How to Paste a Link on an Instagram Story

Sharing a direct link on your Instagram Story is one of the most valuable ways to connect your audience with your content, and thankfully, it's open to everyone. Whether you want to drive traffic to your latest blog post, a new product, or your YouTube channel, the link sticker is your gateway. This guide will walk you through exactly how to paste a link on an Instagram Story, along with best practices to get more clicks and drive real results.

The Big Switch: From “Swipe Up” to the Link Sticker

For years, the gold standard for sharing links on Instagram Stories was the coveted “Swipe Up” feature. But there was a catch - it was only available to verified accounts or those with more than 10,000 followers. This created a barrier for countless creators, small businesses, and brands who wanted to drive off-platform traffic from their authentic Story content.

Recognizing this limitation, Instagram retired the Swipe Up feature in 2021 and introduced a far more accessible and versatile tool: the link sticker. This change was a game-changer because it democratized the ability to add links to Stories, making it possible for anyone with an Instagram account to use it, regardless of their follower count. It also gives creators more control over how the call-to-action looks within their story frame.

Who Can Add a Link to an Instagram Story Now?

Let's clear this up right away: EVERYONE. Seriously. If you have an Instagram account, you have access to the link sticker. The days of needing 10,000 followers or a blue checkmark to share a link in your Story are long gone.

This is fantastic news for anyone trying to grow their brand organically. Whether you're a startup teasing a new product, a blogger sharing your latest article, an artist dropping a new track, or a nonprofit raising awareness, you can now direct your audience to any webpage you want, right from your daily Story content.

How to Paste a Link on Your Instagram Story: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to start driving traffic? Here's the straightforward process for adding a clickable link sticker to your next Instagram Story.

1. Create Your Story Content: Open the Instagram app and swipe right or tap the plus (+) icon at the top of your screen and select "Story." Either capture a photo or video directly, or upload one from your camera roll.
2. Open the Sticker Tray: Once your image or video is ready in the Story editor, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen (it looks like a smiley face inside a square).
3. Find the "Link" Sticker: In the sticker tray, you'll see various options like “Location,” “Mention,” “Hashtag,” and more. Look for the sticker labeled “Link” and tap on it. If you don't see it immediately, you can use the search bar at the top.
4. Add Your URL and Customize the Text: A new screen will pop up asking for the URL. This is where you will paste the link you want to share. Below the URL field, you'll see "Sticker text." This is where you can write a clear call-to-action. Instead of leaving the raw URL, customize this text to something compelling like “Read the Blog Post,” “Shop the New Collection,” or “Watch Now!”
5. Place and Resize the Sticker: After adding your link and custom text, tap "Done." The sticker will now appear on your Story canvas. You can move it around, pinch to make it bigger or smaller, and rotate it just like any other sticker. You can also tap the sticker to cycle through different color variations to match your brand's aesthetic.
6. Publish Your Story: Add any finishing touches like text, GIFs, or music, then tap “Your Story” at the bottom to share it with your followers. That’s it! Your link is now live.

Best Practices for Getting More Clicks on Your Links

Just adding a link isn’t enough. To truly turn your Story views into website clicks, you need to be strategic. Here are some pro tips for making your link stickers as effective as possible to boost Instagram engagement.

Make it Obvious and Hard to Miss

Don't bury your link sticker under other elements or place it in a hard-to-see spot. The goal is to make it incredibly clear where people should tap. Place it in a central, uncluttered location on your screen. You can use visual cues to draw attention to it:

• Add a GIF that says “tap here” or an animated arrow pointing to the link sticker.
• Use Instagram’s drawing tools to circle the sticker or draw arrows toward it.
• Add a text overlay that says "Tap the link above!"

The less someone has to search for the link, the more likely they are to click it.

Use Strong, Clear Calls-to-Action (CTAs)

Your sticker text should tell people exactly what will happen when they tap. Vague text is far less effective. Instead of the default URL, customize it to create urgency or excitement.

Compare these examples:

• Weak: www.mybrand.com/new-product
• Good: Shop the Look
• Great: Grab Yours Before They're Gone!

Combine your sticker text CTA with a verbal one if you're talking in your story. Literally say, "Tap the link right here to sign up!" This direct instruction works surprisingly well.

Provide Context Before Showing the Link

Think of your Story as a mini-narrative that builds up to the call-to-action. Don't just throw up a static image with a link. Warm up your audience first.

• For a product: Post a few Story frames showing the product in action, talking about its benefits, or sharing customer testimonials. Then, on the final frame, add the link sticker with a “Shop Now” CTA.
• For a blog post: Tease the topic with a Poll or Question sticker ("Are you making this common mistake?"). Share one key tip from the post. Then, use the link sticker with a CTA like "Read All 5 Tips Here" to create a reason for them to click.

Don't overcrowd the Story

While GIFs and polls are great engagement tools, you don't want to create so much visual noise that your link gets lost. On the specific Story frame where you want people to click, make the link sticker the star of the show. Keep the background clean and avoid covering it with too many other distracting stickers or elements. Simplicity often leads to higher conversion rates.

Track What Works

How do you know if your link stickers are actually effective? Track your clicks. While Instagram Insights gives you some data on link taps, you can get more detailed information by using URL shorteners like Bitly. These services allow you to create custom-branded short links and track not only how many people clicked but also some demographic data about them. Tracking helps you understand what kind of content and CTAs resonate most with your audience, so you can refine your strategy over time.

Creative Ideas for Using Instagram Link Stickers

Now that you know how to add a link, let’s get creative. Here’s how successful brands and creators use link stickers to achieve their goals:

• Launch a Product: Drive followers directly to a newly launched product page, not just your homepage. It removes friction from the buying process.
• Promote Your Blog or Podcast: After a new post or episode goes live, create a Story sharing a key takeaway and link directly to the full content.
• Grow Your Email List: Link directly to your newsletter signup page, often promising a free resource like a PDF guide or checklist in return.
• Cross-Promote Other Social Channels: Share a short clip of your latest YouTube video or TikTok and link to the full version on that platform.
• Sell Event Tickets: Announcing a webinar, workshop, or live event? Use the link sticker to direct people straight to the registration or ticket page.
• Get User-Generated Content (UGC): Link to a webpage where customers can upload their photos with your products for a chance to be featured.
• Share Affiliate Links: If you're a part of an affiliate program, you can use the link sticker to share product recommendations (just be sure to disclose the affiliate relationship).

Final Thoughts

The Instagram link sticker is a simple but incredibly powerful tool for any brand or creator looking to direct their community off the platform. By coupling a clear call-to-action with compelling Story content, you can effectively move your followers down the funnel, turning them from passive viewers into engaged website visitors, customers, and subscribers.

Consistency is everything on social, and planning your content is a big part of that. At Postbase, we built our tool around a beautiful visual calendar that helps you see your entire content strategy at a glance. Even for rich content formats like Stories that can’t be auto-published, having them planned in our calendar helps you organize your workflow and remember what visual assets and links you need, making your entire process from idea to post seamless.