Are you one of those who set up an Instagram account, posted a few times, and then... left it on autopilot? You’re not alone! But if you're ready to take it up a notch (without hours of extra work), let’s talk about using links and locking arms on Instagram to grow your business.

In this quick dive, we’ll cover how to leverage Instagram links, highlight products, and collaborate with others to boost your brand. Whether you’re selling products, services, or ideas, these tips will help you turn clicks into cash—effortlessly!

Why Links Matter

You’ve heard it before, but it’s true: links are gold. Instagram offers several ways to drive traffic off-platform, and every external link click can lead to more sales, leads, or inquiries. In fact, external link taps are the most crucial metric to track to know if your Instagram is turning engagement into cash. Whether it’s inquiries, purchases, or subscriptions, those taps are what drive your business forward.

There are three primary spots where you can place links:

• Your Instagram bio
• Stories
• Direct Messages (DMs)

And don’t forget about Highlights—saving stories with links ensures they live on your profile long-term, ready for new visitors to explore. Your stories might disappear after 24 hours, but highlights let those valuable links keep working for you.

Tip: Want to know if your Instagram efforts are paying off? Go to your Professional Dashboard on Instagram, look at your views, and scroll down to external link taps. These tell you whether your content is converting into real action off-platform. Using tools like Bitly can also give you detailed insights into where and when people are clicking.

Best Practices for Linking on Instagram

Here’s the real kicker: adding a link directly in your stories reduces friction. Instead of asking followers to go from your story to your profile to your website, why not give them the direct link right in the story itself? It saves them time and makes it easier for them to take action.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Stories: Use stickers and call-to-action buttons to add clickable links in your stories.
• Highlights: Save stories to highlights, so they live on your profile and can be easily accessed anytime.

This is how you create a seamless user experience that leads directly to conversions. Want to dive deeper into this? Our class, The Blueprint for Instagram Stories and Highlights, covers everything from creating engaging stories to strategically using highlights for business growth.

Collaboration is Key: Locking Arms for Success

You’re not in this alone! Collaboration can supercharge your Instagram. Whether you’re recommending other businesses, promoting partnerships, or highlighting complementary products, working with others expands your reach and builds credibility.

Here’s how it works:

• Collaboration: Feature a business or influencer in your stories and save it under a "Collabs" highlight. For example, if you’re a yoga instructor, partner with a local wellness center and cross-promote each other’s services. This benefits both sides and builds trust with your audience.
• Synergy Partners: These are businesses or individuals who complement what you do. Realtors recommend contractors, personal trainers recommend nutritionists—find people whose services align with yours and promote each other.

Need help making collaborations work for you? Join our Social School and learn how to build these strategic partnerships that benefit your business【#】.

Turn Clicks into Cash

Ready to see results? Focus on shrinking the time it takes for someone to go from hearing about your offer to taking action. By providing direct, frictionless links (as close as possible to the content that inspired the action), you increase your chances of conversion. Think about it: your audience is more likely to click and buy when the process is easy and fast.

As we discussed in our class, Convert Clicks to Cash, the key to success on Instagram is minimizing the steps your audience has to take to make a purchase. By using direct links in stories, profile bios, and highlights, you remove the friction and create a smooth path from interest to transaction.

Wrapping Up

Instagram is more than just a platform for pretty pictures—it’s a powerful business tool when used strategically. By implementing these simple changes, like adding direct links and collaborating with others, you’ll start to see your Instagram work for you. Whether you’re a product-based business or service provider, these methods will help you convert clicks into cash.

If you’re ready to dive deeper, grab your Class Pass or sign up for our VIP Coaching to get personalized strategies and take your Instagram to the next level.

Let’s link arms and grow your business!