How to put links into instagram stories

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

Download 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.
1. Type in the URL
2. Type in the sticker’s text or call to action (eg., Tap to read)
3. Place the sticker on your Story
4. Pinch to resize it
5. 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.

Download your free pack of 72 customizable Instagram Stories templates now. Save time and look professional while promoting your brand in style.

Download the templates now!

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 Your Instagram Story in 2022

Instagram Tips & Resources

By Jillian Warren

•

Updated on October 25, 2021

•

3 minute read

Instagram Stories links are now available to everyone – even accounts without 10K followers! Find out how to add links to stories now.

Published October 25, 2021

Following a major new update, all accounts (regardless of follower count) can now add links to Instagram Stories!

Previously, this feature was limited to accounts with over 10K followers.

Find out how to add links to Instagram Stories using the new link sticker below.

How to Post Links to Instagram Stories With the New Link Sticker (Without 10K Followers!)

If you have a Business or Creator account on Instagram, you can now share links to any destination straight from your Instagram Stories – regardless of how many followers you have.

You can add links to your stories by using Instagram’s new clickable link sticker.

The new link sticker is much more visible, and can be added anywhere on a story. It also shows viewers the first part of the destination link (i.e. the domain), giving more transparency.

Here's how to add a link sticker on stories:

#1: Head to the Instagram Stories sticker tray and select the link sticker.

NOTE: If you don't have access to link stickers just yet, sit tight. Instagram only just made this announcement, so it may take a few days to see them in the lineup.

#2: Paste your link into the link field.

#3: Switch the text and color by tapping on the sticker.

It’s that easy!

PS: Did you know you can also add links to your Instagram feed posts with Later?

Linkin.bio by Later allows you to create a landing page with multiple buttons and a fully clickable version of your Instagram feed — that you can pop straight in your Instagram link in bio.

It’s like a mini website, but for your Instagram account.

You can set up Linkin.bio right now for free – no trials or credit card needed!

How to Drive More Traffic from Instagram Stories with Link Stickers

If you really want to drive traffic from stories, it’s important to add a clear call-to-action.

This could be a verbal call out, some on-screen text, an animated GIF, or all of the above.

Viewers could take a while to get used to the new link stickers, so prompting your followers to follow your links can really boost your clicks (and sales!).

ICYMI: You can visually plan and schedule your Instagram Stories in advance with Later. You’ll get all your assets, links, and copy delivered straight to the Later mobile app when it’s time to publish, so you can share a story in two taps!

About the Author

Jillian Warren

Jillian is Later's Editor. A go-to expert in social media strategy and content marketing, she has worked in both London and New York. Next up? Lisbon and Paris! You can reach out to her on Instagram here: @jillwrren.

Plan, schedule, and automatically publish your social media posts with Later.

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By Nikki Canning

Instagram allowed to publish links in stories to all users, not just verified ones • AIN.UA

October 28, 2021, 10:30

4433

Instagram has opened for all users the function of adding hyperlinks to Stories, which was previously only available for verified profiles or those with more than 10,000 followers. But at the same time, users who constantly spread misinformation or are seen in “hate speech” will lose access to posting links, The Verge notes.

The link stickers feature has now completely replaced the "swipe up" feature that Instagram users used to be able to link to external web pages from their Stories.
And now adding links via stickers is more accessible than swipe up ever was, as the old feature was limited to verified accounts or accounts with more than 10,000 followers, while the new feature is available to all users.
According to Instagram, link stickers will be useful for all users of the social network, from companies that link to their products to activists linking to external resources. But users who spread disinformation or are seen in “hate speech” will lose access to posting links.

How to add links to your stories

To add a link to your Instagram story, you need to use the "Link" sticker, and when users click on it, they will be redirected to an external page. To add a sticker with a link:

Upload content to your story;
Select the sticker tool from the top navigation bar;
Tap the "Link" sticker to add the desired link and tap "Done";
Add a sticker to your story and click on it to see color variations.

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How to add a link to Instagram Stories: Post, YouTube, Telegram, Video

Update : Links in Instagram Stories are now available to all users.

A link in history allows you to direct the user to a website or another page. To follow the link you need to click on the sticker and select "Follow the link". Swipes are a thing of the past.

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In the article, we will describe a new way to add a link to a story, and also share other ways to add links. As a bonus, we will tell you how to create a link sticker in your story so that people click on it more often.

Read also: The best Instagram promotion courses

How to make a link in Instagram Stories: all the ways

For greater clarity, let's introduce a few definitions. All links in stories can be conditionally divided into two types: external and internal .

External links lead outside the social network - to a website, YouTube channel, Telegram or WhatsApp. Since recently, all accounts can add external links to stories. Also, they can be added when launching ads. External links are shown as a sticker.
Internal leads to objects inside Instagram: account, post or rils. They can be added both in the form of an external link, and in the form of mentions and reposts.

Important : links are available to all users, not just those with more than 10,000 subscribers. At the same time, new accounts, as well as accounts that have repeatedly violated the Rules of the social network, will not receive access to the sticker with the link. Details of what counts as a new account in this context have not been released.

By the way, in order to get the maximum coverage of stories, the quality of your subscribers is very important. You need to understand who is watching you, how many% of live people, and how many bots and garbage, so we recommend that you conduct a complete analysis of the Instagram audience, for example, through the InstaHero service. And when you find out who is watching, commenting and liking you, you can start keeping stories tightly. And to increase coverage, engagement and activity, you can remove bots from Instagram followers.

External links in stories to a website, YouTube or blog

First, let's talk about external links.

Method number 1: available to all users

How to add a link to the story, we told in our video and further in the text.

To attach a link to a Story, follow a simple algorithm:

Start creating a new story. Add a photo or video from your gallery, or take a photo or short video with your camera.
Click on the sticker icon in the top menu.
In the window that opens, select the "Link" sticker.
You will see a field for adding a link. Copy the link you want to share and paste it here. This can be a link to a website, a landing page, a separate article or product in an online store, a link to a YouTube channel or video, and even to a Telegram channel.
To check the correctness of the entered url-address, click "Preview".
Add additional elements and labels.
Many users do not know how to follow a link in History. Push them to the target action - add a call to the link on the photo or video to learn something interesting.

After the link is published, in the Stories statistics, you will see how many clicks were made on the link. To analyze navigation in web analytics systems, use UTM tags or other markup.

Method #2: Advertising in Stories

Adding a link when setting up an ad is a more time-consuming, but also more effective process. To set up ads, you must first go to the Facebook profile associated with your Instagram business account, and click on "Create Ads". Or go directly to the Facebook Ads Manager.

In your account, click "Create ad" and follow the simple algorithm of actions.

Select the purpose of the advertisement. There are 6 goals available for links in stories, including Traffic, App Installs, Conversions. Choose the appropriate goal depending on the format of the business account and the link being promoted.

Select the campaign objective. Clicks or views can be selected here. That is, you will pay either for clicking on the link, or for visiting the page when the user waits for it to load.

Set up an account. If you have not created an ad on Facebook before, you will be prompted to specify the time zone, country, and currency of the ad account.

Set up audience . Choose the place where the link leads - to the site, application or messenger. Then specify the desired parameters of the target audience: gender, age, interests, and others.

Select the advertising location. By default, the ad will be shown on three sites. If you only want Instagram Stories, click on "Edit Placements" and check "Instagram, Stories" only.

Set a budget and select a bid strategy . You can set a daily budget limit or an amount for the entire campaign, and the system will distribute it evenly. Then choose a bid strategy - by default, the system selects the lowest price. If you want, you can set it manually, to do this, click on "Set a bid limit". The lower it is, the less likely it is that the ad will be shown.

Select the ad format. You can select one image or one video. From a marketing point of view, it is better to use video - despite the fact that advertising has a time limit of 15 seconds, it allows you to better convey the idea to users and add a more prominent call to action.

After filling in the required fields, a preview will open in front of you. On this page, you can upload images or videos for your ad, add a call to action, add or edit a URL. After saving, your ad will start showing to the target audience according to the selected parameters and the set budget.

Instagram Stories ads are quite short. In addition, after viewing, they are closed automatically, and the user will not be able to view them again. Therefore, add a bright call to action, limited in time - this will increase the conversion.

More on the topic: How to properly target on Instagram

Internal link in the story to a post, account or IGTV

Once again, please note that such a link will not be formatted as a swipe in the story, it will be just a mention.

Method #3: link to the Reels in the story

Open the Reels you want to share in the story and click on the airplane icon in the menu on the right.
Select Add Reels to Your Story.
Add text, stickers and other design elements as you like.

Method #4: link to the post in story

Open the post you want to share a link to.
Repost a story post: click the airplane icon below it.
Select Add Post to Your Story.
Add text, stickers and other design elements as you like.

Method number 5: link to the account

Start creating a Story.
Open the sticker panel and select the Mention sticker.
Enter the name of the account you want to link to. Design your story and add other elements as you see fit.

Method #6: link to the video

After combining the IGTV format and the video, the link to the video is published by analogy with the repost of the publication.

How to create a link sticker in Instagram stories

As you already understood, now instead of swiping in stories, a link sticker will be displayed. Accordingly, the approach to design also changes. Now, instead of a pointer to a swipe, you need to select a link sticker and add a pointer to it or make a highlight. You can do this for free with Canva.

Register on canva.com and activate your 30 day free trial ( don't forget to unsubscribe later if you want to use the service for free ).
Select the Instagram Story template.
Add any layout available in the menu on the left and change it to your liking. Or create a layout from scratch.
Add a pointer to the layout. To do this, in the elements section, enter in the search [ here ] or [ here ].
Place the element you like on the layout, in the place where the link will be located (you don't need to add the text Place under the link , as in our example).
Go to the story editor and upload the created layout. Then add the link sticker to the desired location and post the story.
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