The ability to send your followers to a site by sharing links on your Instagram Story spells a major opportunity for businesses, bloggers, influencers, and affiliate marketers alike!
That’s why the Instagram Swipe Up feature is such a big deal – it’s an easy, engaging way to drive traffic from the Instagram app!
In this article, we’re going over what swipe-up links are, how to add links in Instagram Stories, and some great examples of brands using the feature for social media marketing.
Let’s take a look!
Instagram Swipe Up links are clickable links attached to brands and users’ posts on their Story.
When one of these links is attached, the Story viewer can swipe up on the bottom of the screen to be taken to a landing page off of the app.
That’s why the feature is so important from a digital marketing perspective. It enables brands to connect with audiences on one platform, and then drive traffic from Insta to their website, blog, or brand page!
Instagram Stories is also one of the only places on the app where you can add a link.
For example, in a regular Instagram post, there’s no option to share links. (You can include a link with an Instagram ad, however!)
If you’re hoping to use this feature, there are some requirements to know. You have to:
But don’t worry, there are a few workarounds available to add swipe up links, even if you don’t meet these requirements yet!
Ready to start using swipe-up links in your Stories? It’s super easy to do if you have 10,000 followers or are verified on Instagram!
Follow this step-by-step guide on how to add a link to your Instagram story:
You’ve got this part down: just take a photo or video like you usually would for your Instagram story by tapping the camera icon or uploading a photo from your camera roll!
Dress up your Instagram Story with cool effects, Story Stickers, gifs to promote your link!
When you are ready to add a link on Instagram story, look at the top of your screen for a link icon! It’s also called a chain icon, since it looks like the links of a chain!
Remember, you won’t have a regular link option if you aren’t verified on Instagram or have over 10,000 followers.
After you click on the link icon, you will be prompted to add the link you’d like to share in your story.
This could be a call to action (CTA) directly to your website’s homepage or to a landing page you want to promote.
If you’re working with a business partner on branded content, you can also tag them in the post and allow them to view metrics/ promote!
When you add your clickable link, be sure to click the Preview button to make sure the link works before you publish!
Now that your Instagram swipe up link is in place, it’s time to share your story with the world!
When you tap Send to Stories, your viewers will see an arrow and a “See More” prompt at the bottom of your Story.
Remember that Stories only last for 24 hours, so if you want to get more mileage out of your linked post, save it to your Story Highlights!
There are a few workarounds available if you don’t have the swipe up feature yet! Here’s our favorite trick:
While this adds one tiny additional step for your users, tagging yourself in your Story gives them a one-click method for visiting your page and finding that precious link on your profile.
Without this tag, they’d have to back out of your Stories, search your name and go to your profile to find it – and who knows if they’d lose interest along the way.
You can also add links to IGTV videos with your Instagram Story – just click the link icon!
And if you have Instagram Shops set up, you can link products in your Instagram Story – 10,000 followers not required!
Another handy trick is to use DMs to share links directly with interested viewers! Here are some ideas:
There are so many ways to create an engaging story on Instagram.
Whether you are using Instagram to promote a product on your website, driving traffic to your latest blog post, or repping your favorite brand, the Swipe Up Instagram Story feature will help you send followers directly to the links you want them to visit.
Want to create even more impact? Use these Instagram story insights to enhance your social media marketing strategy.
Here are a few examples of some fun brands I like that use Instagram Stories’ swipe up features well. Take notes!
Notebook brand Moleskine shows us how. to add a link to Instagram Stories with positive vibes from journal keepers across the web on their business profile and Stories.
They offer more tips for journaling in their incredible notebooks if you choose to swipe up.
Roxy did a GREAT job representing their “cool vibes” mantra by posting this shoppable Instagram story swipe up CTA.
Not only is their collage game strong, but they are also killing it with the awesome homage to Brazil in the featured sarong!
The palms and street signs tip off the beachy situation well with the cloudy, blue sky backdrop
Poshmark is wonderfully bringing its massive community together for an entire weekend of virtual partnership.
The coolest thing is that they are promoting it via Instagram Stories using the swipe up feature!
There’s no better way to promote this awesome event’s landing page.
Though a bit more cryptic, ModCloth created a perfectly mellow ad featuring only text, but you can’t help but click!
They had me already with the mustard yellow… But the mysterious text really brings you in to search for the rest of the pot of gold.
I’m pretty sure they are right about those floral pants paired with the Janis Joplin tee.
@shopblacksalt have all the stylish 1970’s clothes I’ve been dreaming about since I first watched Almost Famous.
And yes, they definitely know their way around Instagram Stories. A simple, dark flat lay invokes the musical spirits in us all, right?
Now you know how to put a link on Instagram story like a pro, take one more step to make your Instagram marketing easier by scheduling your Instagram Stories with Tailwind’s new Instagram Planner app!
Tailwind for Instagram is not only a world-class Instagram scheduling tool, but you can also use it to find the best hashtags for your posts possible, and visually plan your Instagram feed to perfection with our Grid Planning feature.
And now, you can take all your favorite Tailwind tools on the go with our new app, available on iOS and Android.
Want to try it for yourself? Snag a free trial of Tailwind for Instagram here – no credit card required!
Denise Mckenzie is a poet, artist, and freelance writer based in Los Angeles. With 8+ years of sales and marketing experience, she has found a passion in writing shareable content for various websites and online markets. Content marketing is what pays the bills, but she still finds time to incorporate any creative platform she can get her hands on in her daily life.
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