How to Add Swipe Up to Your Instagram Story

Posting links on Instagram is not as easy as other social platforms, being the “bio website” the only place you can input working URLs. However, the Swipe Up feature allows adding links directly to Insta Stories. Even better, Story links are open directly on the app, making it easier to watch videos, buy products, or check out websites without leaving the app. The Swipe Up feature is widely used by brands, shops, and influencers to promote products, collabs, videos, and courses to the Instagram audience quickly and easily.

This post will give you information about the Instagram story swipe-up feature and how you can add a swipe-up link to your Instagram story.

Instagram story links are a great way to drive traffic to the landing page of your website or a signup page for a visual platform. They serve as a call to action that is both fun for your followers and useful for taking advantage of your Instagram traffic.

To use the Instagram Swipe Up tool, an account must have the following features on your account:

• Business Profile

  Your account must be set up as an Instagram business profile. You can switch your account type in your account settings on the Instagram app. While it isn’t technically necessary, it is also a good idea to update your Insta profile with information about your brand. Include links to your website if applicable.

• Large Following

  Instagram users with business accounts do need to have more than 10,000 followers in order to use the swipe-up feature. If you haven’t reached that milestone yet, continue to post Instagram posts filled with valuable content with the correct hashtags. You can also check out several of our Instagram guides on this site for further growth tips.

• Verification

  Your account does need to be verified in order to use the feature. To get verified on Instagram, you will need to go through the platform to prove that you are the owner of the business. Verification isn’t automatically given to everyone.

If you meet Instagram criteria for the Swipe Up feature, a “link” icon should appear automatically when you create a story. Let’s take a look on you how can add your own Instagram story link:

1. Step 1

   

   Once you are logged into the Instagram app, swipe right to enter the create-a-story tab. Alternatively, click the new “plus” sign on the top of the screen and select “story.”

2. Step 2

   

   Take a video, picture, or upload from your gallery to create your story. When you’re done, click the chain link icon (third one on top) to add the Swipe Up feature to your story.

3. Step 3

   

   In the “URL” field, paste or type the link you want your followers to open. Here, you can include links to a video, store, post, product, or anything you want! This is a key way to promote landing pages on other sites or social media accounts. When you’re finished, click “Done.”

4. Step 4

   

   Before publishing your story, you can add some stickers to make it stand out. Search “Swipe Up” on the GIF tab to find hundreds of colorful options for link stickers and pick the one that suits your content the best! Adding a link sticker may help your post to stand out to your Instagram followers so that they pay more attention and may swipe you on your direct link.

5. Step 5

   

   When you’re done editing, click the “Your Story” button to publish it on your Instagram account.

Tip: Your story will be up for 24 hours, but if you wish for the link to be available for longer, add it to your Instagram Highlights.

• Step up your design

  When you’re posting Stories, make sure to use visually appealing content! You can use filters or presets for posting pictures and videos with pleasing aesthetics, combining them with fitting GIFs. When posting stories with text, you can use a free tool like Canva to create appealing designs from templates. Don’t forget that you will need to add Instagram link stickers to the final Instagram stories so that your followers know to swipe up to reach your blog post.

• Call-to-Action

  When using the Swipe Up feature, post content that stimulates viewers to click your links! Talk to your viewers on camera or use text to call them to Swipe Up. You can also include dynamic videos or gifs that simulate the swipe-up action. Check an example in this GymShark Woman ad for athletic wear. 

• Be Present

  Posting stories frequently is critical when growing your Instagram profile. To reach a wide audience and get plenty of interactions on your Swipe Up links, make sure to post systematically to your feed and stories. That way, you’ll appear first and often to your followers!