Making the Most of Instagram’s Swipe Up Feature

Most people today have an Instagram account, and with more than 500 million people using the platform on a daily basis, Instagram marketing has become an extremely important focus for most businesses. Business growth can be boosted with content on Instagram that helps you get more Instagram followers and Instagram likes.

One drawback of the platform is that it doesn’t allow for the addition of clickable links in places other than the bio.

The problem with Instagram’s link in bio feature

Brands and individuals are free to add clickable links in their bio, but this isn’t enough because:

• You’ll have to change the link each time there’s some new content you want to direct your real Instagram followers to.
• You’ll have to make use of a tool like Clic.ly to direct your Instagram followers to several pages on your website.

The biggest drawback of the link in bio feature is that it’s inconvenient for your Instagram followers. In today’s fast-paced world, people have short attention spans and want things done quickly. A post or story that directs them to the “link in bio” will require them to exit what they’re currently doing, go to your profile, click on the link, and then view your content. That’s a lot for today’s consumers, and it lowers your click-through rates.

The Swipe Up feature is a game-changer for businesses today.

What is the Swipe Up feature on Instagram?

The Swipe Up feature on Instagram is a way for you to add clickable links to your Stories on Instagram that can direct your real Instagram followers to the content you want to show them. This way, your Instagram followers no longer have to exit your story and go to the link in your bio to see what you’re directing them to. You’ll be able to direct them to your website, the latest products they can shop for, event links, and even give them more details about your latest promotions.

It’s a great way to boost brand growth because it makes it easy for your Instagram followers to interact with your business and take action on what you post. This feature, however, is only available if:

• You have a Business account on Instagram with more than 10000 Instagram followers.
• Your Instagram account is verified (even if you have less than 10000 Instagram followers).

If you haven’t got 10000 Instagram followers as yet, work on building your following so that you can use this feature. If you already have 10000 or more Instagram followers, read on to find out how you can make the best use of this feature.

How to add a Swipe Up link to your Instagram Stories

• If you’re eligible to use the Swipe Up feature, go to your Instagram Stories by clicking on the camera icon on the left-hand side at the top of your screen.
• Take a photo, video, or Boomerang to add to your Story or select something from your camera roll that you want to post to your Instagram Story.
• Select the link icon on the top right-hand side of your screen (fourth from the right). You’ll see the option to either link to IGTV video or a URL. Enter the URL of your choice that you want to direct your Instagram followers to. This can be a page on your website, product landing page, or even your latest blog post.
• After doing this, Android users can tap the green check-mark while iOS users can click “Done”.
• Make sure your Story is “Linked” with the top right side hyperlink icon being white.
• Include a call to action asking your Instagram followers to Swipe Up. This can be done through the use of a GIF or even just plain text that will draw their attention.
• The only thing left to do after this is to upload your Story.

Ways to make the most of the Swipe Up feature

Product promotions

The Swipe Up feature is a great addition to your Instagram Story if you want to feature images or videos of your products and direct your Instagram followers to your product page so that they can make a purchase. You can even create product categories and showcase a specific product category by including the link to the product category in your Story. This way, those who like what they see on your Story won’t have to waste time visiting your profile and trying to find your website link to go to your product page. They’ll automatically get directed to it with one quick swipe. This can help boost sales for your business.

Promotion of blog posts

If you just uploaded a new blog and want your Instagram followers to read it, direct them to your blog with the help of the Swipe Up feature on Instagram. You’ll have to create an attractive graphic for your Story that complements your brand image. Designing it with colors and fonts representative of your brand will also improve brand recognition and make it easier for your audience to identify your brand. Just make sure the graphic you design follows the size specifications of Instagram.

Cross platform promotions

Your brand probably operates on multiple social media platforms, and the Swipe Up feature can be a great way to engage in cross-platform promotions to boost business growth. Using Instagram’s Swipe Up feature, you’ll be able to direct your audience to your Facebook post or latest video on YouTube. Just make sure you add a catchy thumbnail to make it even more exciting for your Instagram followers to swipe up.

Promotion of landing pages

Landing pages may be informational, sales, or service pages that serve as transactional pages. The main goal of such pages is to get visitors to buy something or sign up for something. It’s very important for businesses to expose potential customers to their landing pages, and with Instagram’s Swipe Up feature, this is easily possible by including a link to the landing page.

Increasing registration for your virtual events

If you’re hosting a virtual event and want to invite more people to register for it, you can do this by including a quick and easy to fill up sign up form for the event as a link on your Instagram Story. Create hype around your event by adding the promotional poster for your event and ask your Instagram followers to swipe up to sign up for it. You can even share a post about the virtual event from your feed to your Story and include the sign up link. This will not just get people to register for the event, but it can also direct more people to your feed post.

Lead magnet promotion

Making use of email lists is important for any business. With the Swipe Up feature on Instagram, you’ll be able to encourage email list sign-ups for the promotion of lead magnets that will help your business grow.

Raising funds for causes

Another way that brands can make use of the Swipe Up feature on Instagram is by supporting a charity for a cause they believe in. Links that direct Instagram followers to donation pages of charities can be added to Stories. Apart from helping to raise funds for a good cause, this also helps to increase goodwill of the company, which is very important for long-run success of the business.

Tips for better audience engagement with the Swipe Up feature on Instagram

Engage your audience

Let your Instagram followers know that there’s more to your Story than just what they see on it. Make a clear call to action for them to swipe up using text that stands out or attractive GIFs. Make sure the graphics you use in your Story are also eye-catching and resonate with the overall image you want to create for your brand.

Post consistently

If you want your Story to appear early on for your Instagram followers, you need to commit to a consistent posting schedule. Consistent posts will make your audience more interested in what you have to say and keep you relevant with Instagram’s algorithm.

Keep track of Instagram Insights

You can check how many of your real Instagram followers actually swiped up on your Story by viewing your Instagram Insights. This will give you an idea of the kind of content your audience is engaging with more and enable you to tailor your content based on what is working better for your Instagram followers. You’ll also get an idea of what not to do when posting to your Stories.

Make it worth it

Make sure that whatever you’re directing your Instagram followers to is worth it. Whether it’s a product page, a blog piece, or details about an upcoming event, your Instagram followers must feel like it adds value to their life.

Conclusion

The Swipe Up feature offers brands a distinct advantage when it comes to marketing their products and services. The use of clickable links in your Instagram Stories makes it possible for you to encourage your Instagram followers to take some action in a way that wasn’t possible before. If you’re serious about boosting business growth through Instagram, you need to leverage the benefits of this feature wisely and give yourself an edge over your competition.