How to Share an Amazon Link on Instagram

Trying to share an Amazon link on Instagram can feel like solving a puzzle, but once you know the rules, it's straightforward. This guide breaks down every effective method for getting your Amazon links in front of your followers, from your bio to your Stories. We’ll cover the step-by-step process for each option and share practical tips to get more clicks.

First, Why Can't You Just Put a Link in an Instagram Post?

Let's get the most common point of confusion out of the way first. If you've ever dropped a link into a regular Instagram feed post caption, you've probably noticed that it shows up as plain text. It isn't clickable. This is intentional. Instagram's primary goal is to keep users scrolling within their app for as long as possible. Allowing clickable outbound links in every single post caption would constantly send users away from the platform, which is the opposite of what they want.

But don't worry - because of this limitation, Instagram has provided several other official (and highly effective) ways to share your links. The key is knowing where to put them and how to tell your audience where to find them. The following methods are the standard, accepted ways to drive traffic from Instagram to Amazon successfully.

Method 1: The 'Link in Bio' Strategy

Your Instagram bio is one of the only places on your profile where you can feature a permanent, clickable link. This makes it prime real estate and the most classic method for directing traffic. Here’s how to do it right.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Get Your Amazon Link: Find the product on Amazon you want to promote. If you're part of the Amazon Associates program, make sure you're logged in and use the SiteStripe bar at the top of the page to generate your unique, trackable affiliate link. Amazon even offers a built-in shortener that creates a clean "amzn.to" link.
2. Copy the Link: Copy the full or shortened URL to your clipboard.
3. Navigate to Your Instagram Profile: Open the Instagram app and go to your profile page.
4. Tap 'Edit Profile': This button is located directly under your bio.
5. Paste the Link into the 'Website' Field: You'll see a specific field designated for a website. Do not put the link in your bio description text, it won't be clickable there. Only the official website field works.
6. Save Your Changes: Tap "Done" or the checkmark icon to save. Your link is now live on your profile!

How to Make the 'Link in Bio' Method Work for You

Simply having a link in your bio isn't enough. You have to actively direct your audience to it. The entire strategy revolves around using your content to tell people to go to your bio.

• Create a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA): In the caption of your Instagram posts, Reels, or Stories, you need to tell people what to do. Use clear and direct language like:
  • "Shop this find via the link in our bio!"
  • "Find this exact product on our Amazon list. Link in bio."
  • "Click the link in my bio for all the details!"
• Update Your Link Often: If you're promoting a specific product of the day or a limited-time deal, make a habit of updating your bio link to match your most recent content. This prevents confusion and directs people straight to what they're looking for.
• Use a "Link in Bio" Tool to Share Multiple Links: The biggest limitation of the bio is that you only get one link. That's where "link in bio" services like Linktree, Beacons, or Koji come in handy. These tools create a simple, mobile-friendly landing page where you can host a list of multiple links. Instead of constantly changing your bio link, you set your bio link to your personal landing page once. Then, you can add and remove links on that page as needed. This approach allows you to have permanent links to things like your "Amazon Storefront" or "Favorite Gadgets" alongside temporary product links, giving your followers more to see.

Method 2: Sharing Links in Instagram Stories

For a long time, the ability to add links to Instagram Stories was reserved for accounts with over 10,000 followers. That's all changed. Now, everyone has access to the "Link Sticker," making Stories one of the most powerful and direct ways to share Amazon links.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Create a New Story: Open the Story creator by swiping right from your feed or tapping the plus icon in the top right. Capture a photo, record a video, or upload content from your camera roll. Authenticity is powerful here - show yourself using the product or talk about why you recommend it.
2. Open the Sticker Tray: After creating your content, tap the sticker icon (the square smiley face) at the top of the screen.
3. Select the 'Link' Sticker: Find the sticker labeled "LINK" in the tray.
4. Paste Your Amazon Link: A window will appear prompting you to add your URL. Paste the full Amazon affiliate link here.
5. Customize the Sticker Text: You can change what the sticker says. Instead of showing the raw URL, you can make the text a compelling call-to-action like "Shop This Now," "Find it on Amazon," or "Get Yours Here."
6. Place and Resize the Sticker: Drag the sticker to a prominent position on your Story. Make sure it doesn't cover anything important. You can also pinch to resize it or tap it to cycle through different color options.
7. Share Your Story: Post it for your followers to see. Now, when someone views your Story, they can simply tap the sticker to be taken directly to the Amazon product page.

Best Practices for Story Links

• Draw Attention to the Link: Don't just place the link and hope people see it. Use Instagram's built-in features to make it stand out. Add text like "Tap here!" and use GIFs of pointing arrows to guide your followers' eyes directly to the sticker.
• Save It to a Highlight: A standard Story disappears after 24 hours. If it's a product you recommend often, save that Story to a dedicated "Highlight" on your profile. You can name the highlight something like "Amazon Faves," "Shop Links," or "My Gear" so people can always find your recommendations.
• Provide Context: A link on its own isn't very convincing. Use the Story to demonstrate the value of the product. Unbox it, show it in action, or share a quick testimonial about why you love it. People are more likely to click if they understand the benefit first.

Method 3: Engaging with Followers in Direct Messages (DMs)

While less scalable, sharing links through DMs is an incredibly personal and effective method that builds a strong connection with your audience. Link sharing in DMs is unlimited, and the links are always clickable. The strategy here hinges on prompting your audience to start a conversation.

How to Use DMs Strategically:

• The "DM for Link" CTA: In a regular feed post or Reel, include a call-to-action that asks interested followers to message you. For example: "If you want a direct link to this air fryer, comment 'LINK' below or send me a DM!" This approach boosts your post's engagement (a great side effect) and gives you a list of highly interested people to send the link to.
• Set Up Quick Replies: If you have a Business or Creator account, you can use the "Saved Replies" (or "Quick Replies") feature. Instead of having to find and copy-paste your link every time, you can create a shortcut. For instance, you could set up a reply where typing the keyword "blender" automatically populates a message with your pre-written text and the Amazon link to your favorite blender, saving you an enormous amount of time.

Don't Forget: Disclosure Is Your Friend

This part is extremely important. If you are using Amazon Associates affiliate links, you are earning a commission from any qualifying purchases made through those links. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines and Amazon's own policies, you must disclose this relationship clearly and conspicuously.

An unclear disclosure can break your audience's trust and get you in trouble. Make it simple and obvious.

• In captions and your bio: Use hashtags like #ad, #sponsored, or #AmazonAssociate.
• Add a simple phrase: "As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases."
• On Stories: You can add text that mentions it's an affiliate link or use Instagram's own "Paid Partnership" label if applicable.

Be transparent. Your followers will appreciate the honesty, and you'll be complying with legal and platform requirements.

Final Thoughts

Sharing an Amazon link on Instagram isn't about finding one secret trick, but about using the right tool for the job. Your bio is perfect for a permanent link to your storefront, Stories give you a powerful and direct way to promote specific items in the moment, and DMs offer a personal touch that builds community. By pairing your links with a strong call-to-action and authentic content, you can effectively turn your Instagram presence into a valuable source of traffic.

Consistently planning the content that gets people to click those links is a whole other challenge. To simplify our own marketing, we built Postbase to help us visually plan and schedule our content across all our social platforms. Getting a clear view of where our next promotional post fits in, especially with short-form video, helps us stay organized and keeps our strategy feeling intentional instead of chaotic. It's how we make sure our CTAs and links align with our calendar without drowning in spreadsheets.