How to Make a Clickable Link on Facebook

Sharing a link on Facebook seems simple, but getting people to actually click on it requires more than just copying and pasting. How you present your link - whether it's in a post, a Story, or your profile - can be the difference between driving traffic and getting scrolled past. This guide will walk you through exactly how to create clickable links across all parts of Facebook and offer some simple strategies to make people want to click them.

Understanding How Facebook Links Work: The Link Preview

Before we get into the "how," it's important to understand what happens when you paste a URL into a Facebook post. Facebook automatically fetches information from the link's destination page to create a "link preview." This is the clickable box that appears below your post's text.

This preview typically includes:

• A large image (the featured image)
• A title (the page or article headline)
• A short description (a brief summary of the page's content)
• The domain name of the source (e.g., yourwebsite.com)

The entire box is one big, clickable button. Having a visually appealing and informative preview is the first step toward getting that click. If your link preview looks broken, has a tiny image, or pulls the wrong text, people will be less likely to trust it and click through.

How to Make a Clickable Link in a Standard Facebook Post

This is the most common way to share a link, whether on your personal profile, a business Page, or in a Group. The process is straightforward, but a few small tweaks can make your post look much cleaner and more professional.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Open the Facebook 'Create Post' Box: Go to the profile, Page, or Group where you want to share the link and click on "What's on your mind?"
2. Paste Your URL: Copy the full URL from your web browser's address bar (e.g., https://yourwebsite.com/blog-post) and paste it directly into the post box.
3. Wait for the Preview to Generate: Give Facebook a few seconds to process the link. The clickable link preview box will appear below the text you just pasted. If it doesn't appear, refresh the page and try again. A persistently broken preview often means there's an issue with the source website's setup (more on that later).
4. Customize Your Caption: Now you can write your own compelling text above the link preview. This is your chance to add context, ask a question, and tell people why they should click. You can tag other pages, add hashtags, or include an emoji to draw attention.
5. (Optional) Delete the Long URL: Once the link preview box has successfully appeared, the URL in your text is no longer needed. The entire preview box is clickable. You can safely delete the long, clunky URL from your post to make your caption look cleaner and more focused. This little step makes your post look much more professional.
6. Post or Schedule: Once you're happy with your caption and the link preview, click "Post" to share it immediately or use the scheduling options to have it go live at a later time.

Example: Imagine you're sharing an article about "10 Tips for Healthier Houseplants." You'd paste the link, wait for the beautiful image of a vibrant plant to appear with the title, and then write a caption like: "Struggling to keep your fiddle-leaf fig happy? 😥 You're not alone! Check out our top 10 tips for turning your thumb green again. 🌱👇" Then, you'd delete the original URL you pasted.

How to Add a Clickable Link to Your Facebook Story

Facebook Stories are a powerful way to engage with your audience in a more immediate and visual format. Unlike feed posts, you can't just paste a URL into the text. Instead, you use Facebook's dedicated "Link Sticker," which is a simple and effective call to action.

Using the Link Sticker in Stories:

1. Create Your Story: Open the Facebook app and tap the "+" icon to create a Story. You can upload a photo, a video, or use one of the creative text or Boomerang options.
2. Open the Sticker Tray: Once your creative is ready, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen (it looks like a little peeling square face).
3. Select the 'Link' Sticker: In the sticker tray, find and tap the sticker labeled "Link."
4. Add Your URL: A pop-up will appear prompting you to "Add link." Paste the URL you want to share into this field and tap "Done."
5. Customize the Sticker Text: After adding the link, you can tap on the sticker to customize the text. Instead of showing the full URL, you can change it to a clear call to action like "LEARN MORE," "SHOP NOW," "SIGN UP," or "READ HERE." This makes it much clearer what you want the viewer to do.
6. Position and Resize: Drag the sticker to place it anywhere on your Story. You can pinch to make it bigger or smaller. Make sure it's in a highly visible spot that doesn't cover up important parts of your image or video.
7. Share Your Story: Add any other stickers, text, or a GIF to point to the sticker (like an arrow!), and then share it with your audience.

Beyond Posts and Stories: Other Places to Add Clickable Links

To maximize your traffic from Facebook, don't just rely on individual posts. Your profile and Page have several permanent spots where you can put essential links that are always visible to visitors.

Your Facebook Page or Profile's "About" Section

This is one of the first places a potential customer or new follower will look. Your main business website, blog, or portfolio link should live here.

• For a Business Page: Go to your Page, click "Edit Page" or "Settings," and find the "Page Info" section. You can add a website, email address, and other contact info here.
• For a Personal Profile: Go to your profile, click "Edit Profile," and scroll down to the "Contact and basic info" section. You can add multiple website and social links here.

The Facebook Page Call-to-Action (CTA) Button

The prominent button located right below your cover photo on a Business Page is prime real estate. You can customize this button to link directly to a specific action page on your website.

Go to your Page, click the blue "+ Add Action Button" button (or "Edit" if you already have one), and choose an option like "Shop Now," "Book Now," "Learn More," or "Contact Us." Then, simply paste the destination URL. A good CTA channels your Page traffic toward your most important business goal, whether it's sales, lead generation, or content consumption.

Facebook Events

If you're hosting an event, either online or in person, the event page is perfect for links. You can include links in the event description to a ticketing site (like Eventbrite), a landing page with more information, or to a webinar registration form.

Facebook Group Descriptions and Posts

Adding links within Facebook Group posts works the same way as a standard feed post. For Group admins, the "About" or "Description" section of the Group is also an excellent place to add permanent links to websites, community guidelines, or other important resources.

Best Practices for Getting More Clicks

Just because your link is clickable doesn't mean people will click. Here's how to encourage that action.

1. Optimize Your Website for Link Previews

The best way to control how your link preview appears on Facebook is by using Open Graph (OG) tags in your website's HTML <,head>, section. It's easier than it sounds, and most website platforms like WordPress (with plugins like Yoast SEO) or Squarespace have built-in tools for setting this up.

The most important OG tags are:

• og:title: Sets the title of your link preview.
• og:description: Sets the short description.
• og:image: This is the most critical one. It tells Facebook exactly which image to use. For best results, use a high-resolution image with a 1.91:1 aspect ratio (the ideal size is 1200 x 630 pixels).

2. Write a Compelling Teaser or Caption

A link by itself is boring. Your caption provides the necessary context and incentive. Use it to:

• Create Curiosity: Ask a question that your linked article answers. (e.g., "Ever wonder why you're a night owl? Science has an answer...")
• State a Clear Benefit: Tell people what they'll gain by clicking. (e.g., "Save 20% on all new arrivals this week by shopping through this link!")
• Provoke Emotion: Use storytelling or powerful statements to connect with your audience.

3. Use an Obvious Call-to-Action (CTA)

Don't be shy - tell people exactly what you want them to do. A direct instruction removes any ambiguity. Phrases like "Click the link to read more," "Get your tickets here," or "Download the free guide below" can significantly increase your click-through rate.

4. Keep Track of Your Clicks with URL Shorteners

Services like Bitly allow you to shorten long URLs and, on paid plans, create branded short links (e.g., yourbrand.co/launch). The main benefit of using a shortener is the ability to track how many clicks a specific link receives. This data is invaluable for understanding which posts and topics resonate most with your audience.

The best way to control how your link preview appears on Facebook is by using Open Graph (OG) tags in your website's HTML <,head>, section. It's easier than it sounds, and most website platforms like WordPress (with plugins like Yoast SEO) or Squarespace have built-in tools for setting this up.

Final Thoughts

Making a clickable link on Facebook is a simple process, but turning that link into a meaningful marketing tool requires a bit of strategy. By focusing on creating attractive link previews, placing your URLs in high-visibility locations like Stories and your Page's action button, and pairing them with engaging captions, you can effectively drive traffic and achieve your goals.

As you build a content strategy around sharing these links, managing a content calendar can make a huge difference. At Postbase, we built our platform to make planning and scheduling this kind of content effortless. Our visual calendar gives you a bird's-eye view of your entire strategy across all your platforms, so you can see exactly which links you're sharing and when. Instead of wrestling with a clunky tool, we make it simple to create your posts once, customize them for different channels, and trust that they'll publish reliably - every single time.