How to Change a Link Name on an Instagram Story

Tired of plastering long, clunky URLs across your beautifully designed Instagram Stories? There’s a much cleaner, more effective way to share links. This guide breaks down exactly how to change the link name - or sticker text - on your Instagram Story, turning that messy URL into a compelling call-to-action that gets more taps.

Why Customizing Your Instagram Link Sticker Matters

Before getting into the how-to, it’s worth understanding why this small step makes such a big difference in your social media strategy. It’s not just about aesthetics, a customized link sticker has a direct impact on your marketing efforts.

Here’s the breakdown:

• It Reinforces Your Brand: Instead of a generic or confusing URL, you can use your brand name, a campaign slogan, or a specific product name. This keeps your messaging consistent and professional. For example, “Shop Summer Styles” is far more on-brand than “your TLD. com/products/category-7/summer2024-new-arrivals.”
• It Builds Trust and Increases Clicks: We’ve all been conditioned to be wary of suspicious-looking links. A clean, clear link name tells people exactly where they are going. This transparency makes them feel more confident about tapping, which can significantly boost your click-through rate (CTR).
• It's a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): A customizable sticker is prime real estate for a direct call-to-action. You aren’t just sharing a link, you’re telling your audience what to do next. Phrasing like “Download The Guide,” “Register Now,” or “Listen to the Episode,” guides users and prompts them to act.
• It Looks Professional and Polished: Attention to detail sets your brand apart. A polished Story with a custom link sticker signals professionalism and shows that you’ve put thought into the user experience. It completes the look of a well-crafted visual story.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your Instagram Story Link Name

Instagram makes this process incredibly simple. Once you know where to look, you’ll be customizing your link stickers in seconds. Follow these steps precisely, and you’ll master it on your first try.

Step 1: Open Instagram and Create a New Story

Start just like you would with any other Story. Either swipe right from your home feed or tap the plus (+) icon at the top of the screen and select "Story." You can take a new photo or video, or select existing content from your camera roll. Design your story with any GIFs, text, or music you want to include. The link sticker is usually one of the last elements you’ll add.

Step 2: Access the Sticker Tray

Once your Story’s background image or video is ready, find the sticker icon at the top of your screen. It looks like a square smiley face. Tap on it. This will open up the full sticker tray, where you'll find options for polls, quizzes, locations, hashtags, and more.

Step 3: Select the "Link" Sticker

In the sticker tray, locate the one labeled "Link." It might be near the top as a suggestion, or you might have to scroll down a bit to find it. Tap on it to open the link editor.

Step 4: Add Your URL and Customize the Sticker Text

This is where the magic happens. A new window will pop up with two input fields:

1. URL: This top field is where you’ll paste the destination link. Make sure this is the complete, correct URL. Double-check it for any typos, as a broken link will stop your efforts dead in their tracks.
2. Sticker text: This second field is the one you’re looking for! By default, it might show the domain of the URL you pasted (e.g., "yourwebsite.com"). Tap on this field and type in whatever you want the sticker to say. This is your chance to replace the URL with a clear CTA or branded text.

Step 5: Place and Style Your Sticker

Once you’ve entered the URL and your custom text, tap "Done" in the top right corner. The newly customized link sticker will appear on your Story. You can now:

• Resize it: Pinch to make it bigger or smaller.
• Move it: Drag and drop the sticker to the perfect spot on your Story. Make sure it doesn’t cover any important visual information or the face of a person.
• Change the color: Tap the sticker once to cycle through different color options (usually a blue/purple gradient, white, or black). Choose the one that best contrasts with your background to make it easily readable.

Step 6: Share Your Story

After you are satisfied with how your link sticker looks and where it is placed, you’re ready to publish. Simply tap "Your Story" in the bottom left corner to share it with all of your followers or select just your "Close Friends" list if you prefer.

That’s it! Your followers will now see a clean, professional-looking sticker with your custom text instead of a long URL.

Best Practices for Writing Click-Worthy Link Sticker Text

Simply knowing how to change the link name is one thing, knowing what to change it to is another. The words you choose for your sticker text can have a major impact on whether someone actually taps through. Here are some proven best practices to follow.

1. Keep it Short and Scannable

Instagram Stories are consumed quickly. Your audience isn’t going to read a long sentence on a sticker. Aim for just two to four words. Think punchy, direct phrases that get the message across instantly.

• Good: "Shop The Sale"
• Not-So-Good: "Click Here to See All The Items in Our Big Summer Sale"

2. Focus on Action-Oriented Language

Start your sticker text with a verb. This creates a clear call-to-action (CTA) that encourages your audience to do something. You’re not just presenting information, you’re inviting them to interact.

• Instead of: "New Blog Post," try: "Read The Article."
• Instead of: "Podcast Episode," try: "Listen Now."
• Instead of: "Our New Collection," try: "Shop The Collection."

3. Be Crystal Clear About the Destination

While creativity is great, your main goal is clarity. The user must know exactly what to expect when they tap the link. Ambiguous or overly clever text can confuse people and make them hesitant to click. Never make your audience guess.

• Clear: "Grab Your Ticket"
• Vague: "See What's Next"

4. Align with Your Brand Voice

Your sticker text is a small part of your branding, so it should sound like you. If your brand is playful and casual, use that kind of language. If you're more formal and educational, your sticker text should reflect that. For example, a fun lifestyle brand might use "Snag Yours!" while a B2B company might prefer "Download The Report."

5. Create a Sense of Urgency (When It's Genuine)

If your link promotes a limited-time offer, a sale, or an event with a deadline, use language that communicates a bit of urgency. This motivates people to click *now* rather than putting it off and forgetting later.

• "Join the Webinar Live"
• "Shop the Flash Sale"
• "Final Hours to Save"

Creative Examples of Customized Link Stickers in Action

Looking for some inspiration? Here’s how you can apply these principles to different scenarios:

For an E-commerce Brand Launching a New Product:

• URL: www.fashionbrand.com/products/the-essential-tote
• Sticker Text: "Shop The New Tote"

For a Blogger Announcing a New Article:

• URL: www.travelwithjane.com/posts/ultimate-guide-to-bali
• Sticker Text: "Read My Bali Guide"

For a Service Provider Promoting a Free Resource:

• URL: www.yourbusiness.com/free-checklist
• Sticker Text: "Get My Free Checklist"

For an Artist Promoting Their Portfolio:

• URL: www.painterpro.com/portfolio-2024
• Sticker Text: "View My New Work"

For a Podcaster Sharing Their Latest Episode:

• URL: (link to Spotify, Apple Music etc)
• Sticker Text: "Tune in to This Week's Show"

Troubleshooting: "I Don't See the Sticker Text Option!"

For most users, this feature is baked directly into the link sticker. If you add your URL but don't see the "Sticker text" field, here are a couple of things to check:

1. Update Your Instagram App: The most common reason for a missing feature is an outdated app. Head to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) and check if there's an update available for Instagram. Once updated, restart the app and try again.
2. Restart the App: If your app is up-to-date, sometimes a small glitch is the culprit. Completely close out of the Instagram app and reopen it. This fresh start can often resolve minor bugs.

The ability to customize sticker text has been a standard feature for quite some time, so it's very unlikely you won't have it. In almost all cases, one of the two solutions above will bring the feature back into view.

Final Thoughts

Customizing your Instagram Story link name is a simple adjustment that elevates your brand's presence, builds audience trust, and ultimately drives more valuable traffic. This small detail can turn a passive viewer into an active website visitor by replacing a messy URL with a powerful, clear call-to-action.

We know how much work goes into creating beautiful Stories that connect with an audience. At Postbase, our visual calendar was specifically designed to help you plan out all your social media content, including Reels and feed posts. This means you can get a bird's-eye view of your strategy and free up your time to focus on creating the standout Stories that capture attention and drive real results for your brand.