It’s official — Instagram Stories link stickers are being made available to every single Instagram user — even those with under 10K followers.
Yes, you read that correctly. Many small businesses, brands, and creators have been waiting for this moment.
According to Instagram, “We made this decision based on feedback we heard from the community about how impactful it would be for creators and businesses of all sizes to benefit from link sharing to grow in the same way larger accounts do.”
Instagram Stories link stickers were first introduced last month for accounts with 10K followers, replacing the “swipe up” link.
Find out everything you need to know about link stickers, along with three ways to draw more attention to them and land those all-important clicks, below.
Table of Contents
What Are Instagram Stories Link Stickers?
Link stickers appear on screen just like any other Instagram Stories sticker — but with the addition of a link icon!
The link sticker displays the first part of the destination (i.e the domain), which allows for more transparency:
Unlike with “swipe up” links, viewers can react and reply to stories that include a link sticker – opening up more opportunities for engagement.
NOTE: Instagram Highlights or paid ads that include the old “swipe up” links still function as they used to.
How to Get the New Instagram Stories Link Sticker
According to Instagram, every user will soon have access to the link sticker on stories.
The days where you need to have over 10K followers or the coveted blue tick to have access to links are over. Hooray.
Here’s how to add a link sticker on stories:
#1: Head to the Instagram Stories sticker tray and select the link sticker.
NOTE: If you don’t have access to link stickers just yet, sit tight. Instagram only just made this announcement, so it may take a few days to see them in the lineup.
#2: Paste your link into the link field.
#3: Switch the text and color by tapping on the sticker.
It’s that easy!
Tactics to Drive More Traffic With Instagram Story Link Stickers
Instagram story link stickers are still fairly new to everyone, and as with any new feature, there’s always an adjustment phase.
Here are three ways you can boost clicks and get more eyes on your content:
#1: Include a Strong Call-to-action
With Instagram Stories Sticker Links, call-to-actions (better known as CTAs) are more important than ever.
Brands and creators can no longer rely on the arrow at the bottom of the screen or saying “swipe up to read” to encourage clicks.
The best way to draw attention to your link is through the use of text and GIFs.
Especially since the feature is in its infancy, there’s an opportunity to be creative with how you bring attention to your links.
Consider writing “tap to read” or “click to read”, so long as it’s clear where the link is and where your audience should click.
With the use of text and GIFs, you decide how to bring attention to your link.
#2: Create Templates That Draw Attention to Link Stickers
One of the best ways to drive traffic from your Instagram Stories Link Stickers is by using branded templates.
Whether you’re sharing an article, affiliate link, or a landing page, it may be difficult for users to actually notice, find, and ultimately click the link.
Rather than leaving it up to chance, draw attention to your link by creating a dedicated space for your link sticker to sit.
And P.S. you don’t have to spend hours creating designs either — there are easy-to-use tools like Canva and GoDaddy Studio that have tons of Instagram Stories templates to choose from.
Just be sure to create a template that has a clear, dedicated spot for your link sticker.
Just like anything on social media, the new Instagram Stories link stickers will take some getting used to, and you may see clicks decline during this time.
But with the above tactics and some audience education, you’ll soon see a shift in engagement levels.
Keep experimenting!
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