Erin
Wondering how to add links to your Instagram stories? You may have noticed other accounts posting stories where there is a “see more” option calling for you to swipe up to see a direct link to another site. This is a relatively new feature Instagram has introduced, but it’s not available to everyone.
Why Add Links To Instagram Stories?
The direct link feature is helpful in driving traffic to your website, blog, video or other social pages. The feature gives you another option to share links besides simply including a link in your bio, which limits you significantly in the amount of videos and content you can share. This is a powerful tool for marketers, and brands have seen 15 to 25 percent swipe through rates using this new feature.
This tool also makes it a lot easier for users who wish to engage further with a brand’s posts. Rather than having to copy and paste a link from a business’s bio, users can now simply swipe up on a story to be directed straight to a new page. This requires minimal effort on the part of consumers, which is always a good thing.
In short, this feature is an easy, yet powerful tool for brands or businesses in driving sales and traffic to their sites.
Who Can Add A Link to an Instagram Story?
To use this feature, an account must either be verified or have a minimum of 10,000 followers. Most businesses and many Instagram influencers and bloggers use this feature, but it is not available to everyone on Instagram.
While getting verified is difficult and requires one to either be famous or have a significant following, getting to 10,000 followers is much more doable. If you have less than 10,000 followers, you can check out our article “How to Get More Followers on Instagram” or use an Instagram growth service such as Social Buddy to help you grow your account quickly!
No Link Button on Instagram Story?
If the link button does not appear when you try to add a link to your story, it means you don’t qualify to add links. You’ll either need to grow your following or get verified on Instagram to get the direct link feature.
How to Add a Link to your Instagram Story
Adding a link to an Instagram story is simple if you have the feature. Follow these steps to add a link to your Instagram story:
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- Start a new Instagram story and choose or take your image or video.
- Click on the chain link icon at the top of your screen
- A new window will pop up where you can paste in the URL you want linked to your Story
- Click on the green check mark when you are done and upload your Story
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Swipe Up on Instagram Stories
Adding a link to an Instagram story creates the “swipe up” feature, making it easy to bring followers to your website. Many businesses use this feature to bring customers directly to a page to buy the products featured in the story. Once your account can add links to stories, use this feature to include a call to action and convert followers into customers!
How To Use Your Instagram Story Link
If you can add links, there are many ways you can use them in your Instagram stories. Theoretically, you could link to any website, but most use the link feature to promote their own websites, product pages, or blogs. If you use Instagram stories to promote your business as apart of a social media marketing strategy, this link feature especially useful.
It’s best not to use this link feature to go directly to your website’s home page – you probably already have that link in your bio anyway. Use the Instagram story link feature to send followers directly to a page to complete a specific action, called out in a call to action on your story.
Here are a few ideas of how to use an Instagram story link:
Product Page
Linking to a product page encourages users to make purchases. If you feature items in your story, link directly to the sales page for that product to improve conversions. If there are fewer steps the consumer has to take, they’ll be more likely to make a purchase.
Special Offers
Even better than a normal product page, a special offer of some sort has a better chance of getting customers to convert. Showcase the offer in your story and emphasize whatever makes the deal special to encourage people to click through and make a purchase. If possible, make the offer time-sensitive to create a sense of urgency for customers to complete your call to action immediately.
Blog Posts
If your Instagram supports your blog, this may be obvious. But other businesses selling products or services can also use blog posts to generate traffic to their site and catch customers at the top of the sales funnel. You can use a blog post to share more information that may lead them to make a purchase in the future.
Make the Most of the Link in an Instagram Story
Don’t waste your Instagram story link – ensure that it helps drive as much traffic to your website as possible. These tips will improve click-through rate and conversions for your “Swipe Up” option on Instagram stories.
Include a Call To Action
The “swipe up” or “see more” is a call to action on its own, but add an extra, more specific call to action to improve click-through rates on your link! Write a caption that will entice viewers to swipe up and keep reading. This can also help anyone who didn’t notice the swipe up option see that they can learn more.
Offer Discounts
Even a small discount could get more people to swipe up and make a purchase, if your objective is to make sales. Offer a small discount or special deal and more people will want to shop around and potentially buy your products.
Leave Them Wanting More
Begin to explain something in your story and then encourage viewers to swipe up to learn the conclusion. This works well for blog posts, recipes, how to’s and more. Give them the first few steps so that they are drawn in, but then leave them wanting more to get them to click through to your website!
Want To Add a Link to Instagram Stories?
If you desperately want access to those Instagram story links, but you don’t have a verification badge or enough followers, let us help you! The verification process is not straightforward and is controlled by Instagram. Luckily, Social Buddy can help you get more followers, targeting followers in your niche for organic growth and improved engagement.
