What are active links in Stories and why they are important in 2026
Definition and types of links: external, to posts, profiles
An active link in Stories is the “Link” sticker that a person taps to land on the desired page. It works in the mobile Instagram app and is clickable directly from Stories. In practice, three types are used: external links to websites, links to posts and Reels, and links to profiles via mentions.
To quickly share your profile, it’s important to know where to find the link to your Instagram – it’s displayed in the browser’s address bar on your profile page or via the “Copy Link” button in the mobile app.
- External links – your website, landing page, payment, PDF, YouTube, Telegram.
- Links to posts and Reels – quickly lead the viewer to your content inside Instagram.
- Links to profiles – via the “Mention” sticker or the “Share this profile” button.
Usage statistics in Ukraine: 2.5 million daily views
Stories consistently get a lot of views and clicks. Market numbers change, but in Ukraine, demand is high – brands get significant traffic from the “Link” sticker. What’s more important: when a Story is made clearly and without extra clutter, people click more often. The typical difference is 2x between a “recorded on the go” and a “clear frame with a call-to-action.”
Table: Link types and access requirements
| Link Type | How to Add | When to Use | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| External website | “Link” sticker – paste URL | Payment, application form, article, video | Mobile Instagram app – available to all account types |
| Post or Reels | Paper plane icon under the post – “Add post to your story” | Highlight content, gather views | Post or Reels must be public |
| Profile | “Mention” sticker – @username | Collaborations, recommendations, support | Public profile – so the click leads to the account without obstacles |
How to add a link to an Instagram story: the basic method for all accounts
Step-by-step guide via the “Link” sticker
Step 1: Creating the story and choosing a background
- Open the Stories camera – tap your avatar at top left or swipe right from the feed.
- Choose a photo or video from your gallery – swipe up from the bottom – or capture a new one.
- Make a readable background: if there will be text over it, darken the frame with a sticker or a semi-transparent rectangle.
Step 2: Adding the sticker and pasting the URL
- Tap the sticker icon – at the top.
- Select “Link”. Paste the full website address in the field. Preferably with https – to avoid warnings.
- Check that after pasting, the correct domain is visible and the preview loaded without errors.
Step 3: Personalizing the button text and preview
- Tap “Customize sticker text” – specify a clear call-to-action: “Buy”, “Download PDF”, “Watch video”.
- Place the sticker closer to the center and not right at the edges – so it’s not hidden by UI elements.
- Preview the entire story before publishing – sound, text, sticker clickability.
While setting up the link sticker, open your profile and find out how to add a link to Instagram bio – tap “Edit Profile” and paste the needed URL in the “Website” field. Then subscribers can go to your site both from Stories and directly from your profile.
Table: Comparison of mobile and web versions of Instagram
| Action | Mobile App | Web Version instagram.com | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add a story with a link | Yes – via the “Link” sticker | Typically no – posting Stories from desktop is limited | For stable operation, use the app |
| View stories and follow links | Yes | Yes | Links open in the system browser |
| Schedule stories | Via third-party services and Meta Business Suite | Via Meta Business Suite | Check how stickers will display after auto-publishing |
How to insert a link to a post or Reels in an Instagram story
Guide via the paper plane icon
- Open the desired post or Reels.
- Tap the paper plane icon – “Add post to your story”.
- A story with a clickable post card will open. You can resize it and add text.
To ensure your viewers go directly to the right content, it’s useful to know how to insert a link in an Instagram story. Even a short note or preview with a link increases click-through rates and helps gently guide your audience to a website, post, or another profile without overloading the story with extra instructions.
Adding a frame and editing before publishing
- Add an arrow or a “Tap” label next to the card – this speeds up clicks.
- If the background is busy – add a semi-transparent background under the card so the text is visible.
- Check the link preview is correct – by tapping the card in the preview.
Link to a profile: “Mention” sticker
- In Stories, open stickers – select “Mention”.
- Type @username. The sticker is clickable – leads directly to the account.
- If the goal is traffic to another profile, add a short explanation like “Go to profile”.
How to make a link to external websites in an Instagram story
Copying URL and pasting: examples for Ukrainian stores
- Copy the address: .ua e-commerce site, payment page, Google Form, YouTube, TikTok, Telegram.
For cross-promotion, the question how to add a link to Instagram on TikTok is relevant – use the short URL from your Bio or shorten the link via Bitly and paste it into the video description or profile.
- Paste it into the “Link” sticker. For long addresses, use a shortener – so the sticker looks neater.
If you need to direct subscribers straight to a chat, consider how to make a link to WhatsApp on Instagram – use the format wa.me/number, paste it into the “Link” sticker, and add a clear call-to-action.
- Example: store on Rozetka, WayForPay payment, Google Forms registration form – all opens from Stories.
Using VPN in Ukraine for full access
In Ukraine, VPN is usually not needed. It can be useful as a temporary solution if the “Link” sticker disappeared due to a glitch or features are being tested not on all accounts. If you enable VPN – use reliable services and check that Instagram doesn’t limit login due to suspicious activity.
Table of tools: VPN and link shorteners (Bitly, TinyURL)
| Task | Tool | When to Use | What to Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shorten a long URL | Bitly | Long UTMs, neat appearance | If link is clickable, not flagged as suspicious |
| Shorten a long URL | TinyURL | Quick one-off link | If preview works in Stories, no redirect loops |
| Backup if sticker disappears | Reliable VPN | Rare bugs, regional feature tests | Stability, no leaks, don’t change countries too often |
How to attach a link in an Instagram story without 10k followers
2026 updates: access for all accounts
The “Link” sticker is available to all account types – personal, creator, business. The 10k follower restriction is no longer relevant. If the sticker isn’t there – update the app, log out and back in, or temporarily switch your account type to creator or business and back.
Alternatives: swipe up, bio, Highlights
- Swipe up existed historically but is now replaced by the “Link” sticker.
- Bio – put the key link in your profile and duplicate it in Stories with text: “Link in profile”.
- Highlights – pin a story with a link to Highlights so it doesn’t disappear after 24 hours.
How to add an active link to an Instagram story: advanced features
Integration with Reels and collaborations
- Create a sequence: Reels announcement – story with an argument – story with link to website. This yields more clicks.
- In collaborations, tag your partner and put a link to a shared landing page – one clear action path.
- Add UTM tags – to see traffic specifically from Stories in your website analytics.
Story ads with links: setup in Ads Manager
- Objective “Traffic” or “Sales”. Placement – Stories and Reels.
- Add vertical creative 1080×1920, insert URL and button “Learn More” or “Buy”.
- Monitor frequency and creative fatigue – change frames and button wording every 5-7 days.
Table: Success metrics (CTR, conversions in Ukraine)
| Metric | What it is | Benchmarks | How to improve |
|---|---|---|---|
| Story CTR | Clicks on sticker to story views | 5-15 percent for organic | Clear call-to-action, high-contrast sticker, one focus per frame |
| Completion Rate | How many reached the frame with the link | 60-80 percent in short sequences | Place the link on the first or second frame |
| Website conversion | Action rate on site after click | Depends on niche – 1-5 percent and higher | Mobile-friendly site, simple payment or application step |
Common mistakes when adding links and how to avoid them
Incorrect URL, missing preview, regional blocks
- Typo in URL – empty click. Always open the link before publishing.
- No preview – common with long redirects. Shorten and check.
- Mobile version of the site not ready – people close it in 2 seconds.
Risks: spam ban, low CTR
- Frequent repetitive stories with the same link – looks like spam. Mix up formats.
- Clickbait in sticker text – expectation doesn’t match reality, trust and CTR drop.
- Redirects to suspicious domains – can limit reach and damage reputation.
Checklist: Verification before publishing
- The link opens quickly and right on the desired page – without 3 extra clicks.
- The sticker is noticeable and labeled with a clear action verb.
- The frame is readable in 2-3 seconds – not overloaded.
- UTMs are added – traffic source will be saved in analytics.
- View on another phone – eliminate local caches and bugs.
Optimizing links in Stories for traffic from Ukraine
Text localization and examples for UA audience
- Label the sticker in the audience’s language – “Купити”, “Забронювати”, “Дивитись відео”.
- Add prices and currency in the frame – UAH. This removes extra questions.
- If delivery is across Ukraine – specify timelines and services right in the Story.
Analytics tools: Insights, LiveDune
- Instagram Insights – view reach, link clicks, exits from Stories.
- LiveDune or similar – convenient for comparing story series and seeing which texts and stickers worked better.
- Website analytics – cross-check clicks and conversions, turn off weak pages, strengthen strong ones.
Table: Top 5 tips to increase clicks by 30%
| Tip | Why it works | How to implement |
|---|---|---|
| Place the link on the first frame | Some audience doesn’t watch to the end | Make 2 versions: short with link and extended after |
| Large, high-contrast sticker | People click on the obvious | White text on dark background or vice versa, not at edges |
| One call-to-action per frame | Less choice – more action | Don’t mix “follow”, “watch”, “buy” in one place |
| Test sticker text | Wording determines clicks | Change “Learn More” to “Buy”, “Download”, “Забронювати” |
| Page preview in the frame | Removes fear of the unknown | Screenshot of the target page next to the sticker |
FAQ
Is the feature available without 10k followers in 2026?
Yes. The “Link” sticker is available to all accounts. If it’s not there – update the app, log out and back in, temporarily switch account type.
Do .ua links work in Stories?
Yes. .ua domains are clickable like any others. The key is correct https and a fast mobile version.
How to add a link to YouTube in Stories?
Copy the link to the video – paste into the “Link” sticker. Add text “Watch on YouTube” and a preview frame from the video – there will be more clicks.
Besides YouTube, you can direct your audience to any external websites – for this, it’s convenient to use the instructions how to insert a link to YouTube or a website in a story, adding a short text call-to-action nearby. This way subscribers immediately understand where the click leads, and CTR is usually higher than with just a pasted link.
What to do if the “Link” sticker is not displayed in Ukraine?
Update the app, log out and back into your account, clear cache, temporarily change account type. As a last resort – VPN and re-check. Usually, a simple update helps.
How many clicks do Stories with links get?
Depends on topic and frame. On average, 5-15 percent CTR on views is a normal range for clear offers. Place the link earlier and make an obvious call-to-action – numbers grow.
Checklist: Summary on the topic
✅ Basic steps for adding
- Create a story – add “Link” sticker – paste URL – customize sticker text – check preview.
- For a post or Reels – via the paper plane “Add post to your story”.
- For a profile – “Mention” sticker.
✅ Verification and optimization
- The link opens quickly and exactly on the target page.
- The sticker is visible, not hidden by UI, has a clear call-to-action.
- UTMs are added, analytics are connected, mobile site version is ready.
✅ Metrics for analysis
- Story views and completion rate up to the frame with the link.
- Clicks on the sticker and CTR.
- Website conversion after clicking from Stories.
If you need speed – place the link on the first frame and label it with an action verb. When the result matters – create one focus in the frame and show what happens after the click. For paid traffic, check the mobile landing page and loading speed – this eats up the most.
In practice, most often people do this: a short frame with a promise of result, a preview of the target page nearby, a large sticker with clear text. This is enough to get stable clicks and not redo stories ten times.
What’s your current scenario – do you need to quickly drive people to payment, to a video, or to an application form?
