How to Share a Link on an Instagram Story

Adding a clickable link to your Instagram Story is one of the most powerful ways to drive traffic directly from the app, and thankfully, it’s easier than ever. This guide will walk you through exactly how to share a link on your Instagram Story, step by step. We’ll also cover tips and creative strategies to get more people tapping that link and heading straight to your website, blog, or products.

The Basics: How to Add a Link Sticker to Your Instagram Story

Gone are the days of needing 10,000 followers to unlock the "Swipe Up" feature. Instagram has replaced it with the much more accessible and versatile Link Sticker, which is available to everyone. Adding one to your Story takes less than a minute. Here’s how you do it.

Step 1: Open the Instagram Story Editor

Tap the plus icon (+) at the top of your screen or on your profile picture to create a new Story. You can either take a new photo or video, or upload a piece of content you’ve already created from your camera roll.

Step 2: Access the Sticker Tray

Once your photo or video is loaded into the Story editor, tap the sticker icon (the smiley face inside a square) at the top of the screen. This will open up the sticker tray where you find Polls, Quizzes, GIFs, and more.

Step 3: Select the "Link" Sticker

In the sticker tray, find and tap the “Link” sticker. It’s usually pretty easy to spot with its link chain icon.

Step 4: Add Your URL and Customize the Sticker Text

A new screen will appear asking you to paste your URL into the field. After you add your link, you'll see a second field appear below it: "Sticker text." This is where the magic happens. Instead of displaying a boring or messy URL, you can write a compelling Call-to-Action (CTA). When you're done, tap "Done."

• Good CTA Examples: "Read a Blog Post," "Shop the Collection," "Sign Up Now," "Listen Here," "Get Your Ticket."
• What to Avoid: Leaving the raw URL as the sticker text (e.g., "www.mywebsite.com/blog/long-url-name").

Step 5: Place Your Sticker and Publish

Your new, customized link sticker will appear on your Story draft. You can drag it around to position it, and you can pinch to resize it, making it smaller or larger. You can also tap the sticker to cycle through different color variations to better match your brand or the Story's visuals. Once you’re happy with the placement, add any other elements like GIFs, text, or music, and then publish your Story.

Best Practices: How to Get More People to Actually Click Your Story Links

Just adding a link isn't enough, you need to convince people to tap it. A Story is a busy place, and a link sticker can easily get lost in the noise. Follow these strategies to make your links impossible to ignore and give your audience a reason to click through.

1. Make the Link Visually Obvious

Don't let your link sticker hide in a corner. Your goal is to draw the viewer's eye directly to it.

• Use Arrows and GIFs: Head back to the sticker tray and search for "tap here," "click," or "arrow" GIFs. Place them next to your link sticker to physically point people where you want them to go.
• Draw Attention with Text Overlays: Use the text tool to write a clear call-to-action on the Story itself, separate from the sticker. For example, add text that says “👇 Tap the link below to read the post!” and position your link sticker right underneath it.
• Strategic Placement: Place your sticker in a high-contrast, uncluttered part of your image or video. Avoid placing it too close to the very top or bottom of the screen, where the Instagram UI can sometimes get in the way.

2. Tease the Value Behind the Link

Nobody clicks a link without a reason. Your Story's content needs to build enough curiosity or provide enough context to make tapping that link feel like a natural next step.

• For a blog post: Don't just show a static image of your blog title. Instead, create a short video of you talking about the most interesting point in the article. Or, use a series of Story slides to highlight three key takeaways, with the final slide linking to the full post for more detail.
• For a new product: Show the product in action. Share a glowing customer review or a quick "unboxing" video. Create a poll asking, "Would you use this?" and follow it up with a Story slide where they can tap to shop.

3. Verbally Tell People What to Do

If you're creating a video Story, don't just rely on visuals. Literally tell your audience what you want them to do. A simple and direct verbal CTA is incredibly effective.

Say something like: "We just dropped a new blog post all about this topic. If you want to learn more, I put a link right here. Just tap it to read the full article." It feels personal, it's crystal clear, and it removes any guesswork for the viewer.

4. Keep Accessibility in Mind

Remember that some of your followers may be viewing Stories without sound or might have visual impairments. This is another reason why combining multiple types of CTAs works so well.

• Always Use Captions: Use Instagram's auto-caption sticker for any talking-head videos.
• Use Clear, Contrasting Colors: Make sure your text overlays and the link sticker color variation stand out from the background image or video.
• Descriptive Sticker Text: Use button-like text on your sticker ("Read More," "Shop Sale") so it’s obvious what the link does, even without extra context.

Creative Ideas for Using Instagram Story Links

Now that you know the mechanics, let’s talk strategy. Here are a few creative ways to integrate links into your Stories that feel natural and engaging, not salesy.

Drive People to Your Latest Content

This is the most common use case. When you publish a new blog post, YouTube video, or podcast episode, create a series of engaging Stories to promote it. You can pull an interesting quote from the article, share a short audio clip from your podcast, or show a quick teaser from your video to entice people to click through to see the full piece of content.

Promote Products and Sales

Story links are a direct line to your online shop. Announce a flash sale, showcase a new arrival, or restock a popular item. Resharing user-generated content (UGC) is especially effective here. When a customer tags you in a post featuring your product, reshare their Story to yours and add a link sticker that goes directly to that product page. It provides social proof and makes it remarkably easy for others to shop the look.

Grow Your Email List

Want more subscribers? Use your Stories to promote a freebie, like a downloadable guide, checklist, or template. Frame it as exclusive content. Say something like, "Want my top 5 secrets for [achieving a goal]? I put them all in a free guide. Tap the link to download it now!" The link should lead directly to the sign-up form on a landing page.

Link to an Interactive Quiz or Survey

People love sharing their opinions and testing their knowledge. Use a service like Typeform or Google Forms to create a fun quiz or feedback survey related to your niche. For example, a home decor brand could create a "What's Your Decorating Style?" quiz and link to it from their Story. It’s an engaging way to gather valuable audience data and drive traffic at the same time.

Final Thoughts

The Instagram Link Sticker democratized the ability to drive traffic, making it an essential tool for creators, brands, and marketers of all sizes. By following the simple steps to add one and pairing it with creative, value-driven promotion, you can turn your casual Story viewers into engaged visitors on your website, blog, or online store.

Consistently creating content for Instagram Stories, Reels, and your feed is one of the best ways to keep that traffic flowing. At Postbase, we built our tool specifically for how people create content today. You can visually plan and schedule everything - from short-form videos to carousels - in one clean calendar, giving you a bird's-eye view of your entire strategy. It keeps you organized and focused on what matters: creating great content that gets your audience tapping.