How to Add a Link to Your Instagram Stories (2021 Update!)

After officially retiring the "swipe up" feature, Instagram has introduced a new way to add a link to your Instagram Stories.

October 27, 2023
5 min read
How to add a link to your Instagram Stories 2021 update

For a very long time, the only way to add a link to your Instagram Stories was to have a pretty substantial following. With Instagram’s swipe up feature, you could add a link to your Instagram Stories in the form of a “swipe up” call to action that would redirect viewers to a link once they tapped the arrow or swiped up on the screen. But the only people who could utilize the swipe up feature were accounts with over 10K followers, since the feature was designed to help brands and influencers connect with their community and grow their audience.

But Instagram recently announced that it was officially retiring the swipe up feature and expanding the ability to add link to Instagram Stories to all accounts. To find out how this new feature works and how to add a link to your Instagram Stories now, keep scrolling!

How to Add a Link to Your Instagram Stories (2021 Update!)

Instead of a swipe up action, Instagram’s new update has introduced a link sticker. Just like many other stickers that you add to your Instagram Story, the link sticker is essentially a colorful, clickable feature that you can stick on top of your photo or video. When your followers tap the link sticker, it will redirect them to your link. Plus, unlike the swipe up feature, the link sticker will actually display the first part of the domain, allowing for more transparency with your audience.

As long as you have a business or creator account, you can start adding a link to your Instagram Stories now (regardless of your follower count) by using the link sticker. If you’re ready to try out the new link sticker, follow the steps below.

1. Create or upload your Instagram Story content

Just like anytime you create an Instagram Story, you’ll want to either capture content directly in the app or upload your photo/video to your Story. 

2. Select the Instagram Stories link sticker

Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen and it will pull up the sticker tray. Then select the blue link sticker.

Selecting the Instagram Stories link sticker

 

Finding the link sticker on Instagram Stories

3. Paste your link

Once you’ve selected the link sticker, you can add a link to your Instagram Stories. Just paste your link into the available link field. 

Pasting a link into Instagram Stories

4. Style your sticker

You can change the color of your sticker by tapping it, switch up the position by pressing and holding with your finger and dragging it around the screen, and adjust the size by pinching with your fingers. 

Styling a link sticker on Instagram Stories

 

Styling a link sticker on Instagram Stories

 

Styling a link sticker on Instagram Stories

Pro tip: If you want to get the maximum number of clicks and drive more traffic to your link, then make sure you include a clear call-to-action encouraging your followers to click the link sticker. Your CTA could be a verbal call-out (if your Instagram Story is a video), a GIF, on-screen text, etc. Just make sure your audience knows why they should tap your link sticker.

Are you adding a link to your Instagram Stories with this update?

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