Among the favorites, Instagram still dominates. In fact, according to statistics for this year, 2022, from the specialized platform Hootsuite, this preference ranking is led by WhatsApp (15.7%), followed by Instagram (14.8%) and Facebook (14.5%). So mastering all its features is crucial to get the most out of it, and one of the most important concepts is Swipe Up on Instagram.
If this concept is new to you, don't worry! You've probably used it hundreds of times without knowing it, and here we'll explain what Swipe Up on Instagram is and how to use it in your stories or your brand's.
What is Swipe Up on Instagram?
The term Swipe Up on Instagram and other social networks means exactly what it says, something as simple as “sliding upward,” that upward gesture we make with our finger on the screen now that practically all our devices are touchscreens.
Specifically, on Instagram it's used to access an external link that has been added in the app by the user's choice. Features like this deliver very good results for marketing strategies or for promoting an account's websites and blogs when they're cleverly integrated with the content.
1 Create an Instagram story
To start creating stories, you have two options: either tap your profile picture icon or swipe across the screen from left to right. Once there, you'll be able to add a video, a still image, text, hashtags, locations, GIFs… You'll have different options to build a very complete, personalized base for your story.
2 Add the link URL
Once you've added this content the way you like it, it's time to include the link you want to share. You can do this by tapping the link icon that appears at the top of the screen along with other options, the one shaped like a chain.
Once you've tapped this option, a window will appear on your screen that lets you enter the address you want. It must always be complete, with all its parts, to work properly. Then you just tap the confirm button.
3 Edit the story
Once this step is done, you can keep editing the story as usual before posting it. You'll be able to add a few more things that fit this Swipe Up or highlight a prompt asking users to swipe by adding some text.
4 Check that it works
You'll know the link was added correctly before you post the story because the chain icon will be highlighted. Once it's live, you can open the story from your profile or someone else's to check that it works properly.
Other than that, the social network doesn't provide information or statistics on how many users have opened your Swipe Up on Instagram. If you want to do this kind of tracking, you'll have to use an external app designed for social media monitoring and tracking.
How to use Swipe Up on Instagram in stories
Swipe Up on Instagram can only be used in stories, since this feature can't be added to the permanent image posts you publish on your feed. Stories are meant for ephemeral content that points to something external. To help you fully understand it, we'll show you step by step how to use it in stories.
Remember that stories are the content that appears at the top of the screen and that they're ephemeral: they last 24 hours and then disappear completely from the social network. You can extend their life by adding them to your highlights so they appear on your profile below your bio and above your recent posts.
What to use Swipe Up on Instagram for
This feature makes sense in certain cases. It's not meant to be overused by posting links constantly for no reason. As with all the options the social network offers, the ideal is to use them as part of a strategy and choose what fits best at each moment.
Here's what you can use Swipe Up on Instagram for:
- To expand on the information in a story.
- To direct users to an offer you're promoting.
- To introduce them to a new website or blog from your brand.
- To give them access to external forms.
- To showcase other brands you collaborate with.
Ideally, if it doesn't fit any of these situations, skip using Swipe Up on Instagram. Otherwise it will come across as too gratuitous or overly promotional, and it won't interest your followers.
It's also a good idea to create some sort of anticipation so swiping feels appealing. For example, by sharing a bit of information and adding a line like “discover more” or “swipe up for all the details” to spark interest in reading or watching the rest of the content.
New Instagram feature for adding links to stories
Instagram is constantly updating and changes some of its options to improve the user experience or simply as an experiment. One of the latest changes has been precisely the replacement of this Swipe Up with the link sticker.
If you open Instagram now and go to the story creation screen, you'll find something new. When
you tap the icon at the top right, a drop-down menu will appear with the different options such as GIFs, music and locations.
In that same drop-down you'll see a sticker that says “link”. If you
select it, you just have to enter the link and it will appear in the new format integrated into
your story.
