How to Share a Link on Instagram Story (2026 Guide)

Instagram Stories are one of the most effective ways to share content with your audience. Adding a clickable link to your Story lets you drive traffic to your website, products, blog posts, or any other destination — directly from within Instagram.

In this guide, we'll show you exactly how to add links to Instagram Stories using the Link sticker, plus tips for maximizing clicks.

1. 1Open the Instagram app
2. 2Tap the + icon or swipe right to open the Story camera
3. 3Take a photo, record a video, or upload from your camera roll

1. 1Tap the sticker icon (smiley face) at the top of the screen
2. 2Tap Link
3. 3Paste your URL in the URL field
4. 4Optionally, customize the sticker text (e.g., "Shop Now", "Read More", "Learn More")
5. 5Tap Done

1. 1Drag the Link sticker to your preferred position
2. 2Tap the sticker to cycle through different styles (color variations)
3. 3Resize by pinching
4. 4Add other elements — text, GIFs, music, polls — as desired

Tap Your Story to publish, or Close Friends to share with a limited audience.

As of 2023, all Instagram accounts can add the Link sticker to Stories. Previously, this feature was limited to verified accounts or those with 10,000+ followers (the old "swipe up" feature). That restriction no longer exists.

Don't just add a link sticker and hope people tap. Tell them what to expect:

• "Tap the link for 20% off"
• "Read the full guide"
• "Get the free template"

Add text or an arrow pointing to the sticker to draw attention.

The default sticker text shows the URL, which can look messy. Always customize it to something descriptive:

• Instead of: linklyhq.com/blog/how-to-track-clicks-on-a-link
• Use: "Learn to Track Clicks"

Put the Link sticker where it's easy to tap:

• Center or lower-third of the screen
• Not too close to edges — users might accidentally swipe instead of tapping
• Away from other interactive elements — don't stack the link sticker next to a poll or question sticker

Even with custom sticker text, shortened URLs look better if the URL is visible anywhere in your Story. A branded link like go.yourbrand.com/sale is more professional than a long URL with parameters.

The Story content surrounding the link sticker matters. A link sticker on a blank background gets fewer taps than one paired with:

• A product photo with the link to purchase
• A quote from a blog post with the link to read more
• A behind-the-scenes clip with the link to the full video

Instagram provides basic metrics for Story link clicks in its Insights:

• Sticker taps — how many times people tapped the link sticker
• Reach — how many unique accounts saw the Story
• Impressions — total views of the Story

Instagram's Insights are limited. For detailed tracking, shorten your URL with Linkly before adding it to your Story:

1. 1Create a short link in Linkly for your destination URL
2. 2Add the Linkly short link to your Story's Link sticker
3. 3Track clicks in Linkly's dashboard

Linkly gives you data Instagram doesn't:

• Geographic breakdown — which countries/cities your clickers are in
• Device data — iOS vs. Android split
• Click timing — when clicks happen throughout the day
• Referrer tracking — combined with UTM parameters for full attribution
• Historical data — Instagram Story Insights disappear after the Story expires; Linkly keeps the data

With Linkly, you can add retargeting pixels to your Story links. When someone taps the link:

• They're added to your Facebook custom audience
• They're added to your Google remarketing audience
• You can serve them targeted ads later

This is especially powerful for e-commerce and lead generation.

For time-sensitive content (sales, launches, events), Story links are better. For evergreen content, a link in bio is more appropriate.

Link to product pages, collection pages, or limited-time offers. Use the sticker text "Shop Now" or "Get 20% Off."

Share blog posts, YouTube videos, or podcast episodes. Use the sticker text to highlight the topic.

Link to signup forms, free downloads, or webinars. Give a clear reason to tap.

Link to event pages, RSVP forms, or ticket sales. Create urgency with countdown stickers alongside the link.

Share affiliate links to products you recommend. Disclose the relationship as required by regulations.

1. 1Not customizing sticker text — raw URLs look unprofessional
2. 2No call to action — people need a reason to tap
3. 3Sticker hidden or tiny — make sure it's visible and tappable
4. 4Not tracking — you can't improve what you don't measure
5. 5Broken links — always test the link before publishing

Adding links to Instagram Stories is straightforward with the Link sticker, and it's available to all accounts. The key to success is giving people a compelling reason to tap, using clear calls to action, and tracking clicks to understand what works.

Want better Story link analytics? Get started with Linkly and create short, branded links with detailed click tracking and retargeting for your Instagram Stories.