How to Link a Website on Instagram Story

Want to turn your Instagram Story viewers into website visitors, email subscribers, or customers? You're in the right place. The Instagram link sticker is a simple but powerful tool that lets you send your followers directly to any webpage you want, right from your Story. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add a link to your Instagram Story, what to do if you can’t find the sticker, and most importantly, how to get people to actually click on it.

The Simple Guide to Adding a Link to Your Instagram Story

Once upon a time, the ability to add links to Stories was reserved for accounts with over 10,000 followers. That's all changed. Now, everyone has access to the "Link" sticker, making it an essential tool for creators and brands of all sizes. The process is easy and takes less than a minute. Let’s walk through it step by step.

Here’s exactly what you need to do:

1. Create a New Story: Open the Instagram app and swipe right or tap the plus (+) icon at the top of your screen, then select "Story" to open the Story camera.
2. Add Your Content: Snap a photo, record a video, or upload a piece of content from your phone’s camera roll. This visual background is what your audience will see behind the link sticker, so make it engaging and relevant to where you’re sending them.
3. Open the Sticker Tray: Once your photo or video is loaded, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen (it looks like a smiley face inside a square). This will open up all of Instagram's sticker options, from GIFs and music to polls and quizzes.
4. Select the "Link" Sticker: Find and tap the sticker that says "LINK." If you don’t see it right away, you can use the search bar at the top of the sticker tray.
5. Add Your URL: A new screen will appear asking for a URL. Type or paste the full website address you want to link to.
6. Customize the Sticker Text: After adding the URL, you’ll see an option to customize the sticker text. Instead of showing the full, messy URL, you can write something more compelling here. This is your chance to add a clear call to action (CTA), like "Read The Blog Post" or "Shop The Collection." Then, tap “Done.”
7. Place Your Sticker and Share: You can now drag the link sticker anywhere on your screen, pinch to resize it, and tap it to cycle through different color options. Place it somewhere obvious, then add any other text, GIFs, or elements you want. When you're ready, hit "Your Story" to share it with your followers. That's it!

Just like that, your Story is live with a clickable link that can drive real traffic to your website, product page, landing page, or anywhere else you want your audience to go.

Don't See the Link Sticker? Here's What to Do

It’s a common moment of panic: you follow the steps, but the link sticker is nowhere to be found. Before you get frustrated, remember that the "swipe up" feature for 10k+ follower accounts is officially gone - the link sticker is meant for everyone. If it's missing, it's usually due to a small technical bug you can easily fix.

Here are a few quick troubleshooting steps to try:

• Update the Instagram App: This is the most common reason for missing features. Head to the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android) and check if there's an update available for Instagram. New features are often tied to the latest version of the app.
• Log Out and Log Back In: Sometimes, simply logging out of your account and then logging back in can force the app to refresh and solve the problem. To do this, go to your profile, tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right, go to "Settings," and scroll down to the bottom to log out.
• Restart Your Phone: The classic "turn it off and on again" method works wonders for a reason. Restarting your device can clear out minor software glitches that might be preventing the app from working correctly.
• Check Your Account Type: While the link sticker is available to all account types (Personal, Creator, and Business), switching between them can sometimes trigger a refresh. If you have a Personal account, try switching to a Creator or Business account in your settings to see if it makes the sticker appear. You can always switch back.

In most cases, one of these quick fixes will get you back on track. The main thing to remember is that you absolutely are eligible to have the feature.

How to Get People to Actually Tap Your Link

Adding a link to your Story is simple, but getting someone to stop their endless tapping and actually click on it is the real challenge. You need to be strategic. Just dropping a bland link on a random photo won’t do much. The trick is to give people a clear and compelling reason to act.

1. Use a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA)

Never assume your followers know what you want them to do. You have to tell them explicitly. Customize your sticker text with a direct command. Instead of leaving the sticker to display your website's URL (like "www.yourbrand.com"), change it to something action-oriented.

Examples of effective CTAs include:

• Shop Now
• Read the Full Guide
• Grab Your Ticket
• Listen to the Episode
• Sign Up Free

You can also reinforce your CTA with on-screen text or even GIFs. Search "tap here" or "click here" in the GIF search bar to find animated arrows and graphics that draw attention directly to your link sticker.

2. Make the Link Sticker Unmissable

Your link sticker is competing for attention with everything else on your Story screen. Make sure it stands out. Don't hide it in a corner or place it over a busy background where it blends in.

Here’s how to make it pop:

• Placement: Position the sticker in an easy-to-tap spot, usually in the middle third of the screen. Avoid the very top and bottom, as those areas can be covered by your profile icon or the "send message" bar.
• Size: Make the sticker large enough to be easily readable and tappable without dominating the entire Story.
• Color: Tap the sticker after placing it on your Story to cycle through different colors. Choose one that contrasts well with your background image or video.

3. Tell a Story to Build Intrigue

Remember, it's called an Instagram Story for a reason. Don’t treat it like a static billboard. Use a sequence of two to four slides to build context and curiosity before you drop the link. This warms up your audience and gives them a reason to care about clicking.

For example, if you're linking to a new recipe on your blog:

• Slide 1: A short video of the finished dish with text like, "Got a craving for the easiest weeknight dinner?"
• Slide 2: A poll asking, "Are you more of a pasta or pizza person?" to engage the audience.
• Slide 3: A quick shot of a key ingredient with text like, "The secret is this one simple ingredient..."
• Slide 4: The final image with the link sticker that says, "Get the Full Recipe Here!"

This approach gives value, sparks curiosity, and makes the final CTA much more effective.

4. Tease Your Content (Don't Give It All Away)

Nobody will click a link to read something they feel they've already consumed. Create an "information gap" that your link can fill. If you're sharing a blog post, don't just put the title on your Story. Instead, pull out a compelling quote, a surprising statistic, or ask a question that the blog post answers.

For example, instead of "New Blog Post: 5 Ways to Improve Your Sleep," try "Did you know that 70% of adults get less than 7 hours of sleep? I’m sharing 5 things you can fix tonight. Full guide here." This creates curiosity and makes the click feel rewarding.

Creative Ideas for Using Your Instagram Story Link

The link sticker is incredibly versatile. You aren't limited to just sending people to your homepage. Think of it as a gateway to any piece of content or action you want to promote.

Here are just a few great ways to put it to work:

• Promote products and send followers directly to a product page on your e-commerce store.
• Drive traffic to a new blog post by teasing the topic with an interesting fact or question.
• Sell tickets for a webinar, online workshop, or live event by linking directly to the registration page.
• Grow your email list by linking to a newsletter sign-up form with a freebie or exclusive content offer.
• Share a new YouTube video or TikTok by creating a short-form trailer for your Story and linking to the full video.
• Link to a podcast episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts so followers can start listening with a single tap.
• Showcase your work by sharing a client testimonial on your Story and linking to your full portfolio or a case study.

Final Thoughts

The Instagram Story link sticker has leveled the playing field, giving every creator and business a simple, direct way to convert Story views into website traffic. By using a clear call to action, building intrigue through storytelling, and making your link sticker impossible to ignore, you can turn passive viewers into active members of your community.

A great social media strategy relies on consistency, and planning your Stories in advance is a huge part of that. At Postbase, we built our platform to make visual planning and reliable scheduling completely painless, especially for modern content formats like Stories and Reels that older tools struggle with. When you know your content, including those with important links, will publish exactly when you schedule it, you can focus on creating great content instead of fighting with your software.