How to Add a Link to a Facebook Story

Adding a clickable link to your Facebook Story is one of the most direct ways to drive your audience from passive viewing to active engagement. Whether you want to send followers to your latest blog post, a new product page, or a sign-up form, the link sticker is the tool that makes it happen. This guide breaks down exactly how to add a link, offers practical strategies to make your links more effective, and gives you ideas for what to share.

Why Add a Link to Your Facebook Story?

Before getting into the "how," let's quickly touch on the "why." Facebook Stories are temporary, full-screen pieces of content that live for just 24 hours, creating a sense of urgency. When you place a link in a story, you're not just sharing content, you're creating a direct path for your audience to take action right now. This is incredibly valuable for:

• Driving Website Traffic: Got a new article, portfolio piece, or landing page? A story link takes people there in a single tap.
• Promoting Products: Launching a new item or running a sale? Link directly to the product page and convert viewers into customers.
• Growing Your Email List: Share a link to your newsletter sign-up form or a lead magnet freebie.
• Increasing Video Views: Direct followers to your latest YouTube video, a webinar replay, or an on-site video resource.
• Selling Tickets or Getting RSVPs: Hosting an event? A link sticker sends people straight to the registration or ticketing page.

Unlike a post in the feed where a link might get lost in a caption, a story link is an interactive, unmissable element designed for action.

Who Can Add Links to Facebook Stories? (Good News: Everyone!)

Let's clear up a common point of confusion that comes from the world of Instagram. For years, adding a "swipe-up" link on Instagram Stories was a privilege reserved for accounts with over 10,000 followers or those that were verified. This created a perception that linking out was an exclusive feature.

Thankfully, Facebook doesn't play by those rules. The ability to add a link sticker to a Facebook Story is available to all users and pages, regardless of follower count. Whether you have a personal profile with 50 friends or a business page with 50,000 followers, you have access to this feature. The playing field is level.

How to Add a Link to a Facebook Story: The Step-by-Step Guide

The process is straightforward. Once you've done it a couple of times, it will feel like second nature. Here’s exactly what to do:

1. Open the Facebook app and Create a Story: Tap the "+" icon on the Stories bar at the top of your feed and select "Story." You can also tap the "Create story" button on your profile.
2. Choose Your Content: Select a photo or video from your camera roll, or capture something new using the camera. This will serve as the background for your story and your link.
3. Open the Sticker Tray: Once your photo or video is loaded, look for the row of icons at the top right. Tap the sticker icon (it looks like a square with a folded corner or sometimes just says "Stickers").
4. Select the "Link" Sticker: In the sticker tray, you'll see a variety of options like location, polls, GIFs, and more. Find the sticker labeled "Link" and tap on it.
5. Add Your URL: A window will pop up asking you to "Add a link." This is where you paste the full URL of the website you want to send people to. For best results, go to the page in your browser first and copy the link directly to avoid any typos.
6. Customize the Sticker Text (Optional but Recommended): After you paste the link, Facebook will give you an option to customize the text that appears on the sticker. By default, it might just show a shortened version of the URL. You should absolutely change this! A clear call-to-action (CTA) like "Shop Now," "Read More," or "Learn How" is far more compelling than a random URL. Tap "Customize sticker text" to type in your own phrase.
7. Place and Resize the Sticker: After adding your URL and custom text, tap "Done." The sticker will appear on your story. You can now use your fingers to drag it anywhere on the screen, pinch to resize it (make it bigger or smaller), and rotate it.
8. Add Any Finishing Touches: Use other story features to draw attention to your link. Add text like "Tap the link below!", draw an arrow with the drawing tool, or search for a "tap here" GIF to place near your link sticker.
9. Share Your Story: Once everything looks good, tap the "Share" button at the bottom right. Your story, complete with a clickable link, is now live for 24 hours!

Best Practices for Using The Link Sticker Effectively

Just because you can add a link doesn't mean it will automatically perform well. Getting people to actually tap requires a bit of strategy. Keep these tips in mind.

1. Tell People Exactly What to Do

Never assume your audience knows to tap the link sticker. Guide them explicitly. The visibility of a story gives you a great opportunity for a clear, loud call-to-action. You can:

• Add Text: Type out a simple, direct command like "Tap the link to read!" or "Click here for 20% off."
• Use GIFs: Search the GIF library for "tap here," "click," or "arrow" to add an animated visual cue pointing to your sticker.
• Talk to the Camera: If you're using a video story, verbally tell people what to do. Say, "I've linked the article for you right here - just tap this sticker to read it."

2. Make the Design Clear and Uncluttered

Your beautiful story background can quickly become your worst enemy if it's too busy. The link sticker needs to stand out, not blend in. If your image or video has a lot of visual noise, consider placing a semi-transparent colored block behind the sticker to make it pop. Ensure the sticker isn't placed over important text or a key part of the image.

3. Customize Your Sticker Text

We mentioned this in the steps, but it's worth repeating. The default URL is not a good look. Choose a clear, action-oriented call-to-action that tells people what they'll get when they tap. Compare these options:

• BAD: yourblog.com/2024/...
• GOOD: "Read Our New Guide"
• BAD: shoppingsite.com/pro...
• GOOD: "Shop the New Collection"

The customization is there for a reason - use it to inspire action.

4. Share Links Your Audience Actually Cares About

Every link you share is a promise of value. If your audience taps through and finds something uninteresting, irrelevant, or worse - a broken page - they'll be less likely to tap your links in the future. Make sure the content you're linking to aligns with what your followers expect from you. If you're a food blogger, they expect recipes, not affiliate links to auto parts.

Creative Ideas for Links to Share in Your Story

Stuck on what to share? Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Link to a new blog post or article.
• Promote a specific product or service page.
• Share a link to your email newsletter sign-up form.
• Drive traffic to a new YouTube video, podcast episode, or TikTok.
• Get sign-ups for an online event or webinar.
• Sell tickets to a physical event.
• Link a "Start Here" page introducing your brand to new followers.
• Share a client testimonial or case study.
• Link to a free download like a checklist or e-book (a lead magnet).
• Connect people with a survey or feedback form.

Troubleshooting: "I Don't See the Link Sticker!"

Occasionally, you might find that the link sticker option isn't where it should be. This is rare, but if it happens, here are a few things to try:

• Update Your Facebook App: This is the most common fix. An outdated app might not have the latest features. Head to the App Store or Google Play Store and check for an update.
• Log Out and Log Back In: Sometimes, a simple refresh is all it takes. Log completely out of the app and then sign back in.
• Clear Your App's Cache: On Android, you can go into your settings to clear an app's cache, which can resolve odd glitches. On iOS, the easiest way is to offload the app and then reinstall it.

Final Thoughts

The link sticker is a simple but mighty tool in your social media toolkit. By making it easy for your Facebook Story viewers to visit your website, shop your products, or join your community, you're turning a piece of ephemeral content into a tangible traffic and conversion driver. Get used to adding strategic links with clear calls-to-action, and you'll see a real difference in how your audience connects with your brand off-platform.

As your social media strategy grows, especially with an emphasis on Stories, managing content across multiple platforms can start to feel chaotic. At Postbase, we built our platform to solve that exact problem. Our visual calendar lets you plan and schedule your content across all your networks at a glance, giving you a clear view of your entire strategy so you can coordinate every post, Reel, and Story with confidence. We designed it for the modern content creator, which means video is at its core, so you'll never feel like you're fighting a tool that was built for a different era of social media.