How to Set Up a Comment for a Link on Instagram

Driving traffic from Instagram feels like a constant puzzle, especially when you're limited to that single link in bio. Setting up a separate comments post to place a link is a popular strategy to direct your followers exactly where you want them to go, directly from a specific post. This guide will walk you through why this technique works, exactly how to set it up both manually and automatically, and the best practices for getting more clicks.

Why Put Your Link in the First Comment?

At first glance, dropping a link in the comments instead of your bio might seem counterintuitive. However, top brands and creators rely on this method for several strategic reasons. It's less about a secret algorithm hack and more about creating a better experience for your audience.

It Creates Cleaner, More Engaging Captions

Your Instagram caption is your storytelling space. It’s where you connect with your audience, share value, and build community. When you cram a salesy-sounding "Click the link in my bio!" into every post, it can interrupt the flow and feel repetitive. The primary goal of a caption should be to spark conversation and connection. By moving the direct call-to-action (CTA) for a link out of the main description, you free up that space for what it does best: engagement.

Keeping your captions focused on the content builds trust and can encourage more likes and comments. When followers aren't being overtly "sold to," they're more likely to engage with the actual post, which signals to Instagram that your content is valuable.

It Directs Traffic to Specific URLs

The "link in bio" is a static landing spot. It’s effective for general traffic, but what if you want to send people to a new blog post, a specific product page, or a limited-time offer featured in your latest post? Constantly changing the bio link for every new post is tedious and impractical. Worse, an old post with a caption directing users to the bio will point to a now-irrelevant link.

Putting the link in the first comment directly connects a specific URL to the relevant content in your post. This creates an evergreen path for your audience. Someone who discovers your post a week, month, or even year later can still find the correct link right there in the comments, making your content work for you long-term.

It Taps into Existing Follower Behavior

Where does engagement happen on Instagram? In the comments section. Your most engaged followers are already there reading what others are saying and leaving their own thoughts. By placing the link just below your post, you’re putting it right in the line of sight for an audience that’s already leaned in and interested. It’s a very natural placement that asks a smaller step from your user, they don’t have to leave the post, navigate to your profile, find the link, and then proceed. Instead, they just scroll down a bit more to the pinned comment.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Post a Link in Your First Comment

You have two main ways to approach this: manually, which requires quick timing, or automatically, which offers peace of mind. Both get the job done, so you can choose the one that best fits your workflow.

Method 1: The Manual Approach (Fast and Simple)

Doing it by hand is straightforward but requires you to act quickly the moment your post goes live. Consistency is key here - you don't want your followers searching for a link that isn't there yet.

1. Prepare Your Assets: Before you even open Instagram, have everything ready. This includes the image or video for your post, your final caption (including the text that tells followers to look in the comments), and the URL you want to share. We recommend copying the URL to your clipboard so it's ready to paste.
2. Publish Your Instagram Post: Create and publish your post as you normally would. Your caption should clearly point users toward the comments. For example: "We just dropped the full tutorial on our blog! The link is in the first comment below." 👇
3. Immediately Add Your Comment: As soon as your post is live, tap the comment icon. Paste your link in the comment field. You can add extra text here as well, such as, "Here’s the link to read the full guide: [your URL here]". Post the comment.
4. Pin Your Comment: This is the most important step! Your link comment can easily get lost if other people start commenting. By pinning it, you ensure it stays locked to the very top of the comment thread. To do this, swipe left on your comment (on iOS) or tap and hold it (on Android) and select the thumbtack icon. Instagram allows you to pin up to three comments, but your link should always be the first one people see.

Method 2: The Automated Approach (Using a Scheduling Tool)

If you manage multiple accounts or have a packed content calendar, manually posting and commenting isn’t always practical. A modern social media scheduling tool can automate this entire process for you, ensuring your post and the first comment go live together, seamlessly.

1. Find a Tool with a "First Comment" Feature: Not all scheduling platforms support this. Look for a tool that offers a dedicated field for scheduling the first comment along with the post itself. A more modern scheduler will often make this feature available alongside your main media asset caption boxes to ensure it's just as important as the rest of the content in the post.
2. Compose Your Content within the Tool: Upload your photo or video to your scheduling dashboard. Write your caption in the caption box, making sure to include your verbal CTA telling people to look in the comments for the link.
3. Add Your Link to the First Comment Box: Locate the field labeled “First Comment,” “Add First Comment,” or something similar. Paste your complete URL here, along with any introductory text.
4. Schedule Your Post: Choose the date and time you want your post to go live. Now you can move on to your next task. The scheduling tool will automatically publish your post and, seconds later, drop the first comment containing your link. No need to pin it, either, as it will be the very first comment posted.

Best Practices for Link-in-Comment Success

Just dropping a link isn't enough. To make this strategy truly effective, you need to guide your audience and create a smooth user experience. Here are some pro tips to maximize your clicks.

1. Always Use a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA) in Your Caption

Never assume your followers know to look for a link. You have to tell them exactly where to go and what they'll find. Be direct and enthusiastic.

Good CTA examples:

• Ready to try it yourself? We dropped the full recipe link in the comments! 👇
• Want to see the complete collection? Shop everything you see here via the link in our first comment!
• We broke down all the details in our latest guide. Find it linked in the comment section below.

Notice the use of emojis here, such as the down-pointing fingers (👇) or right-pointing fingers (👉). Visual cues like that draw the eye and help physically "point" people in the right direction.

2. Pin Your Comment (If Posting Manually)

We've already mentioned this, but it’s worth repeating because it's that important. If you don't pin your comment, you risk it being pushed down by other comments. Your biggest fans who comment right away could accidentally hide your link from view for everyone else. Pinning it makes your link accessible and an intentional focal point for all visitors to your page.

3. Engage with Replies Under Your Link

When you put a link in the comments, you turn that space into a customer service and community-building hub. People will inevitably ask questions or share thoughts right under your link. Make sure you monitor these replies and engage with them promptly. Answering questions not only helps that individual but also provides valuable social proof for others who see the thread. This responsive engagement boosts the post's visibility in the algorithm and builds a stronger connection with your audience.

4. Keep Your URL Clean and Recognizable

A long, messy URL string full of tracking parameters can look spammy or untrustworthy. Use a URL shortener like Bitly to create a clean, short link. If you have a branded short domain, even better! A concise link is less intimidating to click and looks far more professional in your comments section.

5. Mix Up Your Strategy

The link-in-comment strategy is powerful, but it doesn’t need to be used on every single post. Variety is key to keeping your audience engaged. Continue to use a general "link in bio" for broader announcements and use the first-comment method for specific, post-related links. This shows you're being thoughtful about how you share information rather than just defaulting to the same CTA every time.

Bonus: Links for Reels and Stories

This strategy isn't just for 'in-feed' photo posts. It's perfectly suited for Reels as well, but when it comes to Stories there's a tried-and-true more effective tactic.

Link Building For Reels

Reels are all about driving engagement, and the comments section is just as active as 'in-feed' posts - if not more so. The same "link in first comment" process works flawlessly here. Publish your Reel with a verbal or text-based CTA pointing to the comments, then quickly drop and pin your link. Since Reels have such a long shelf life, this ensures that anyone discovering your video weeks later can still find the relevant URL.

Link Building In Stories

For Instagram Stories, your best bet is to use the native Link Sticker. It's a tappable, prominent sticker that you can place anywhere on your Story, sending viewers directly to a URL with a single tap. Before the link sticker was available, the "swipe up" feature was limited to accounts with over 10,000 followers. The sticker now makes it possible for every account, no matter its size, to drive engagement to external websites.

Final Thoughts

Using the first comment for your link is a savvy, user-friendly way to drive targeted traffic directly from your Instagram posts. By creating a clearer caption focused on connection and moving the link closer to where conversations happen, you can effectively guide your followers to your shop, blog, or website without the friction of the "link in bio" shuffle.

While the manual method is effective with perfect timing, we found that automating our entire content workflow made us far more consistent. We designed a scheduling platform built for how social media actually works today, including the ability to schedule your first comment along with a post. This simple feature saves a ton of time and removes the anxiety of having to rush to comment the moment a post goes live. With Postbase, you can plan your content visually, schedule posts with first comments reliably, and manage all your conversations in one dedicated space.