Links in Stories Now Available to All Instagram Accounts

Links in Stories Now Available to All Instagram Accounts

Instagrammers can finally rejoice as the social media platform recently gave access to share links in Instagram Stories to all accounts.

By now, everyone knows that adding links to Instagram captions doesn’t work (and looks really bad when accounts still try it). So how do people get around this? Instagram Stories is one way. However, until recently, Instagram only allowed accounts with 10,000+ followers or verified accounts to share links in their stories.

Why Instagram ever thought this was a good idea, we aren’t sure. Smaller accounts are the ones that needed the option the most to help their marketing efforts. But that has finally changed.

Instagram recently made the announcement that has been widely praised by social media managers and the average user alike.

Instagram went on to explain:

“When we first introduced Stories links, the feature was limited to verified accounts or those with a certain number of followers. We’ve heard from the rest of our community that they also want to share things that matter with their friends and family. Whatever you’re into, from cooking to volunteering or shopping, you now have a space to share in Stories – regardless of your account size.”

No kidding? They thought the rest of us non-verified or big accounts just didn’t want to share links too? Surprised it took them this long to hear “from the rest of the community”. Oh well, enough ranting. Better late than never.

How to Use Links in Instagram Stories

As demonstrated in the gif above, adding links to your Instagram Story is done using a sticker. Stickers are used for everything from showing your location, creating a poll or tagging other accounts. To access the sticker menu, tap the square with the smiley face at the top of your phone. Links should be one of the first few options in the menu.

Simply type in the link you want to share, hit “done”, and the sticker will appear in your draft. You now have the ability to customize how the link sticker appears and where in your story. You can be creative, but make sure the sticker stands out for your followers to easily see.

Links Add More Emphasis on Stories

This new (but not so new) feature for smaller accounts will likely put a greater emphasis on using Instagram Stories, especially for brand accounts. You will no longer need to add the “link in bio” in your stories to drive traffic to your website, article, etc., which will be a game changer for many. Stories have always been one of the most-used features on the platform. This will only serve to continue that trend moving forward.

How will you as an average Instagram user or social media manager leverage this new tool? Share in the comments below!

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