  4. Tap ‘Done’

This way, your IGTV video link will be displayed as a Swipe up link in your Instagram Story. 

Once clicked, your video will open. 

We created a complete guide on how you can start with IGTV, including steps to upload and share your videos.

Another way to share your links is to set up Instagram action buttons on your Instagram profile. They will show next to your Contact and Message tabs. 

This feature is accessible to all business profiles. So if you have one, you can select various CTA copies like Call, Text, Directions, Book, Buy Tickets, Start Order, Reserve, and email buttons or support CTAs like Gift Cards, Order Food, and Donate options.

Next time a user clicks on a CTA button, they will be directed to the 3rd-party app you are integrated with to complete the purchase.

Please have in mind that you can use our free link in bio tool to navigate your followers where you want them to go for the same purpose.

To wrap up

I hope this tutorial helped you learn the best practices of using links on Instagram. 

Whatever method you choose, we believe it will drive you some traffic and improve your conversion rates. 

And if it happens to know some other way of sharing links on Insta, feel free to reach out to us, and we will be happy to add it to our list.

New Instagram link in bio tool. Sign up now, it’s free!

Create multiple links for your bios.

Easy setup · Cancel any time

How to Add Links to Your Instagram Posts: 7 Ways

One of several features missing from Instagram is the ability to add links to an Instagram post or share links in captions. However, there are ways to bypass this problem so that you can add links to Instagram posts.

Although you can't directly put a hyperlinked URL in your Instagram post, there are inventive ways to get around it, mainly by using third-party websites. We're going to show you different ways that you can add links to Instagram posts.

3 Images

The simplest (and most basic) way of adding a link to your Instagram is to display it in your profile. To do this, go to your Instagram profile and tap Edit Profile. Add your desired link to the Website field, then tap the checkmark to save the changes.

Any link placed here will be hyperlinked. This means that people can tap the link and go straight to the website. When you make an Instagram post, you can use the post's caption to tell people to visit your profile for the relevant link.

This is great if you only ever want to share one link. The problem arises if you change this link often because then those viewing older Instagram posts of yours won't be able to find the link. As such, the alternative methods to add a link to your Instagram post detailed below are preferable.

2.

Use a URL Shortener in the Post Caption

Some links can be long and difficult to remember, which is one problem that URL shorteners help combat. You can use a URL shortener service, like Bitly, to create a more memorable link.

You can then put this short link in the captions of your Instagram post, with the hope that your followers will make the effort to fill out the memorable link in their browser (since links in captions aren't hyperlinked).

If you decide to use Bitly, you can shorten a link on the homepage without signing up. It will generate a link like https://bit.ly/3wUJ1mc, with the seven end characters being random.

You can sign up for a free account to edit what those seven characters are. Once logged in, click Create, paste your long URL, then use the Customize back-half field to make an easier to remember string. You might need to get creative, as other people will have snagged common words.

3. Create a Link Landing Page

Rather than linking out to a different page every time, you could use a link landing page service. These are personalized pages with a series of links and thumbnails. Examples of such services are Campsite and Linktree. When you sign up to these services, you get a personalized link which you can then insert into your Instagram profile.

On these pages, you can list anything that you want. You can customize the profile picture, bio, theme, and more so that it can have similar branding to your Instagram page. It's advisable to add thumbnails to the links, as this can help your Instagram followers know which is the relevant link from the post they were viewing.

These services do have paid plans, but you might find that the free offering is enough for your needs. It's a good way to make your Instagram look more professional.

4. Mirror Your Instagram Account to Link Posts

Another take on a link landing page is to use a service that lets you style them exactly like your Instagram page. This way, your followers will leave your actual Instagram page, then land on another page that looks just like it—except with the key difference of being able to click the links in the posts.

An example of a service that can do this is Metricool. It's a robust social media platform with tons of features, one of which is the ability to associate links with your individual Instagram posts. To take advantage of this feature, however, you will have to upgrade to a paid account.

Once you’ve logged into Metricool and connected your Instagram account, click the Planning button in the menu and click Instagram Link. Here you can fully test drive how the feature works.

You’ll see a feed of your Instagram images. Click the red hyperlink button to add a link to that image. At the top of the page, you'll find the Metricool URL that you’ll want to insert in your Instagram bio, and direct people to it on the photo-sharing app.

Metricool will display your nine most recent images by default, but you can select additional photos from your feed, or remove photos that are there that you don’t want to display by clicking the trash can on the image. The final product is a responsive site that looks practically identical to your Instagram feed, with a grid of images that link to wherever you like.

While you might not be able to add a link to an Instagram post, you can use Instagram Stories to share links. There are plenty of ways to use Instagram Stories to make your content stand out, and that includes adding links.

3 Images

To add a link to your Instagram Story:

  1. Create an Instagram Story.
  2. Tap the sticker icon at the top.
  3. Select the Link sticker.
  4. Input the URL.
  5. Tap Done.
  6. Reposition the sticker on your Instagram Story. Tap it to change the design.

3 Images

This will not be for everybody, but if you have an Instagram business profile then you can pay for a sponsored post on the main feed or within Stories. This will even appear to people who don't follow you but who fall within the target range that you specify.

Importantly, you can share an actual hyperlink within the post—no short URLs or copy and pasting required. You will have seen examples of these in your own feed. They are marked as sponsored and feature a linked call to action (like "Learn more") at the bottom of the post.

More information about this can be found on the Advertising on Instagram page.

7. Create Your Own Image Gallery Website

For complete control, you could create a site that you host, entirely separate from Instagram. If you'd rather not spend any money on this, you could also opt for blogging platforms like WordPress or Tumblr that allow you to create a site for free. Whichever platform or host that you choose, you'll want to use a grid theme to make it look much like your Instagram feed.

If you're going to use WordPress.com, you could consider a theme like Cubic. If you're going to host a WordPress site, consider the template Gridsby. Alternatively, if you already have a self-hosted WordPress website, you could create an additional page and insert a WordPress gallery.

If you're opting for Tumblr, the themes Berlin and Fasofi would work well.

Increase Your Instagram Engagement Levels

Hopefully one day Instagram will make it easier for everyone to share links within their posts. Until then, these are the best methods to add links to Instagram posts.

While all of these tools help you get a little more out of Instagram, you should also consider how to increase your engagement on Instagram so that you have enough followers to visit the link in the first place.

How to add a link to Instagram in Stories, posts and an account header

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Instagram doesn't really want users to leave the app for external sites. Therefore, you can’t just copy and paste the active link to the site into the post. She won't work. But you can add a link to Instagram Stories, to posts via IGTV, and to the header of your account.

Update 2021. Now you can attach an active link in any account, even if you have less than 10,000 followers.

How to add a link to a website on Instagram

An active link on Instagram can be added in three ways:

  1. Link to Instagram Stories: through the “link” sticker directly to an external website by clicking (in 2021 even accounts with less than 10 000 subscribers).
  2. Attach a link to Instagram (in posts and Stories) via IGTV.
  3. Insert a link to Instagram in the header of the account.

How to add a link to Instagram Stories

Previously, you could only add an active link to Instagram Stories if you had more than 10,000 followers. Now in 2021 everyone can attach a link in Stories! It is done quickly through the "Link" sticker.

Make Instagram Stories or upload from the Gallery. Click the "Sticker" icon at the top.

Click the "Link" sticker.

Insert a link (from http/https). You can click "Preview" to make sure that the link in Instagram will work as it should. Click "Add Link" on the top right. Publish Instagram Stories with the link inserted - click "Your Story" or "Close Friends"

By swiping up, you will see how many clicks were made to the site using your active link in Stories.

How to insert a link on Instagram in a post and Stories via IGTV

In IGTV, you can upload a video if it is longer than 1 minute. In the description of this video, you can insert an active link to an external site. That is, first, the subscriber from the Story or post will go to the full IGTV video, and then in the description for it, they will click on the link that you insert.

Uploading videos longer than 60 seconds on IGTV. To do this, we start uploading the video as usual in the post, click "Next" and select "Share as - Long video".

In the Description field, you can insert an active link to the site (with http/https). Be sure to leave the "Publish Preview" slider on. So the video will get into your feed, and not just into the IGTV section.

Once uploaded, your followers will see the video post in their feed. They will need to click on “Watch IGTV Video” and from the post they will be taken to the full video. And there, by clicking on the name at the top, a description will open with an active link to an external site.

You can embed an IGTV video link in Stories, even if you have less than 10,000 subscribers. Click on the link icon at the top of Stories, select "IGTV Video" and then the desired video.

In the full video, you need to click on the title at the top and then the description will open. The link in this description will be clickable.

How to add a website link to the Instagram header

One active link can be added to the profile header of your Instagram account - both in a personal account and in a business.

In the header of your account, click "Edit Profile" or "Edit".

In the "Site" field, put the desired link (from http/https). Click "Done" at the top right.

That's it, an active link to the site has been added to your profile.

These are all ways to add a link to Instagram posts or attach it to Stories. Instagram is unlikely to make clickable links in posts without the need to dodge with IGTV, as it is simply unprofitable to take users away from the application. Therefore, swipe links in Instagram Stories are so far the only option for large accounts to redirect subscribers from their Instagram account to the site.

TOP-8 how to add a link to stories (9 life hacks + 5 mistakes)

With the help of a link you can increase the number of views in your profile and increase traffic and the number of purchases on other resources. And do not believe if you are told that you can only add it if you have N-th number of subscribers. They blatantly lie to you. I will reveal eight ways to add a link to Instagram Stories.

If you have 10k subscribers

If you have such a number of subscribers, then you have access to the function of adding an external link from any resource.

Copy the address to the resource, go to instagram. Take a photo or add one you've already taken, then find the paperclip icon in the top bar. Once in the next window, click "website link", then paste it and click "done".

Create link

Prompt subscribers to swipe up to go. Use text or animation. Once the story is uploaded, followers will be able to take action. For example, a beauty salon can post the work schedule of masters in stories and transfer subscribers to an online recording service.

We strengthen the button

If there are no 10k subscribers

If there are not so many subscribers, then placing an active link in the Instagram story is also possible, and now we will analyze ways to do this.

Method 1. Mention

This method is suitable if you plan to tag a person or company account.

Go to the story, select suitable photos, videos or create new ones. Then click on the emoji icon in the top bar. In the window that opens, select a mention.

Select sticker

Then enter the username, the profiles will appear under the line, select the one you need. Next, you will see a line with a profile link. You can change the color by clicking a few times on the mention and place it where it suits you.

Mark profile

Method 2. Link to post

In order to share a post with friends, you do not need to take screenshots and write instructions, you can simply add a link to the post in the story.

To do this, under the post you want to share, click on the airplane icon. Select "add post to story", design and publish.

Sending post

A small trick: if you click on a post in the history before downloading, then it will be highlighted in a frame, click again and the frame will disappear.

Making a frame

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Method 3. Link to stories

You can post a story you've been tagged in and it will have a link to go back to the original account.

When a user mentions you in their story, you will receive a message about it in the direct. By opening this message, you can add this story to your profile.

Adding a story

Next, you can change the filter, sign the text, enlarge the story. To go to the address, you just need to click on the image a little longer, and a window for the transition will appear.

Active button

Method 4. Link as text

Of course, you can copy a link from any resource and paste it. But I immediately warn you that it will not be clickable, that is, you won’t be able to click on it and go to the site. This method of placement is suitable if the address is short and easy to remember.

Copy the link, go to the story, select material from the gallery or create a new one and click "Aa", i.e. paste text. Then paste the link into the text input field.

Paste the address

Again, if you want to highlight the link in a frame, click on it and choose a highlight color from the palette below.

Formatting

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Method 5. Link to IGTV

Yes, videos in IGTV channels can also be linked in stories. You can place, for example, your videos in this way, increasing the number of views.

Select a video on the IGTV channel, it can be your channel or any other. Open it and click on the airplane icon. Then add the video to the story.

Add video

Now add your comments, stickers or emoji. Then the story can be published, after that, when you click on the video, a link will appear to open it.

Active button

Method 6. Link to the mask

Using masks in instagram diversifies your stories, and most importantly, if you post stories with your own mask, it will help promote your profile.

Go to story, select "normal mode". Then scroll to the end of the standard masks and subscription masks, select the magnifying glass icon with asterisks. You will be taken to the effects gallery. After that, click on Instagram. If you use your own mask, then just select it in the list of effects.

Mask search

After you take a photo or record a video with a mask, add text or stickers - whatever you want, and publish. A link to the mask will appear in the upper left corner under your name.

Sharing the mask

Method 7. Through Facebook

This method is already more complicated. If you use an advertising account on Facebook, then you have the opportunity to add a link to an ad through it. If you still need to start an office, then about this in another article. I will only talk about the topic: how to add a link to an ad in stories.

To do this, when setting up an advertisement, after selecting the goal, budget and key target audience, select the placement - Instagram.

Choosing a publication location

After that, check the box next to "Instagram Stories". You can also share the post on Facebook.

Adding history

Next, you need to choose optimization and delivery based on your goal. For example, if the goal is traffic, then set the optimization to "Page views". And if the goal is likes, then "Impressions".

Display optimization

Next, select the image format: picture, video, slideshow, etc. You can also set the full screen mode to get more attention for your post.

Publication format

Upload the desired image, edit if necessary.

Edit

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Below, specify the destination - "website", insert the desired link and issue a call to action. Here you can also set the background colors in your future story.

Adding a link

To see how the ad will look, click "Check", and if everything is fine, click "Publish".

Check publication

Related:
Advertising on Instagram Stories: step-by-step instructions

What else you need to know

There seems to be nothing to say about such a banal topic, but still I found a few points that you still have.

Life hacks

They are chips, tricks and recommendations... But seriously, here is a list of things that will help you make your link even more interesting and effective.

  1. Intrigue. Promise in stories that by swiping, users will receive exclusive content, discount promo codes, or the results of a contest held on your blog;
  2. Promotion. If you want to promote your site, then create a link with a utm-tag. So, through Google and Yandex analytics, you can track traffic from Instagram;
  3. Details . Tell more useful information about the resource where you direct your subscribers. This will build trust and your link traffic will increase;
  4. Save story. This way you will attract even more visitors to your resource, the site of the advertiser or your partner;
  5. Additional indicators. Attach a swipe to your story and look at the statistics for new indicators: the number of clicks and transitions.

Errors

Most likely you may encounter the following errors during your work. Although, it may not occur. But it is better to know and be on the alert, so as not to tear your hair on your head later.

As an advertisement

  1. The paperclip icon is missing. Even with 10K subscribers, you may not have a paperclip icon. The reason may be that you once used subscriber cheat services or did not switch to a business profile;
  2. Swipe Up does not work. You may not have attached the link or there was a technical error, please check your settings or wait a bit, even instagram may be wrong;
  3. Can't follow the link from your account. You need to test the link from another, external account. Perhaps you have a second account or ask someone you know to test;
  4. Airplane symbol missing. Update Insta. It often makes changes to its interface and functionality, so it requires regular updates.

    Learn more