I. Introduction
Instagram stories are an effective way to promote your products or services. They allow people to see a more personal side of your brand, leading to increased engagement and loyalty. However, one significant limitation of Instagram stories is the inability to add clickable links, which limits your ability to drive traffic to your website or blog. Fortunately, there are several approaches to add links to Instagram stories, and this article aims to provide a step-by-step tutorial on the process, tips and tricks, industry expert advice, product reviews, and comparisons of different strategies.
II. Step-by-step tutorial with screenshots
Adding a link to your Instagram story is a straightforward process. Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Take a photo or video you desire to use in your Instagram story.
- Tap on the ‘chain’ icon located at the top of the screen.
- Enter the URL and link title, and then tap ‘Done.’
- You can customize the way your link appears by tapping on the text or color background badges.
- Tap ‘Preview,’ preview the story, and tap ‘Share.’
This method allows you to add the swipe-up link to your Instagram story. However, note that the swipe-up option only becomes available for business profiles with at least 10,000 or verified accounts. If you are not eligible for this feature, you can use the link sticker option.
The link sticker option is an alternative method to add links to your Instagram story. Instead of using swipe-up links, you can use a sticker that links your story. Here are the steps to follow:
- Take a photo or video to use in your Instagram story.
- Tap the sticker icon (a smiley face).
- Tap on the link icon, and then add the URL you want your sticker to link to.
- Customize your sticker by editing the background, resizing, or positioning it on your story.
- Preview your story, and then share it.
III. Tips and tricks
Adding a link to your Instagram story is a great way to drive traffic to your website. However, merely embedding a link is not enough. You need to ensure that your link stands out. Here are some tips and tricks to make your Instagram story link more engaging and attract more clicks:
- Use a catchy headline that encourages viewers to take action.
- Ensure your link takes viewers directly to the relevant landing pages.
- Use UTM parameters to track clicks and analyze your data.
- While embedding your website’s URL, be sure to make it visually appealing by reducing its size, for example, by using shorten links like Bitly or TinyURL.
IV. Industry expert advice
Asking for advice from industry experts is always valuable when searching for effective Instagram marketing strategies. In this section, we provide insights from Instagram experts on adding links to your stories.
According to Linne Ha, a social media expert and founder of The LH Studio, “Links in Instagram Stories have become increasingly important for businesses looking to drive traffic to their website or blog. The best way to get people to click on your links is to make your story engaging and attention-grabbing.”
Katelin Jorgensen, Vice President, Marketing and Creative at Reelio, notes, “One of the best ways to increase click-through rates is by using high-quality visuals as nothing captures attention better than great visual content. Creativity and being trendy are also crucial whereas content generated from User Generated Content (UGC) can help increase conversion.”
V. Product Reviews
Several tools and software solutions will provide you with the ability to add links to your Instagram stories. Here is an overview of some of the most popular ones:
- ShortStack: enables you to create interactive content, including quizzes, polls, and giveaways.
- Later: One can manage their Instagram account, schedule posts, and stories, analyze their performance, and generate UTM links.
- SwipeUp: specifically designed for Instagram business accounts, allows you to create short links that can be customized to your needs.
VI. Comparisons
When it comes to adding links to your Instagram story, there are multiple strategies, including swipe-up links, link stickers, and link in bio. Use the chart below to see a comparison of these strategies based on their pros and cons:
Swipe-Up Links
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Direct and easy to use. | Limitations as it’s only available to verified and business profiles with 10k+ followers. |
| Directly links users to the desired page. | Not customizable in terms of clicks and impressions analysis. |
Link Stickers
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Customizable in terms of design, placement, and sizing. | Less direct than swipe-up links with stickers taking up valuable content real estate and requiring extra clicks. |
| Can be used by all account types. | Link tracking can be hard to monitor. |
Link in Bio
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Provides flexibility by letting you change the URL and build links to your site’s pages. | Requires people to leave the app to visit the link. |
| No verification needs. | Not easily discoverable; users need to dig to find it. |
Conclusion
Adding links to your Instagram story increases engagement and can help grow your audience by driving traffic to your website. In this article, we have discussed step-by-step tutorials, tips and tricks, industry expert advice, product reviews, and comparisons of different strategies, including swipe-up links, link stickers, and link in bio. Remember to measure and analyze your data regularly, experiment with new strategies, and optimize your Instagram stories to stand out. By following these strategies, you can effectively drive traffic to your website and grow your business.
