How to Hyperlink on Instagram Story

Adding a clickable link to your Instagram Story is one of the most powerful ways to drive traffic from the platform, and thankfully, it's now easier than ever. Gone are the days when you needed 10,000 followers to get a swipe-up link. Today, a simple sticker makes it possible for anyone to direct their audience to a blog post, product page, or YouTube video. This guide walks you through the step-by-step process of adding a hyperlink to your Instagram Story and shares practical strategies to actually get people to tap it.

Say Goodbye to 'Swipe-Up' and Hello to the Link Sticker

First, a quick update for anyone returning to Instagram after a break. The "swipe-up" feature, which was once the exclusive domain of large accounts and verified users, has been totally retired. In its place, Instagram rolled out the Link Sticker, a far more democratic and versatile tool that gives every creator the ability to share external links directly from their Stories.

Why is this better? The link sticker is more visible, customizable, and engaging than the subtle "See More" text at the bottom of the screen. Viewers can see exactly what they're being directed to, and they can still tap and reply to your Story, which wasn't possible with the old swipe-up format. This change opens up a world of possibilities for small businesses, aspiring creators, and anyone looking to connect their Instagram audience with content on other platforms.

How to Hyperlink on Instagram Story: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to add your first link? The process is straightforward and takes just a few seconds. Follow these simple steps to get your hyperlink live in your next Story.

1. Open Instagram and Create a Story: Tap the plus icon (+) at the top of your screen or swipe right from your feed to open the Story camera. Take a photo, record a video, or upload content from your camera roll.
2. Open the Sticker Tray: Once your photo or video is ready in the Story editor, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen (it looks like a square smiley face). This will open up your library of interactive stickers, like Polls, Quizzes, GIFs, and Music.
3. Select the "Link" Sticker: In the sticker tray, find and tap the "LINK" sticker (it has a chain link icon). You can also use the search bar at the top to find it quickly.
4. Add Your URL and Customize the Text: A new screen will appear. In the "URL" field, paste the full web address you want to link to. Right below that, you'll see a "Sticker text" field. This is where you can customize what the sticker says. Instead of displaying a messy URL, you can write a clear call-to-action like "Read My New Blog Post" or "Shop The Collection."
5. Place the Sticker on Your Story: After adding your URL and custom text, tap "Done." The sticker will appear on your Story. You can drag it anywhere you want, pinch to resize it, and rotate it to fit your design. You can also tap the sticker once it's placed to cycle through different color variations (usually white, black, or a semi-transparent version).
6. Share Your Story: Once you're happy with the placement and design, share your Story as you normally would. Anyone who views it can now tap the sticker and will be taken directly to your linked webpage.

Beyond the Basics: Creative Strategies to Boost Your Link Clicks

Just adding a link sticker to your Story isn't enough, you need to give people a reason to tap it. A boring, out-of-place sticker is easy to ignore. The goal is to make the link feel like a natural and compelling part of your Story's narrative. Here are some proven strategies to make your links more effective and drive more traffic.

1. Use Direct and Obvious Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Don't assume your audience knows what to do. You have to tell them. Your content should build up to the link and then clearly guide them to tap it. This can be done in multiple ways:

• On-Screen Text: Add text overlays with phrases like "Tap to shop," "Read the full breakdown here," or "Get your free download."
• Talking to Camera: If you're creating a video Story, verbally tell your audience what the link is and why they should click it. A simple, "I just dropped a new YouTube video explaining it all. You can tap the link I've put right here to watch it," is incredibly effective.
• Descriptive Sticker Text: Use the sticker customization feature to your advantage. Instead of a generic "Click Here," try something more specific like "Grab the Recipe" or "Join the Waitlist."

2. Make the Sticker Visually Unmissable

The sticker needs to catch your viewer's eye, especially since they're tapping through Stories quickly. Make it part of your design, not an afterthought.

• Use Supporting Graphics: Search for GIFs like "tap here," "new post," or animated arrows in the GIF library and place them next to your link sticker. This draws attention directly to the clickable element.
• Draw Attention to It: Use the pen tool to draw arrows, circles, or underlines around your link sticker. A hand-drawn element can feel personal and stop a viewer in their tracks.
• Strategic Placement: Place the sticker where the eye naturally goes, often towards the center of the screen. Avoid putting it too close to the edges, where it might get cut off on different screen sizes or accidentally trigger a tap to the next or previous Story.

3. Build Curiosity and Provide Context

A random link without context will almost always be ignored. Your audience wants to know why they should leave Instagram and visit your link. Your Story's job is to build that narrative and pique their interest.

For example:

• Tease the Content: If you're linking to a blog post, share a striking statistic, a surprising takeaway, or an interesting quote from the article in the Story frame. Follow it up with a custom link sticker that says, "Read the Rest Here."
• Ask a Question: Use the Poll or Quiz sticker in a preceding Story to engage your audience. For example, a travel blogger could ask, "Have you ever wanted to visit Italy?" and in the next frame, share a link to their new "Ultimate Italy Travel Guide." This primes the audience and makes the link more relevant to them.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: A fashion brand could show a short, engaging video of a new dress in action. The context is visually established, making the accompanying "Shop This Dress" link sticker a logical and tempting next step for the viewer.

Common Sense Check: What to Link to In Your Stories

The possibilities are virtually endless, but the most effective link strategies are those that align with your overall brand goals. Not sure where to start? Here are a few great ideas for what you can link to:

• Your latest blog posts, articles, or newsletters.
• Product pages from an e-commerce store (new arrivals, best-sellers, sale items).
• An online portfolio or case study showcasing your work.
• Registration pages for webinars, workshops, or online events.
• Your company's careers page or a specific job listing.
• Long-form content on other platforms, like a new YouTube video or podcast episode.
• Landing pages to download a free guide, checklist, or e-book.
• Affiliate links to products you genuinely recommend (always be transparent about affiliate relationships).

Mistakes to Avoid When Using the Link Sticker

Like any social media feature, there are a few common pitfalls to watch out for. Avoiding these mistakes will help you maintain a professional presence and get better results from your efforts.

• Using Broken Links: This is the most common mistake. Always double-check your URL by copying and pasting it into a web browser before you add it to your Story. One wrong character can send your viewers to an error page, which kills trust.
• Hiding the Sticker: Don't make the sticker tiny or place it in a location where it's difficult to see or blends into the background. If you want people to tap it, it needs to be prominent.
• Adding Context: As mentioned earlier, context is everything. Dropping a link sticker onto a random selfie is confusing. Make sure the photo or video in your Story directly relates to what you're linking to.
• Overloading Every Story with a Link: If every single frame of your Story has a link sticker, it can come across as spammy and may cause your audience to tune out. Use links purposefully, focusing them on your most important content to maximize their impact.

Final Thoughts

Adding a hyperlink to your Instagram Story is a simple technical task, but driving meaningful traffic requires a little more thought. By using the link sticker thoughtfully, integrating it into your content with clear calls-to-action, and providing compelling context, you can effectively turn your audience into website visitors, readers, and customers.

Creating engaging Stories with smart links is just one part of a solid social media plan. We designed Postbase to help with the bigger picture, especially supporting modern formats like Stories and Reels that older tools often struggle with. Our visual planner helps you map out your content ahead of time - videos and all - and with reliable scheduling that just works, you can focus more on creating great content instead of wrestling with clunky software.