How to Create Instagram Story Swipe-Up Links for Non-Business Accounts: Add a Link Without a Business Account

By: Ellen Bartolino

Instagram Stories have become a powerful tool for engaging with your audience and driving traffic to your website or landing page. However, the swipe up feature has traditionally been available only to Instagram business profiles or accounts with 10K followers or a verified account. This limitation has left many users wondering how they can still add links to Instagram stories without meeting these criteria. Fortunately, Instagram introduced the link sticker feature, allowing all users to add a clickable link to their stories, regardless of their follower count or business status. In this guide, we will explore the methods to add a link to your Instagram story, how to make the most of story links, and other ways to boost Instagram traffic even if you’re a non-business account.

how to create instagram story swipe-up links for non-business accounts

What is the Instagram Swipe-Up Feature for Stories?

Overview of the Swipe-Up Feature for Instagram Stories

The swipe-up feature on Instagram Stories allows users to add a direct link to an external website, product page, or content. When a viewer swipes up on the story, they’re instantly taken to the linked destination without leaving the Instagram app. This feature has become a key tool for businesses, influencers, and content creators to boost engagement, drive traffic to websites, and promote landing pages. However, Instagram initially limited access to this feature, making it available only to Instagram business accounts with over 10K followers or a verified account. For those meeting the criteria, it’s a straightforward way to integrate links directly into their stories to reach a wider audience.

How to Use Instagram Swipe-Up Without a Business Account

For users without 10K followers or a verified account, the traditional swipe-up feature isn’t accessible. However, Instagram introduced the link sticker to bridge the gap and make it easier for everyone to share links in their stories. With the link sticker, users can now simply tap to add a clickable link to any story, making the swipe-up option less essential. Unlike the swipe-up function, which requires users to swipe, the link sticker is visible on the story and can be tapped directly, giving all users the ability to link out, regardless of account type.

By using the link sticker, even non-business accounts can still add links to Instagram stories, promote content, or drive traffic to a product page without the need for the swipe-up link. This update democratized access to linking, allowing more flexibility for accounts to share external content.

I remember when I first started using Instagram stories to promote my blog. At the time, I didn’t have access to the swipe-up feature because I didn’t have 10K followers. Instead, I used the link sticker to direct my followers to new blog posts. By adding a clear call to action, like ‘Tap the link to read more,’ I saw a noticeable increase in traffic to my site. While it wasn’t as seamless as the swipe-up, the engagement was still impressive.

How to Add Links to Instagram Stories for Non-Business Accounts

Adding a Link to Your Instagram Story with the Link Sticker

If you don’t have access to the swipe-up feature, Instagram’s link sticker is the best way to share links on your stories. Unlike the swipe-up function, the link sticker appears as a visible, tappable button directly on your story. To add a link sticker, simply follow these steps:

  1. Start your Instagram story by creating or uploading a photo or video as usual.
  2. Once the story is ready, tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen to open the sticker menu.
  3. Select the “Link” sticker from the available options.
  4. Paste the link you want to share and tap “Done.”
  5. You can move the link sticker around your story and customize its placement.

This method allows all users, regardless of follower count or account type, to add links to Insta stories. It’s a versatile tool for promoting websites, blog posts, or any landing page without needing a verified account or 10K followers.

I knew that to unlock the Instagram swipe-up feature, I needed to reach the 10K follower mark. I focused on posting high-quality content consistently, engaging with my audience, and using strategic hashtags. After several months, I finally hit the milestone and was able to use the swipe-up link in my stories. This helped me promote products more effectively by linking directly to my landing pages, making it easier for my audience to shop and interact.

How to Add a Call to Action to Your Story Link

A well-placed call to action (CTA) can significantly improve engagement on your stories. When using the link sticker, it’s important to encourage your audience to take action. Phrases like “Tap here to learn more” or “Click on the link” can draw attention to the Instagram story link and boost interactions.

To further improve visibility, consider adding text or graphics around the link sticker to guide viewers toward it. You can also verbally direct them to the link in videos or use GIFs and other stickers to highlight its importance. By making the link sticker a focal point of your story, you’ll increase the chances of driving Instagram traffic to your external content.

A well-placed call to action (CTA) can significantly improve engagement on your stories

Benefits of Using Instagram Story Links

Driving Traffic to Your Website Through Instagram Stories

One of the primary advantages of adding links to Instagram stories is the ability to directly drive traffic to your website or landing page. With Insta Stories reaching millions of users daily, including a clickable link in your story allows you to guide your audience to take immediate action, whether that’s visiting your website, signing up for a service, or purchasing a product.

For businesses and creators, this is an invaluable tool for converting views into visits. Even without the swipe-up link, the link sticker now provides an easy, effective way to share content with your followers, making it accessible to all Instagram accounts.

By integrating clear calls to action and visually engaging elements, you can make it easier for viewers to notice and interact with the link to your story. This boosts your chances of getting users to click and ultimately increases the traffic to your website.

The Swipe-Up Link vs. Instagram Link Sticker

The key difference between the swipe-up link and the Instagram link sticker is how users interact with them. With the swipe-up feature, users need to swipe up from the bottom of the screen to access the link. In contrast, the link sticker appears directly on the story, allowing users to tap on it.

The link sticker offers more flexibility in terms of design and placement since you can position it anywhere on the story and even resize it. Plus, it’s now available to all accounts, unlike the swipe-up feature, which is restricted to accounts with 10K followers or more. For most users, the link sticker is a more accessible alternative, and because it’s visually prominent, it can sometimes outperform the traditional swipe-up action in terms of visibility and engagement.

Tips for Increasing Engagement with Instagram Story Links

Use of Engaging CTAs in Your Stories

To maximize the effectiveness of your Instagram story links, it’s crucial to incorporate compelling calls to action (CTAs). A well-placed CTA encourages your audience to engage with your content and helps drive more clicks to the clickable link you’ve added. Simple phrases like “Swipe up to learn more” or “Tap the link for more details” can draw attention and guide viewers toward interacting with the link sticker.

You can also combine CTAs with eye-catching visuals, such as animated stickers, text, or arrows pointing toward the link sticker. These visual cues make it clear that viewers should take action, helping you convert more viewers into visitors to your landing page or product page. Experiment with different phrasing and designs to see what resonates best with your audience.

convert more viewers into visitors to your landing page or product page

Best Practices to Get the Most Out of Story Links

To fully capitalize on your Instagram story links, there are a few best practices that can help ensure you’re getting the best results:

  1. Use High-Quality Visuals: Whether it’s photos or videos, make sure your story content is engaging and relevant. Well-designed content grabs attention and encourages viewers to stay on the story long enough to notice your link sticker.
  2. Keep the Message Clear and Concise: Your story should quickly communicate its purpose. Make sure that the viewer understands what they’re clicking on by keeping the text around the link simple and direct.
  3. Promote Urgency or Exclusivity: If possible, create a sense of urgency or exclusivity with your links. For example, phrases like “Limited time only” or “Swipe up before it’s gone” can motivate users to take action immediately.
  4. Analyze Performance: If you have access to Instagram Insights, track the performance of your story links to see which content drives the most engagement. This data will help you refine your strategy and increase the effectiveness of your future links.

By following these best practices, you’ll make it easier for viewers to notice and click on your story links, helping you drive traffic to your desired destinations.

Gymshark successfully launched its “Flex” activewear line through Instagram Story ads in 2023. The campaign generated 2,400 orders and achieved a 9x return on ad spend by using vibrant visuals and a strong call to action in the stories. This example highlights the power of Story links and ads to drive sales and engagement.

Unlocking the Swipe-Up Feature with 10K Followers

How to Get 10K Followers and Access the Swipe-Up Feature

One of the main criteria for unlocking the swipe-up feature on Instagram is reaching 10K followers or having a verified account. For those looking to gain access to this feature, growing your Instagram followers becomes essential. Here are a few tips to help you reach that milestone:

  1. Consistent, High-Quality Content: Post regularly and ensure that your content resonates with your target audience. High-quality visuals and well-crafted captions are key to attracting followers.
  2. Engage with Your Audience: Actively engage with your audience by responding to comments, replying to DMs, and interacting with their posts. Building a community around your account can help boost your follower count organically.
  3. Collaborate with Influencers or Brands: Partnering with influencers or brands in your niche can introduce your profile to a larger audience, helping you gain more followers.
  4. Use Hashtags Effectively: Make use of relevant hashtags to increase your visibility and reach users who might be interested in your content.

Once you reach the 10K followers milestone, the Instagram swipe-up feature will be automatically enabled, allowing you to add a swipe-up link to your stories and easily direct viewers to external sites.

Alternative Ways to Share Links on Instagram Stories

If you don’t yet have 10K followers, don’t worry—there are still effective ways to share links on Instagram:

  1. Link Sticker: As mentioned earlier, the link sticker is available to all accounts, regardless of follower count. You can easily add a clickable link to your stories, and viewers can tap to access the content.
  2. Link in Bio: Another popular method is placing the link in your Instagram bio and directing viewers to “click the link in bio” from your story. This is especially useful when sharing multiple links or rotating links for different promotions.
  3. Instagram TV (IGTV): IGTV also allows users to add a swipe-up link in the video description. If you regularly post IGTV content, this can be a great workaround for sharing longer-form content and including links, even without 10K followers.

By using these alternatives, you can still drive traffic and promote external content, even if you haven’t yet unlocked the swipe-up feature.

You can easily add a clickable link to your stories

Conclusion

Although the traditional swipe-up feature is limited to accounts with 10K followers or verified accounts, Instagram has introduced several alternatives that make it easier for everyone to share clickable links through their stories. The introduction of the link sticker has opened the door for all users, allowing them to promote content, drive traffic, and encourage their followers to engage with external links without the need for a swipe-up link.

By understanding how to effectively use the link sticker, create strong calls to action, and grow your audience to eventually unlock the swipe-up feature, you can maximize the potential of your Instagram stories. Whether you’re a business or a creator, these tools provide new ways to reach your goals and engage with your audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add multiple links to my Instagram story?

Currently, Instagram allows you to add only one link sticker per story. However, you can add links to multiple stories in a sequence if you need to share more than one clickable link. This is a great way to guide your audience through multiple pages or resources.

How do I know if the link in my Instagram story is working?

After adding the link sticker to your story, you can view the story analytics once it’s been posted. These analytics will show you how many users tapped on the link. You can access the analytics by swiping up on the story from your Instagram post section.

What are story link stickers, and how do they work?

Story link stickers are tappable stickers you can add to your Instagram stories that allow followers to access an external link by tapping on the sticker. This feature is available to all users and replaces the older swipe-up feature. Simply tap on the link icon in the sticker menu, add your URL, and customize the placement of the sticker on your story.

Can I schedule Instagram posts with a link sticker?

Yes, you can schedule Instagram stories that contain a link sticker using third-party tools that support Instagram scheduling. Make sure that the platform you’re using allows you to insert and manage story links during the scheduling process.

How do I use Instagram’s link sticker to promote a product?

To promote a product, create an engaging Instagram story with images or video of the product and add the link sticker leading directly to the product page. Make sure to include a strong call to action, such as “Tap to Shop” or “Learn More,” to encourage users to click the link. You can also use shoppable stickers in combination with the link sticker to boost engagement.

Author Bio

Ellen Bartolino

Ellen is a seasoned author and communication expert, with a particular focus on Instagram. Her extensive knowledge of the platform has allowed her to create engaging and effective content for businesses and individuals alike. Ellen has a proven track record of crafting compelling Instagram captions and influencer marketing.