How to Post a Live Link on Instagram

Driving traffic from Instagram used to feel like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing, but it doesn't have to be that complicated. If you're looking to send followers to your blog, shop, or latest video, you absolutely need to use clickable links. This guide breaks down every single way to post a live, clickable link on Instagram, from your bio to your Stories and beyond.

Why Instagram Makes Links So Tricky

Unlike other platforms where links are a core part of the experience, Instagram intentionally limits where you can place clickable URLs. Their goal is simple: to keep users scrolling within their app for as long as possible. The longer you stay on Instagram, the more ads they can show you. Every time a user clicks a link that takes them to an external website, Instagram loses them - at least for a little while.

But for creators, marketers, and business owners, those "off-platform" destinations are where the real connection happens. It's where you make a sale, capture an email address, or get a reader to your latest blog post. Understanding how to work within Instagram's rules to get your audience where you want them to go is fundamental to growing your brand.

Your #1 Asset: The "Link in Bio"

The single most important place to put a link on your Instagram profile is in your bio. This is your one permanent, always-on, clickable spot that sits right at the top of your profile grid. It's the first thing new visitors see and the place your devoted followers know to check for what's new. Think of it as your digital home address on the platform.

How to Add a Link to Your Instagram Bio

Adding or updating your link is straightforward. Here’s how you do it step-by-step:

1. Navigate to your Instagram profile by tapping your profile picture in the bottom-right corner.
2. Tap the “Edit Profile” button located just below your bio.
3. You’ll see a field labeled “Website.” This is where your clickable link goes. Paste your desired URL into this field.
4. Tap “Done” (on iPhone) or the checkmark (on Android) in the top-right corner to save your changes.
5. Go back to your profile and tap the link you just added to confirm it works correctly and directs to the right page.

The challenge, of course, is that Instagram only gives you one website field. What if you want to promote your latest blog post, a new product, and your YouTube channel? That’s where link-in-bio tools come into play.

Beyond One Link: Using a "Link in Bio" Tool

Getting around the one-link limitation is easier than you think. Services often called "link in bio" tools let you turn that single URL into a gateway for all your important content. These tools create a simple, mobile-friendly landing page that houses a collection of buttons and links.

Popular options include Linktree, Koji, Beacons, and many others. You create an account, design your landing page, add all your links, and then you simply paste your unique link-in-bio tool URL into your Instagram bio's "Website" field.

Now, that one link can direct your followers to:

• Your online store or a specific product page.
• Your most recent blog article or podcast episode.
• A registration page for a webinar or event.
• Your email newsletter sign-up form.
• Your other social media profiles like TikTok, YouTube, or X.
• An affiliate link for a product you’re promoting.
• A portfolio of your work or a media kit.

Once you have this set up, your posts get a whole lot more powerful. Instead of trying to update that one link every day, you just adjust the links on your landing page. Then, in every caption, you can use a strong call-to-action (CTA) like, “Tap the link in my bio to read the full article!” or “Shop this collection at the link in our bio.” You're effectively training your audience to visit that central hub for anything you mention.

Unlocking Your Stories: The Link Sticker

For years, the ability to add a tappable link to an Instagram Story was a privilege reserved for accounts with over 10,000 followers. Thankfully, Instagram has since made the "Link Sticker" available to everyone, and it has become one of the most effective ways to drive immediate traffic.

Story links are perfect for time-sensitive promotions, directing viewers to a new piece of content right when it drops, or sharing an in-the-moment recommendation. Since Stories last only 24 hours (unless added to a Highlight), they work best for short-term goals.

How to Use the Instagram Link Sticker

Adding a link to your Story is as easy as adding any other sticker, like a poll or a GIF.

1. Open the Instagram app and swipe right or tap the “+” icon and select “Story.”
2. Create your Story by either taking a photo, recording a video, or uploading one from your camera roll.
3. Once your visual is ready, tap the Sticker icon (the square smiley face) at the top of the screen.
4. Find and select the sticker labeled “Link.”
5. A new screen will appear asking you to add the URL. Paste your desired link here.
6. You can also customize the sticker text to create a clear CTA. Instead of just showing the URL, you could make it say “Read the Blog Post,” “Shop the Sale,” or “Watch Here.”
7. Tap “Done.” Now you can drag, resize, and position the sticker anywhere on your Story.

Pro-Tip: Don't just place the link sticker on your Story and hope people see it. Make it obvious! Use design elements like arrows, GIFs that yell "Tap Here!," or a quick piece-to-camera where you verbally tell people to tap the link to learn more. The more attention you draw to the sticker, the more clicks you'll get.

Other Creative Ways to Share Links

While the bio and Stories are your primary tools, a few other features inside Instagram support external links for specific use cases.

For E-Commerce: Instagram Shopping Tags

If you sell physical products, setting up an Instagram Shop is incredibly powerful. Once approved, you can tag products directly in your feed posts, Reels, and Stories. When a user taps the product tag, a small pop-up shows them the item name and price. If they tap again, they’re taken to a detailed product page inside the Instagram app, which includes a prominent “View on Website” button. This button is a direct, clickable link to your product page, creating a smooth path from discovery to purchase.

For Conversations: Direct Messages (DMs)

This method is simple but often overlooked: any link you send in a Direct Message is clickable. While you can't blast a link to all your followers this way, it’s ideal for personal interactions. You can use it when answering customer questions, sharing a specific resource with a follower who asked for it, or in your automated quick replies to provide info like a link to your FAQ page.

For Services: Profile Action Buttons

If you have an Instagram Business account, you can add “action buttons” to your profile that sit alongside the “Edit Profile” and “Share Profile” buttons. These aren't for just any link, but rather integrate with specific third-party services. Examples include:

• Order Food: Links to services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub.
• Book Now: Connects to scheduling platforms like Calendly, Acuity, or Vagaro.
• Reserve: Works with reservation partners like OpenTable or Resy.

The One Place a Link Will Never Work: Post Captions

This is the most common mistake people make on Instagram. Pasting a URL directly into the caption of a photo or Reel does nothing. The text will appear, but it won’t be clickable. Doing this can make your account look unprofessional and shows you don’t quite understand how the platform works.

Always avoid putting links in your captions. Instead, use that space to write compelling copy that makes people *want* to go find your link. Always guide them to the right place with a CTA like "Find the full tutorial at the link in our bio!"

Final Thoughts

Driving traffic off of Instagram successfully boils down to knowing the right tools for the job. Your permanent "link in bio" - ideally expanded with a landing page tool - serves as your brand's central hub, while the powerful link sticker in Stories gives you a dynamic way to direct attention to timely content and offers.

Getting your links in the right place is one part of the strategy, the other is consistently publishing great content that makes people actually want to click. That's where we've focused all of our energy with Postbase. We built it to make planning and scheduling your content - especially the video and Stories that drive link clicks - as easy as possible, so you have more time to focus on building your brand instead of just managing it.