How to Add a TikTok Link to an Instagram Story

Driving your Instagram followers over to your TikTok profile is a stellar way to build your community on both platforms, and the Instagram Story link sticker is the perfect tool for the job. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add a clickable TikTok link to your Instagram Story, step-by-step. We'll also cover some simple strategies to convince your followers to actually tap that link.

Why Cross-Promote Between Instagram and TikTok?

You might be wondering if it's even worth sending people from one app to another. The answer is a resounding yes. Cross-promoting your content isn't just about getting more views, it's a smart strategy for building a stronger, more engaged brand across the social media landscape. Here’s why it works so well.

Deepen Your Connection with Your Audience

Your followers on Instagram and TikTok might not be an identical group. Many people use the platforms differently, favoring one for quick entertainment and the other for more curated photo or video content. By linking your TikTok in your Instagram Stories, you give your established Instagram audience an easy way to find and follow you in a new space. This helps consolidate your community and shows them another side of your brand or personality. People who follow you on multiple platforms are often your most loyal supporters.

Showcase Different Types of Content

Instagram and TikTok are different beasts, and your content strategy should reflect that. Your TikTok might host your funny, trend-driven videos, raw behind-the-scenes moments, or longer tutorials that don’t quite fit the Instagram Reels format. For example, a home decor brand might post polished room reveals on Instagram Reels but share DIY process videos on TikTok. Linking between them allows you to keep your content distinct for each platform while still giving followers a full picture of what you offer.

Boost Your TikTok Metrics

When a new TikTok video needs a little push to get noticed by the algorithm, driving initial traffic from an external source like Instagram can be incredibly helpful. Early views, likes, and comments signal to TikTok that your content is engaging, which can help it get pushed out to a wider audience on the For You Page. It’s like giving your new video a running start, powered by the audience you’ve already built.

Create a Sales or Traffic Funnel

While Instagram offers plenty of its own tools for linking out, TikTok has a powerful link-in-bio feature, too. You can use your Instagram Story to promote a specific TikTok video that directly mentions a product, a blog post, or a service. A call-to-action in that video can then direct viewers to click the link in your TikTok bio. This turns a simple Story view into a multi-step journey that can lead directly to a sale or website visit.

Before You Start: What You’ll Need

The process is incredibly simple, but you'll need two things ready to go: the link you want to share and access to Instagram's link sticker feature (good news: everyone has it now!).

1. Your TikTok Link

You can share either a link to your entire profile or a link to a single, specific video. Here's how to grab both.

How to Get Your TikTok Profile Link:

• Open the TikTok app and go to your Profile page (bottom right corner).
• Tap the three horizontal lines (the hamburger menu) in the top right corner.
• Select "Settings and privacy."
• Tap "Share profile."
• From the options that pop up, select "Copy link." The URL is now saved to your clipboard.

How to Get a Link to a Specific TikTok Video:

• Open the TikTok app and navigate to the video you want to share.
• Tap the "Share" icon on the right side of the screen (it looks like an arrow).
• In the menu that appears, swipe through the options until you see "Copy link." Tap it.

2. The Instagram "Link" Sticker

Back in the day, only accounts with over 10,000 followers could add links to their Stories using the "Swipe Up" feature. Thankfully, that's changed. Instagram has replaced Swipe Up with the "Link" sticker, and it's available to all users, regardless of follower count. This opened up cross-promotion for creators and businesses of all sizes, making it easier than ever to direct traffic where you want it to go.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Adding Your TikTok Link

With your link copied and ready, you're just a few taps away from sharing it on your Instagram Story. Follow these simple steps.

1. Create Your Instagram Story: Open Instagram and start a new Story. You can take a new photo, record a video, or upload content from your camera roll. You can even just use the "Create" mode (Aa) for a plain background color. This is your canvas.
2. Open the Sticker Tray: Once your background content is ready, tap the sticker icon at the top of the editing screen. It’s the one that looks like a square smiley face.
3. Select the "Link" Sticker: In the sticker options, find the one labeled "LINK." If you don't see it immediately, you can use the search bar at the top and type "link" to find it quickly.
4. Paste Your TikTok Link: A new screen will appear with a field for a URL. Tap the field and paste your TikTok link that you copied earlier. You should see a green checkmark appear.
5. Customize the Sticker Text: This is a very important step! By default, the sticker will show a snippet of the URL, which usually looks clunky. Below the URL field, you’ll see an option for "Sticker text." Tap it and change it to a clear and exciting call-to-action.
6. Position and Style Your Sticker: After you tap "Done," the sticker will appear on your Story. You can drag it anywhere you like, use two fingers to pinch and zoom to resize it, and tap it to cycle through different color variations to match your Story's aesthetic.
7. Share Your Story: Add any other finishing touches - like text, GIFs, or music - and then share it to your Story. Your followers will now be able to tap that sticker and be taken directly to your TikTok profile or video in their mobile browser or the TikTok app.

Don't Forget the Call-to-Action (CTA)!

Just placing a link sticker on your Story and hoping for the best isn't a strategy. You need to tell people what to do. Your follower’s attention is short, so you have to be direct. Make it as obvious as possible that you want them to tap the link.

• Use GIFs: Search for GIFs like "tap here," "link in story," or an animated arrow and place it pointing directly at your link sticker. The movement naturally draws the eye.
• Add On-Screen Text: Use Instagram's text tool to add a bold, clear message like "Tap to watch!" or "See the full video here."
• Include a Verbal Command: If you're recording a video, simply point to where the sticker will be and say something like, "The link to watch the rest is right here!" This personal touch can be very effective.

Best Practices: How to Make People Want to Click

Now that you know the mechanics, let’s talk strategy. A successful cross-promotion effort depends on creating enough curiosity to get people to leave the app they're already on. Here are some proven methods for tempting your audience to tap through.

The Teaser Method

This is a classic for a reason. Post the first few attention-grabbing seconds of your TikTok directly to your Instagram Story. As right when the video gets to the good part, cut it off and use on-screen text like, "The ending is on TikTok! 😂 Tap to see what happens." This creates an open loop that people feel an urge to close.

The 'Part 2 on TikTok' Hook

Structure your content in two parts. For example, an Instagram Reel could be about "3 Mistakes You're Making When Painting a Room," and at the end, you tell everyone that "Part 2: How to Fix Them" is exclusively on TikTok. This provides value on Instagram while making the TikTok content feel necessary and complementary.

The Screenshot Surprise

Spark curiosity by sharing a screenshot of your TikTok. It could be of a hilarious comment left by a viewer, a shocking frame from the video, or the impressive view count it’s racking up. Add text like, “You guys are wild in the comments on this one,” and add the link sticker so people can go see what all the fuss is about.

Use Instagram's Interactive Stickers

Build engagement around the link. Use a Poll sticker and ask, "New TikTok is live! Have you seen it yet?" with the options "Yes!" and "Not Yet!" Or use a Quiz sticker related to the content of your TikTok. This gets your audience interacting with the Story first, making them more likely to take the next step and tap the link.

Final Thoughts

Adding a TikTok link to your Instagram Story is a powerfully simple way to grow your audience on both platforms and strengthen your online presence. By using the link sticker strategically and giving your followers a compelling reason to tap through, you can turn your casual Instagram Story viewers into dedicated TikTok followers.

We know that planning content for multiple platforms like Instagram Stories and TikTok can get chaotic quickly. That's why we built Postbase. Our visual calendar lets you plan and see all your content in one organized space, making cross-platform promotion feel straightforward instead of overwhelming. We designed it for short-form video first, helping you keep your content consistent and planned out without living in complex spreadsheets.