Mastering Instagram Swipe Up: Tips and Tricks

Content Creation 1 digitaljeff March 3, 2025

digitaljeff

112 Posts

Instagram’s swipe up feature is a game-changer for businesses and influencers eager to boost brand awareness and engagement. Using Instagram Stories, you can seamlessly direct your audience to external links, a valuable tool to convert viewers into customers. Despite the original swipe up’s limitations—reserved for verified accounts with over 10,000 followers—creative alternatives, like the IGTV trick, open pathways to use this powerful feature. Here’s a quick rundown:

Improve Engagement: Use Stories for real-time interaction.
Boost Conversions: Direct users to external pages using links.
IGTV Trick: An effective workaround to include clickable links in Stories.
Business Profile Benefits: Essential for maximizing features.
Verified Account Perks: Naturally, more expansive reach and features.

Instagram’s evolving features fuel its soaring popularity, offering innovative ways to connect with an audience. Whether you are promoting an event, a blog post, or a product, Instagram’s swipe up—now replaced by a link sticker—is indispensable for growing your business or brand.

I’m digitaljeff, a tech entrepreneur and content strategist, with expertise in leveraging the influence of ig swipe up. Throughout my career, I have effectively engaged audiences by innovating content distribution strategies, ensuring their stories not only entertain but also convert.

Infographic about Instagram swipe up benefits and alternatives - ig swipe up infographic infographic-line-3-steps-dark

Understanding the Instagram Swipe Up Feature

What is the Instagram Swipe Up Feature?

The Instagram Swipe Up feature was a powerful tool that allowed users to add links directly to their Instagram Stories. This feature was a game-changer for brands and influencers because Instagram typically limits users to just one clickable link in their bio. With Swipe Up, users could easily direct their followers to specific content, like blog posts, product pages, or event sign-ups, without leaving the app.

To use Swipe Up, viewers simply had to swipe up on the Story to access the linked content. This seamless integration helped boost engagement and conversions by making it easier for followers to explore more about a brand or product.

How to Get the Instagram Swipe Up Feature

Originally, the Swipe Up feature was exclusive to accounts that met specific criteria. To access this feature, an account needed to be:

An Instagram Business Profile with at least 10,000 followers, or
A verified account.

These requirements ensured that only established accounts with a significant following or verified status could use Swipe Up to link directly to external content.

For those who didn’t meet these criteria, there was an effective workaround using IGTV. By creating an IGTV video and linking to it from a Story, users could still guide their audience to content with a clickable link in the video description. This method allowed smaller accounts to harness the power of linking in Stories, even without the Swipe Up feature.

Follower Growth Strategies

To reach the coveted 10,000 followers and open up features like Swipe Up, consider these growth strategies:

Engaging Content: Post consistently with high-quality visuals and engaging captions.
Interactive Stories: Use polls, Q&A sessions, and contests to increase interaction.
Collaborations: Partner with other influencers or brands to reach wider audiences.
Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to increase findability.

By focusing on these strategies, you can grow your follower base and gain access to Instagram’s improved linking features, helping you promote your brand more effectively.

How to Use the IG Swipe Up Feature Effectively

Adding a Swipe Up Link to Your Instagram Story

Adding a Swipe Up link to your Instagram Story is a straightforward process that can significantly boost engagement. Here’s how to do it:

Start Your Instagram Story: Open Instagram and create a new Story. You can upload an image or video, or capture one directly through the app.
Link Button: Once your Story is ready, tap the link icon at the top of your screen. This is where you’ll add your URL.
URL Addition: Enter the URL you want your followers to visit. This could be a product page, a blog post, or any other landing page.
Call-to-Action: Add a compelling call-to-action (CTA) to your Story. Use text or GIFs that say “Swipe Up” to encourage interaction.
Posting Your Story: Finally, post your Story. Viewers can now swipe up to access your linked content.

Best Practices for IG Swipe Up

To make the most out of the IG Swipe Up feature, follow these best practices:

Teasers on Main Feed: Not everyone watches Stories, so post a teaser on your main feed to draw attention. This creates curiosity and drives more viewers to your Story.
Save Stories as Highlights: Keep your best Stories accessible by saving them as Highlights. This way, they remain visible beyond the 24-hour mark, allowing more followers to engage with your content.
Interactive Stories: Boost engagement by making your Stories interactive. Use polls, contests, or Q&A sessions to encourage participation and keep your audience engaged.
Consistent Imagery: Maintain a consistent visual theme that aligns with your brand. This helps with brand recognition and keeps your content looking professional.

Promoting Content with IG Swipe Up

The Swipe Up feature is perfect for promoting various types of content:

Blog Posts: Share a captivating graphic with a link to your latest blog post. This encourages readers to learn more about your topic.
Products: Showcase high-quality images of your products and link directly to the product page. This simplifies the buying process for your customers.
Events: Promote upcoming events by linking to registration pages. This makes it easy for followers to sign up and participate.
Landing Pages: Drive traffic to specific landing pages for campaigns or special offers. This can boost conversions and sales.
Videos and Podcasts: Share snippets of videos or podcast episodes to entice your audience. Link to the full content for more in-depth engagement.
Lead Magnets: Offer valuable resources, like eBooks or guides, by linking to your lead magnet. This can help grow your email list and capture leads.

By effectively using the IG Swipe Up feature, you can drive traffic, increase engagement, and promote your brand more efficiently on Instagram.

Conclusion

Mastering the IG Swipe Up feature is a game-changer for driving traffic and increasing engagement on Instagram. By integrating this tool into your Instagram marketing strategy, you can seamlessly guide your followers from findy to action, whether it’s visiting your website, signing up for an event, or exploring your latest content.

The Unsigned Creator Community is here to help you steer these strategies with ease. With our expertise in content marketing and SEO, we provide the tools and insights you need to maximize your Instagram presence.

As Instagram continues to evolve, staying updated with the latest features and trends is crucial. This means being prepared for future updates that could further improve your ability to engage with your audience. Follower growth is not just about numbers; it’s about building a community that trusts and values your brand.

Incorporating the Swipe Up feature into your Instagram strategy is not just about increasing clicks. It’s about creating meaningful interactions that foster brand loyalty and drive results. As you continue to explore the possibilities, keep your audience at the center of your efforts, ensuring that every swipe leads to an enriching experience.

Ready to take your Instagram strategy to the next level? Explore our creator apps for more tools and insights to improve your content marketing journey.