How to Use the Instagram Stories Link Sticker

Instagram Stories offer bite-sized snippets to help spark curiosity about your original content. This is where link stickers come in. You can use them as a call to action to redirect viewers to the full version of your content without leaving the app. As such, the link tag can help you drive more engagement and drive traffic from Instagram to your other sites.

If you don’t know how to use the link tag, we’ve got you covered. This article will explain everything you need to know.

How to Use the Instagram Stories Link Sticker

The way you use links in Instagram Stories has changed over time. Initially, you could add a link in the bio, which was inconvenient because you had to change it every time you published a new story.

Later, Instagram introduced the swipe up feature, which viewers could tap or swipe up to go to the linked site without leaving the app. However, this feature was only for verified accounts with more than 10,000 followers. Therefore, users who did not meet this requirement were stuck using the “Link in Bio”.

Instagram phased out the Swipe Up feature and introduced the Link tag to standardize for all users. Anyone can access it and can customize it for a more direct call to action. In addition, you have several themes to make the sticker more attractive.

Here’s how to add the link tag to your Instagram Stories:

1. Launch your Instagram app and tap your “Profile Picture” in the top left corner to create a new story. Alternatively, tap the “Add” icon to the right at the top and tap “History” at the bottom of the next page.
   
2. Swipe up to select a photo or video for your story from your camera roll. Alternatively, press the “Record” button to record your story.
   
3. After preparing your story, go to the top and select the “Label” icon. This will display all Instagram story stickers. Locate the “link label” (a rectangle with a chain and the word “Link” in blue) and tap it.
   
4. A new page will appear asking you to add a link. In the URL p, type or paste the link to the site you want your audience to see.
   
5. Instagram automatically shortens your link to show where it will take the viewer. Tap “Preview” below the URL to see how it will appear in your story.
   
6. If you don’t want to add more details, scroll down to the “Label Text” p on the same page and enter your text. For example, click here to purchase. This is crucial. It lets your audience know what action the link will ask them to take.
   
7. Once you’re done, tap “Done” in the top right corner to post your story link. When you return to your story, you will find the link added. Blue is the default link color. Tap the link to change to a transparent color or black and white.
   
8. When your story is ready, tap “Your Story” in the bottom right corner to publish it.
   

Create a custom Instagram Stories link in Canva

One thing you may not like about Instagram Stories link stickers is their appearance. Additionally, you don’t have the option to customize the shape of the button and change the colors to match your preferences. Fortunately, you can create a link button in Canva and paste it into your story.

This is how you do it:

1. Launch your browser and log in to your canva account. If you don’t have an account, create one for free.
   
2. On the Canva home page, go to the top right corner and tap “Create Design.” Choose “Instagram Story” from the drop-down menu and wait for the blank design to load.
   
3. When your design loads, go to the sidebar tools and tap “Text.” Press the “Add a text box” button.
   
4. Enter the text you want to appear in your link. When you’re done, go to the toolbar options at the top and customize the font style, size, and alignment. Press the “A” button with a colored line below to change the font color.
   
5. Navigate to the side toolbar and tap “Items.” Type the shape you want in the search bar and select it when it appears in the search results.
   
6. Drag the corners in or out to make the text fit perfectly to the shape.
   
7. If you like the way the button looks, go to the top right corner and tap the “Share” button. Press the “Download” option and choose to download your design as a PNG. Also, check the “Transparent background” box and tap the “Download” button.
   
8. If you’re using a Mac, airdrop the design to your iPhone. For a PC, you can import the design to your smartphone using a USB cable or any other method.

Now that you have your Canva link design in your phone’s Gallery, you can apply it to your Instagram Stories.

1. Create your story and add a link, as explained in the method above.
   
2. When your story is ready, tap the “Sticker” icon and choose the link button you designed in Canva.
   
3. Drag the link button and drop it over your story link. The link remains active even when blocked. So if someone taps the button at the top, they will be redirected to the linked site.
   

Best Practices When Using the Instagram Stories Link Sticker

How you add a link to your Instagram Stories directly affects how your viewers interact with it. Here are some best practices to help you get the most out of your Instagram Stories link tag:

• Place the link tag in the center – Your goal should be to make the link tag stand out and encourage viewers to interact with it. As such, you should place it within the safe zone to prevent it from being cropped or cropped when you publish your story. The safe zone is any area within 1080 x 1420 pixels. This means you should leave a margin of 250 pixels at the top and bottom of your story. The other interior area is where your link should be.
• Use a clear call to action (CTA): Your CTA should convey what viewers should expect after clicking the link. For example, if you want your audience to learn more about your products, your CTA could be “Tap here to learn more.” Additionally, your story should be related to the link you are sharing to maintain consistency.
• Keep your story neat: Although Instagram allows one link sticker per post, you can add other non-link stickers to your post. However, you should use them sparingly to increase the chances of users noticing the link and keep your story visually appealing.
• Draw an arrow to improve visual engagement: Drawing an arrow to point out where viewers should click can make your story more visually interesting. To draw an arrow, tap the “Draw” icon at the top and select the “Arrow” button that points up.

Use Link Tag to Drive Higher Engagement

Instagram Stories are not appropriate for long-form content. However, you can optimize them by adding the link tag. By tapping the link, your audience can see more detailed content information. This way, you can use the link tag optimally to drive more traffic to your content.