These easy-to-implement strategies can help you use clickable links on Instagram and drive free traffic from the platform to your website.

Instagram is notorious for not being link-friendly, but this facade is quick to fade.

Sure, you can’t link a standard Instagram post, but this doesn’t mean the platform can’t drive significant traffic to your site.

Let’s dive into the strategic ways to add clickable links and earn free website traffic from Instagram.

1. Do More With Your Bio Link

When you originally set up your Instagram profile, you likely added a link to your site (I’d guess a link to your homepage) – and it’s been there ever since.

But this little bio link can do so much more.

You can update this link as often as you like to point to any page of your site.

A campaign page.
A newly launched collection.
A featured story.
A lead capture page.
Then draw attention to the link by adding strategic call-to-actions in post captions that explain the value of the link. Things such as:

“Click our link in bio to find out more about…”
“Read the full story at the link in our bio.”
“For more insights, check out the link in our bio.”

The better “link in bio” tools allow you to curate a page that looks similar to your Instagram feed but displays your posts as clickable images.

But don’t expect a “link in bio” strategy to deliver its full potential overnight.

You’ll need to commit and be consistent so your audience has time to learn to go and check the link in bio for the details.

To speed up the process, add a call-to-action to your Instagram bio itself.

2. Keep a consistent content calendar

The worst thing you can do when trying to get followers on Instagram is to post content at random, haphazard times. If you’re lucky enough to get users following you in the beginning, you don’t want to make them forget they followed you in the first place.

To combat this, keep to a regular posting schedule. Typically, brands shouldn’t post more than a few times a day to avoid spam, but whatever your cadence, keep it consistent. Approximately 200 million Instagram users log on daily, so to cast your net even wider, try publishing a few times throughout the entire day.

In fact, our very own research on the best times to post to Instagram pinpoints the top times to post for multiple industries, or you can follow our research of the best times across all topic areas below:

Sticking to a schedule will help you build a consistent experience for your followers and keep them in the know of your brand. But if you’re wondering how you’re going to remember to publish at these different times in the day, we’ve got you covered with Sprout’s scheduling and optimal times features–read on for more details.

3. Schedule Instagram posts in advance

While the Instagram algorithm has changed to show users more content they like, posting at the right times can still give your posts more visibility by increasing the overall engagement they receive.

By scheduling content in advance, your entire team can see campaigns and schedules more efficiently. It’s always smart to build out content in advance and with our Instagram scheduling tools, you can reach your audience and maintain a consistent flow of content at the same time.

4. Instagram Stories

Instagram Stories are a great way to drive traffic from Instagram.

Influencers (whatever size!) can connect with their followers on a more personal level — which is essential for building trust and increasing engagement.

And now, thanks to the roll out of the Instagram Stories link sticker for all accounts – anyone can easily drive traffic from Stories, even if you have under 10K followers

5. Use Videos Creatively

The introduction of formats like reels has broadened the scope and higher visibility of video content. Posting reels regularly can make your content pop on the Instagram Explore tab and amplify it to maximize visibility. The watch-time of videos increased by 250% in 2020, so now is not the time to skip video content. Videos also give users more space to share information compellingly. You can leverage them to show some personality and attract more followers. You need to buy active Instagram followers to get the maximum number of views on your videos. So make sure that your content mix involves different layouts of video content- Story videos, reels, IGTVs, and in-feed videos.

6. Post Exclusive Content

If you want to drive traffic to your Instagram account, showcase some exclusive content that’s only on your Instagram. This gives people a reason to check out your Instagram and drive traffic to it. Being a part of your Instagram community should feel like a privilege and excite your audience. You can offer Instagram exclusive giveaways, launch special contests, introduce fun challenges, offer exclusive discounts and promotional codes, loyalty points, behind-the-scenes glimpses, interviews with opinion leaders, and more. Give the final touch of your offers with branded long-tail hashtags with some trending-related hashtags, and your post will be good to go!

7. Partner with influencers

You know what they say, two is better than one. And no truer are those words than when a brand or business partners with an influencer on Instagram.

It’s an excellent way to leverage another community and with the right brand ambassador, you can reach a new audience on the platform.

The result? Sponsored posts that feel genuine and tap into your audience for those much-wanted clicks.

8. Invest in Instagram ads

If you’re looking for a fast-pass route to drive more traffic from Instagram, create an Instagram ad. Instagram ads are a guaranteed way to reach more users and with the right strategy, they can be a huge advantage for your brand.

To make your Instagram ads as successful as possible, carefully consider your end goals. To drive traffic, focus on a strong CTA that encourages clicks.

Having a clear idea of your goals will help define your target audience, creative requirements and budget—making the whole process more targeted and efficient.

Use UTM tags to gain a deeper understanding of what content converts into sales.

Thank you for your Valuable Time 💫