How to post link on instagram story swipe up
How to Add a Link to an Instagram Story (and Customize It)
Want to add a link to your Instagram Story? We have good news and then better news. (And as a bonus, we have a sweet new Instagram Story hack!)
The good news is that even though Instagram has retired its swipe-up feature, you can still add links to Stories using Instagram link stickers.
The even better news is that the 10,000 follower minimum is officially over, when it comes to adding a link in your Story. In theory, EVERYONE has access to link stickers on Instagram now. (Learn more about the update here.)
Which leads us to the other good news: we have a simple hack to customize your link sticker so that it vibes with your brand and design. Read on for all the steps.
Wait, what was the Instagram swipe up feature?
What is the Instagram link sticker?
How to use the Instagram link sticker
Who can use the Instagram link sticker?
How to customize your Instagram link sticker design
Other ways to drive traffic to your website from Instagram
Get your free pack of 72 customizable Instagram Stories templates now. Save time and look professional while promoting your brand in style.
Wait, what was the Instagram swipe up feature?
The Instagram swipe up feature helped brands and influencers reach their audiences and gain more followers by allowing them to add links directly to their Instagram Stories.
Viewers could swipe up on a Story or tap an arrow at the bottom of their screen to access a link without leaving the Instagram app or navigating all the way back to the bio to find that “link in bio.”
But in August 2021 Instagram announced it was retiring the swipe-up feature. Why?
There are a few theories. Perhaps Instagram has secret plans to make Stories move vertically like TikTok, rather than horizontally? The mystery remains unsolved. (Actually, Instagram did give its reasons, which we’ll get to in a second.)
Regardless, the end result is that now users can include links in their Instagram Stories by adding a link sticker, instead.
What is the Instagram link sticker?
The Instagram link sticker replaces the swipe up feature, letting users add an external link to an Instagram Story.
Story link stickers are the easiest way to drive traffic to external content and products on Instagram. You can also track link taps with Instagram analytics.
Instagram says that when it comes to links, the sticker has three major advantages over the swipe-up feature:
- Stickers are familiar and popular with users, who use them for music, questions, locations and polls, etc.
- Stickers allow more creative control over how a Story looks than swipe up links did.
- And most importantly, stickers allow viewers to engage with a Story, whereas the swipe-up feature didn’t allow replies or reactions.
Simply put: just like swipe-up before them, Instagram link stickers are an important tool for any Instagram business strategy.
How to use the Instagram link sticker
Instagram Stories only stay up for 24 hours, but adding a link to your Instagram Story is helpful for increasing your conversions, boosting organic engagement, and making it easier for your followers to access the content you want to share.
Source: Instagram
Here’s how to add a link sticker to your Instagram Story. (Spoiler: it’s the same as any sticker.)
- In the Instagram app, tap the plus sign
- Select Story (rather than Post, Reel, or Live).
- Create your Story using all the gorgeous media you have at your disposal.
- Tap the Sticker icon in the top row.
- Type in the URL
- Type in the sticker’s text or call to action (eg., Tap to read)
- Place the sticker on your Story
- Pinch to resize it
- Tap to shuffle through the available colour schemes (blue, black, white, beige, etc.)
- Then send to your Story, and you’re done!
It’ll look something like this:
Who can use the Instagram link sticker?
As of October 2021, everyone is supposed to have access to the link sticker in their Instagram Stories (not just accounts with more than 10,000 followers).
Of course, as always, a roll-out across a billion accounts takes time, and we’ve heard from many people (including our own social team at Hootsuite!) who still don’t have the sticker popping up in their accounts.
If this is the case for your account, all we can advise is to keep your Instagram app up to date and say a prayer. It’ll show up eventually.
And if you’re one of the lucky few who have contacts at Instagram HQ, maybe send those contacts a note?
How to customize your Instagram link sticker design
If you are finding that the Instagram link sticker isn’t living up to your brand’s aesthetic, you’ll be happy to know you can customize it even further in a few simple steps.
Watch the video below for a quick tutorial on how to customize your Instagram link sticker.
Here’s how to customize your Instagram Story link sticker design:
- Create your Instagram Story and add a link sticker just as you usually would
- Go to the design app of your choice
- Design a sticker that is on-brand, visually pleasing, with a clear CTA (eg.
, “Read more” or “Tap here!”) - Export it to your phone as a PNG file with a transparent background
- Go back to your Instagram Story draft, and add your custom sticker from your phone’s photo album or files
- Place the custom sticker directly over your link sticker
Voila! That’s it: you’ll have perfect aesthetic control over your Story, and people will still be able to tap through.
Pro Tip: Remember to track your Story metrics so you can optimize your click-through rate. If you aren’t getting as many taps as you want, make sure you have a clear call to action, and that you don’t overload one Instagram post with too much information.
Still stumped? Read our five other reasons that your Stories might be failing to convert.
Other ways to drive traffic to your website from Instagram
Sharing links with your audience is useful whether your goals are relationship-building or converting. If you don’t have access to the link sticker yet, here are some alternatives:
Link in bio
You’re probably doing this already, but you can add a call to action and a link in the bio section of your Instagram profile.
Some IG users choose to put the one specific link they want in their bio or use link shortening tools for customization.
You can also use tools that allow you to host multiple links on one landing page (less updating your links, more conversions!). It’s called an Instagram link tree and it’s very easy to make.
Just remember to say “link in bio” in your caption when you post (we did an experiment, and don’t worry, it won’t hurt your engagement if you say it.)
Use your DMs
Post your Story and let your followers know that they can DM you for a direct link. It’s super easy for them, and a great way to build a relationship with your audience since it might feel even more personal when they receive the link directly from you.
Bonus Tip: Use the DM Me sticker: your followers can get in touch with you in one tap!
Create a poll
Share your content and then create a poll that asks people if they want to be sent the link. All you have to do is check who said ‘yes’ to your poll and you can follow up with a link sent via direct message in the Instagram app.
Ready to start driving traffic to your website from Instagram? Use Hootsuite to schedule Stories, posts, and carousels, engage your audience, and analyze performance—alongside all your other social networks.
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How to Add a Link to an Instagram Story (Now That Swipe-Up Is Gone)
Change is hard. We know.
Saying goodbye is never easy. We’re still recovering from when Geri AKA Ginger Spice left the Spice Girls. And when Instagram retired its swipe-up function at the end of summer 2021, people were sad to see it go. But the good news is they’ve brought in a replacement feature (the new Instagram link sticker) that’s just as easy and efficient with some added benefits.
With the popularity of Instagram Stories only continuing to grow, an option to drive followers to your brand’s website is to add a sticker link directly to your story and we’ll show you how.
Like the late swipe-up function, the sticker link used to only be for the verified or elite accounts with more than 10,000 followers. But as of a few days ago, it’s now available to everyone!
That means you don’t have to be a top tier Instagrammer to be able to share links directly in your Stories. Vive la Revolution!
But Instagram has warned that if people misuse this new found power (spreading misinformation or violating any of the community guidelines), you could lose your link privileges. So, with great power comes great responsibility.
So embrace some change and find out how stickers can help drive traffic to your website, improve your overall marketing strategy, and connect you more seamlessly with your audience without them ever having to leave the App.
What was the Instagram swipe up feature?
The Instagram swipe up feature (RIP) was a tool that allowed brands and influencers to reach their audiences by adding links directly to their Instagram Stories via an arrow at the bottom of their screen that usually said “Swipe up”.
It was only accessible to verified users or accounts with over 10K followers. But for those lucky few, it meant no more “link in bio” messages in captions.
In August 2021 Instagram did away with the swipe-up feature and replaced it with the Link Sticker for reasons still unknown. But they did release it to everyone, no matter your follower count.
What is the Instagram link sticker?
You may already be familiar with Instagram stickers for music, questions, locations and polls. Now, there’s also a sticker that lets you add an external link directly to your IG story, without having to direct people to your bio or description.
The Instagram link sticker has a couple of key advantages over the older ‘swipe-up’ link.
- It lets you keep track of your metrics to optimize your click-through rate
- Instagram users are already familiar with Stickers, so are more likely to click them
- There is more creative control over how your Story looks versus with the Swipe Up (which was always placed at the bottom centre)
- Stickers allow viewers to engage with a story with replies and reactions (Swipe Up did not!)
Example of an Instagram Link Sticker
How to add a link to an Instagram Story
If you have a business or creator account on Instagram, you can now add links to your Stories instantly and easily.
And guess what? You don’t have to have a certain amount of followers either! You can add links to your Stories by using Instagram’s new clickable Sticker Links.
The new Link Stickers are more visible then the swipe up and can be added anywhere you want to put it in your Story (like you would any other sticker). It also shows the first part of the destination link in the sticker itself, allowing for more transparency about where you are sending viewers.
If you don’t have access to link stickers just yet, hang tight. Instagram is still working on rolling this feature out to everyone. Plus, we have a workaround below.
Here’s how to add a link sticker in your Stories:
Step 1: Open up the Instagram app on your device. Press the blue “+” sign on Your Story profile picture or the plus icon on the top right side of the screen.
Step 2: Scroll through your gallery on the left bottom corner to select your Story. Or hit the middle record button (either tap for photo or hold down for video) to create a Story directly.
Make sure it says “Story” at the bottom (and not Post, Reels, or Live).
Step 4: Once you’ve created your Story, tap on the ‘Sticker’ icon on the top of the screen. In the sticker menu select the link sticker.
Step 5: Paste your link in the link field.
Step 6: Switch the text and color by tapping on the Sticker.
Once you’re done, post your Story and wait for all the traffic to come pouring into your website.
A link sticker on an Instagram Story from Flight Hub that shows the link preview
How to add a link to Instagram Stories if you don’t have access to the Sticker Link just yet
Even though Instagram has rolled out the sticker function for all its creators, you still might be waiting for access to your Sticker Link. But we’ve got a workaround for you here.
Step 1: Open up Instagram and create or upload a video by hitting the plus sign or uploading an existing one from your media.
Step 2: Type a title like, ‘Get the link’.
Step 3: Paste the link that you want people to click in the caption. Then, post the video to your IGTV.
Step 4: On your feed, tap on the paper plane icon under your new IGTV video.
Step 5: Click on ‘Add video to your Story’ then tap on the link icon provided on the top of your screen.
Step 6: Select the option ‘+ IGTV Video’, then select the IGTV video with the link that you just created.
Step 7: Lastly, hit ‘Done’ and watch the clicks come in! (You won’t be able to see it on your screen, but people will be able to swipe up. They’ll see your video and be able to tap on your link in your IGTV captions.)
How to swipe on Instagram – Instaplus.me Blog
Stories can be safely called one of the most powerful Instagram tools. According to statistics, over 500 million users use stories every day, and this figure is inexorably creeping up.
In today's article, we will tell you what a swipe is on Instagram, and also list the categories of users who can add an active link directly to stories.
Page content
Who can swipe on Instagram
Attaching a link to stories is a very effective feature with great potential. True, not everyone can do this. Previously, Instagram allowed only verified users to share links to third-party resources.
And the fears of the administration are quite justified, because if everyone who is not lazy will drive traffic, then soon scammers will begin to appear on the Internet, stealing passwords, wallets and bank card details.
Not so long ago the reins were slightly lowered. Now even business accounts with 10,000 followers can enjoy swipe gifts. What is remarkable, if you issue redirects specifically to IGTV, then you may not have such a huge number of followers. But then the material will be available exclusively for the target audience, which will not bring such tangible results.
Benefits for business
Swipe in stories is of interest to commercial accounts, because it is one of the simplest ways of marketing. Thus, you not only drive traffic from Instagram, but also create a prepared audience.
Swipe is a kind of mini-sales funnel that transfers the client to full-fledged selling scripts located on the main resource of the store.
With links you can also:
- promote everything that creates a brand;
- share useful information with followers;
- manage sales directly or indirectly;
- draw attention to a particular product;
- notify the audience about discounts or promo codes.
Types of links in Stories
First, let's go over the theory. All links in stories can be divided into two types - external and internal .
- External links redirect followers outside of the platform. For example, to the website of an online store, YouTube channel or blog.
This format is only available to those users who have reached 10,000 subscribers. External links can also be used when launching ads. - Internal leads to objects that are placed within Instagram. This could be an IGTV video, another person's profile, or a post. They can be added both in the form of mentions and reposts, and in the form of external links.
How to swipe in Instagram stories
Using active links in stories, you can increase the number of subscribers, increase sales and drive traffic from Instagram to the main resource.
Just don't believe people who claim that this option is available only to the lucky ones with 10K. They are lying to you!
In the following sections, we will declassify the most effective ways to swipe on Instagram.
If there are 10K subscribers
If you have 10,000 followers, this feature is enabled by default.
Copy the address of the external resource and go to Instagram.
Click on the icon “+” to create a story. Take a photo or add an existing one, then click on the paperclip icon located at the top of the screen.
In the menu that opens, select "Website Link", then paste it and click "Finish".
Tell followers they need to swipe up. To do this, use animated stickers and GIFs.
If you don't have 10K subscribers
Little spoiler : yes, you can add a link without a huge number of subscribers. What do I need to do? Read on.
Mention
Suitable for those who want to tag another person or brand page . To do this, create a story and click on the emoji icon (it's in the top bar). Then select "Mention".
Start typing your username. From the proposed profiles that will be displayed under the line, select the one you need. You will have a plate with an active link to your account. You can change its color and move it to any corner of the screen.
Link to post
If you want to share a cool post (even if not your own) with subscribers, you do not need to take screenshots or write detailed instructions on how to go to the profile to get acquainted with this creation.
Simply add a link to the post to your story by clicking on the airplane icon and selecting "Add Post to Story".
Link to story
You can post a story where you were tagged, and it will have an active link to go to the original source.
When someone mentions the user in their story, they will receive a message. By opening it, the user will be able to add a photo or video to himself.
Then you can change the filter, add stickers and text, increase the image size.
Text link
You can copy a link from any external source and paste it into a story, but we immediately warn you that it will not be clickable. This option will only work if the address is short and easy to remember.
The scheme is as follows: create a story, press “Aa” and paste the link into the text entry field. Then you can change the color, font and add a frame.
Link to IGTV
Do you want to increase the number of views on your video? Then add a link to IGTV directly in the story.
Select the video you like (it may be posted on someone else's channel), open it and click the airplane icon. Then click on "Add video to your story".
Design your story and add other elements of your choice.
Link to the mask
Instagram masks are an effective tool that helps you quickly promote your account.
Go to the story and select "Normal mode". Then scroll to the end of the standard masks and click on the magnifying glass icon with stars. This will take you to the effects gallery. After that, click on Instagram. If you use your own mask, then just select it from the list of suggested filters.
A link to the mask will appear in the upper left corner below your name.
Advertising through Facebook
This method is the most time-consuming, but effective. If you use an advertising account on Facebook, then you have the opportunity to add a link to an ad through it.
To do this, you need to be guided by a simple algorithm :
- Decide on the purpose of advertising .
There are 6 goals available for links in stories, among them are “Traffic”, “Conversions” and “Application installation”. Choose the one that most closely matches the business profile format. - Select campaign target . There are two options here - clicks or views. Simply put, you will pay either for clicking on the link or for visiting the platform (in the event that the user waits for the page to fully load).
- Set up an account. If this is your first advertisement, you will be prompted to set the time zone and country, as well as select the cabinet currency.
- Select audience options . To get started, select the place where the link leads - to a YouTube channel, a blog, an online store or a messenger. Next, set up the target audience parameters: gender, age, location, and so on.
- Decide where to advertise . By default, ads will be broadcast on 3 sites, but if you only need stories, click on “Edit placements” and leave a check mark on “Instagram”, “Stories” only.
- Set the advertising budget to . You can set either a daily limit or an amount for the entire advertising campaign, and the system will distribute the budget evenly. Then choose a bidding strategy. Facebook will offer you the lowest price, but you can change it manually. The rule applies here: the less money you are willing to give away, the less likely it is that the ad will be shown at all.
- Advertising message format . You can select one image or one video. From the point of view of efficiency, it is better to bet on video. Despite the fact that, according to the rules of Instagram, the video lasts only 15 seconds, this time will be enough to convey key information to the followers.
After filling in all the required fields, you will be able to preview the advertisement. On this page, you can upload images or videos, add a call to action, or change the URL.
Promotion from Instaplus
Still don't have 10,000 followers? No problem! Instaplus is one of the best automated services for promotion on Instagram.
The program automatically opens the social network on your device, puts likes, subscribes and thus attracts the target audience.
The Instaplus team has also developed an innovative promotion method using the Jesica bot. Due to the high speed of performing actions (within the established limits), efficiency increases, that is, you are guaranteed to receive traffic to your account. And the service is absolutely safe, since Jesica does not ask for a password from the profile.
Examples of effective use of swipe
Here are some ideas on how to effectively use active links in stories:
- YouTube channel. If you have a channel on YouTube, we recommend that you notify your Instagram subscribers about this using a swipe. Take a small preview and invite your followers to watch the full version by clicking on the link.
- Purchase overview . Did the brand send you their products so that you can make a detailed review in the stories and clearly show how to use them? Then don't forget to add a link to the company page.
This will help the audience to learn additional information about the advertised product. - Competition . Everyone loves gifts, so if you're running a cool Instagram contest, Stories is the best place to promote it.
- Advertising of the new collection. A new collection or line of products needs to be actively promoted, so we recommend shooting a series of intriguing and bright stories, providing them with a link to the landing page of the collection so that buyers can see it in its entirety on the site. As a result, followers will not only be able to look at new things, but also add them to their wish list.
- Playlist . Swiping is a great way to promote music. You can redirect users to a multilink with active buttons for different steam services.
- Booking page . With the help of a swipe, you can invite the audience to place an order or book a hotel room.
This tactic helps to increase the number of subscribers and potential customers. - Newsletter subscription page. An atmospheric video with an active link to subscribe to the newsletter will help to attract new customers. Try to briefly explain to users how they will benefit from this.
- Sale . Organized a sale in honor of some holiday? Then tell your subscribers about it. People may not buy the product right away, but it will allow them to get to know the brand better, which is also a good thing.
Problems and solutions
You may have problems posting the link. Just don't panic and tear your hair out. Forewarned is forearmed, so we've put together a guide to the most common error :
- Paper clip icon is missing. You have 10 thousand subscribers, and the paperclip icon has not appeared? This can happen in two cases: either you forgot to switch to a business profile, or you actively used cheat services.
- Problems with Swipe Up . Perhaps you did not attach the link or there was a technical error. Check your settings or wait a bit, because even Instagram sometimes slows down.
- Can't follow the link from your profile. It is necessary to test the link only from an external account.
- No airplane symbol. In this case, we advise you to update the application, as developers often make adjustments to the social network interface.
Tips
Too many links in a story can make followers bored. This is an additional action, and users are not used to “going beyond” the social network. What to do in this case? Here are some rules to help you not annoy your audience:
- Balance entertainment and sales content . If you publish 10 links a day, then users will not only stop clicking on them, but will also begin to unfollow you en masse. The standard rule applies here: everything should be in moderation, so 1 active link per day is enough.
- Show what a follower gets by clicking on the link . Make cool announcements so that the user does not doubt the value of the content offered, because otherwise he simply will not follow the link. We don’t advise you to go completely into the wilds of clickbait, but still try to use calls from the category: “following the link you will learn how to save 60% of the budget on products” or “this guide will reveal the secrets of losing weight without harm.” It all depends on your imagination.
- Scheme . This is the best way to stir up the interest of followers. If they see that you offer something unique, then they will definitely not be able to pass by. For example, promise to announce the results of a contest via a link only, or lure users in with a teaser for a private webinar.
Conclusion
In this article, we figured out how to add a link to a story, and now it's time to summarize the above:
- Instagram swipe is an additional way to monetize your account;
- Only business profiles with 10K subscribers can add a link to an external resource;
- if you don't have enough followers yet and you don't plan to run ads through your account, you can share links to publications and videos from Instagram using the standard editor for design.
How to swipe on Instagram in stories, what it is and what it is for
In modern applications, you can switch functions using a swipe, to do this, you need to swipe up, down, left or right on the screen. Instagram is no exception, the social network has built-in options for a quick transition to Stories and Direct. Let's figure out how to make a swipe on Instagram, what is Swipe Up.
Contents
- What is swipe and how to use it
- What is Swipe Up useful for
- How to add swipe up on Instagram
- Who can do Swipe Up
- Examples of how to use swipe up on Instagram
9
use - to unlock the device;
- print messages without taking your finger off the phone display;
- zoom in and out photo;
- quickly navigate to settings or application features.
- Launch a browser on your computer and follow the link to the service.
- Create or sign in to an existing account. You can use Facebook and Google to sign in.
- On the page that opens, select the appropriate option to use Canva .
- Click on the search bar and type: "Instagram Story" , click on the search result.
- Go to tabs "Downloads" and download the photo to be published in Stories .
- Add promotional text, additional photo, music using the panel on the left.
- Download the finished image to your phone.
To do this, click on the button with an arrow and select the option "Download" .
The word Swipe is translated as swipe or swipe . The option is available in mobile devices with touch screens and allows:
Instagram swipe is built in by default. With it, you can open the Direct chat, launch the camera to shoot Stories, change the size of the sticker when editing a photo. The option does not need to be configured or enabled. To quickly navigate, just swipe the screen in the desired direction.
Why Swipe Up is useful
You can add a swipe by yourself. It is usually used in Stories to go to ads or to a site with their own products. To use Swipe Up, you need to launch ads in Stories or add a link to the Internet portal.
When viewing a story, a subscriber can swipe up from the bottom and follow a pre-assigned link. When setting up, you can add a picture with an arrow or a caption. Often, companies use an unusual trick: they add a drawn hair to the publication, when the user tries to brush it off, he instantly clicks on the link.
Important. Using ads in Stories is a paid option. To add links to your publications, the number of subscribers must be at least 10,000.
How to add a swipe on Instagram
How to swipe on Instagram in Stories? To do this, you will have to use third-party services, create a layout and place it in the publication. To create a design for free, you can use the free service Canva .
How to design Instagram Stories:
The resulting image can be used to attract customers or promotional publications. When adding a story, you need to add a link to the store, this is done using the button in the form of a chain on the panel at the top.
Who can swipe up
To swipe in Stories, you need to open the Story using the icons in the main Instagram window and swipe up from the bottom. After a few seconds, another publication or online store opens.
Users with more than 10,000 followers can create a swipe in Stories. Any member of the social network can follow the created link by swiping up from the bottom of the screen while viewing Stories.
Instagram swipe examples
How to use swipe on Instagram? To do this, you do not need to go to the settings and enable the option. Swipe is available by default and works on phones and tablets with touch screens.
