Are you wondering how to drive traffic from Instagram to your website? Instagram has surged in popularity in recent years, particularly for brands trying to reach consumers in the 18-34 age bracket. If you’ve gained traction on Instagram, you might be wondering how else you can leverage the app’s popularity to drive greater traffic to your website.
Today, Instagram is more than just a photo sharing app. The platform is now a top destination for people searching for products to purchase, with 60% of users reporting they use Instagram to find new products. With the release of Instagram Shopping in Explore and Stories, the number of people shopping on Instagram is set to increase even more.
Figuring out how to drive traffic from Instagram to your website might be easier than you think. Here are eight ways to turn those Instagram followers into website visitors — and, hopefully, customers, as part of your Instagram marketing strategy.
1. Make the most of your bio URL
One of the biggest challenges for driving traffic from Instagram to your website is that you only get one link in your bio. That changed significantly when Instagram business accounts were rolled out. Now, Instagram business accounts have the option to add an email, address, or other contact information.
Still, most organizations are stuck with just that one bio link to encourage followers on Instagram to head to their website. Here is an example, from wndr museum in Chicago. They use their one link to encourage followers to buy tickets to their museum. Since that is their main product, one link isn’t too much of a hindrance.
But what if you want to share multiple links, for example, a new blog post and a link to buy tickets? Or, what if you carry dozens of products and want to encourage your followers to buy them?
Is there a way around the one link rule? Yes. In fact, there are several ways you can make the most of that single bio link if you’re trying to figure out how to get followers on Instagram to your site. Here are four easy ways to get more mileage out of your Instagram bio link.
1. Update your bio link regularly
Instead of keeping the same link in your bio, update your link with timely content. Did you post a new blog on your website? Post a teaser on Instagram and encourage users to click your bio link to read the post. You may have to do this manually, which can be tiresome, but this strategy can majorly increase traffic from Instagram to your website.
2. Send followers to an Instagram-specific landing page
Instead of using your website homepage as your bio link, use a specific landing page designed with Instagram users in mind — this is another way how to drive traffic from Instagram to your site. Post multiple links, including resources your Instagram audience might find useful.
Make sure your landing page functions well on mobile, as most Instagram users will be coming from their mobile device. You can include deeper links to relevant pages on your website, such as your store, email sign up form, or a lead magnet. WGN News in Chicago uses this strategy.
WGN News’ Instagram landing page includes links to all the news stories mentioned on its Instagram page as well as the most recent news posts.
3. Use an Instagram linking tool
Tools like LinkTree or Link in Profile can send users to a single page with multiple links. You can encourage users to sign up for your email list, read your latest blog post, and more — all in one place. Unlike manually updating your bio link, these tools streamline the process and store all the content you mention on Instagram.
4. Link to a freebie
Want to turn Instagram followers into email subscribers? Linking to a lead magnet in your bio is another strategy if you’re figuring out how to drive traffic from Instagram to your site. Once they sign up for your email list, you can send them new promotions, blog posts, etc.
2. Add your website URL to your images
This is one of the simplest ways to drive traffic when you’re looking for strategies on how to get followers on Instagram to your site. Simply add your website to your Instagram posts as a watermark. Just make sure to drop the “https://” portion of your URL.
Online pet supply store Chewy.com makes sure to keep their website front and center by adding their website to many of their Instagram posts. This strategy is particularly useful if you use your bio link for a lead magnet, contest, or landing page. By including your website in your images, you can still encourage website views.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Chewy (@chewy) on Jan 17, 2019 at 8:00am PST
If you use Instagram templates, add your website URL to your templates, and you will be good to go.
The drawback to this strategy is you are only sending traffic to your homepage. Make sure you have a well-designed homepage that draws visitors deeper into your site if you use this strategy.
3. Host an Instagram contest
Nothing brings out our competitive side like a good contest. Instagram contests can be extremely effective at getting followers on Instagram to your website by tempting them with the chance to win something.
You can use a contest hosting tool, such as WooBox or Wishpond, or you can create your Instagram contest manually.
Most Instagram contests are used to gain followers on Instagram, like this collaborative contest by Boulineau Branding.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Soulful Coaching For Mystics (@chaseboulineau) on Jan 15, 2019 at 12:05pm PST
The trick when trying to work out how to drive traffic from Instagram to your website with a contest is to host the contest on your actual website. Then, post about the contest on Instagram and use your bio link to drive followers to your website. (Or, announce the contest in your Stories and include a link there, which I’ll cover in the next section.)
4. Add links to your Instagram Stories
Instagram recently added the ability to add links to your Instagram Stories. Which is amazing. But there’s a catch: you have to have at least 10,000 followers or a verified Instagram account. If you are running a smaller account, you might not be able to add links yet, which is a bummer.
If you are under the 10,000 follower threshold, your first step is to apply for a verified badge. This guide from Instagram will walk you through how to apply for your verification badge.
Another option is to increase your followers on Instagram to meet the 10,000 threshold. Check out The New Instagram Algorithm: How to Use It to Boost Brand Visibility for more on how to get get more Instagram followers.
Once you are either verified or reach 10,000 followers, you can post links to your Instagram Stories. Here is what those links look like, from career site Classy Career Girl’s Instagram page.
That “See More” text links to a post on Classy Career Girl’s blog. Classy Career Girl regularly uses links in her stories to drive traffic to blogs, downloads, classes, and challenges.
Including links in your Instagram stories is a simple solution when you’re working out how to get followers on Instagram to your site.
But, those posts only stay up for 24 hours before they disappear into the ether. Or do they? This is where using Story Highlights comes in.
5. Use links in Instagram Story highlights
Story highlights are Instagram Stories you choose to save to your profile. (Here is how to set them up on your page.) Unlike regular Stories, which disappear after 24 hours, these stories are always accessible on your profile.
Rebel Girls, a community aimed at helping parents raise brave, strong girls, uses this strategy extremely well. You can see the Story Highlights just below its bio.
Rebel Girls uses its Instagram Stories Highlights to send followers to several other platforms, including their podcast, reviews, and their books. Keep in mind that you do need to be approved to add links to your Stories for this strategy to work if you’re figuring out how to get followers on Instagram to your site.
The possibilities for using Instagram Highlights are endless. You can drive ticket sales, like The Daily Show:
Or, you could drive traffic to your podcast, like the Jacksonville Library.
The options really are endless. You can drive traffic to any part of your website using Instagram Stories. Plus, Stories stay on your Instagram profile until you decide to change them so you don’t have to worry about them expiring like standard Stories.
6. Try the shopping feature
Instagram rolled out its shopping feature in 2017. This feature allows brands with over 10,000 followers to tag products in Instagram Stories. It is important to note there are several requirements to use the shopping feature. Instagram lays the full list of requirements here, but they include:
- Your business must mostly sell physical goods
- You must be located in one of the approved countries (US, Canada, Mexico, most of Europe, and about a dozen other countries.)
- You must have a business profile
- Your profile must be associated with a Facebook Catalogue
If your Instagram account checks all those boxes, then you can use shoppable posts when trying to work out how to get followers on Instagram to your site’s product pages. Shoppable posts allow your followers to click on tags in your Instagram stories or posts to purchase the items you share. Here is what it looks like on fashion retailer Spell’s account:
When users click the Shoppable tag, which is noted by the shopping cart icon next to the tag, they are taken to a landing page where they can see more details and even purchase the item.
Here is another example of shoppable posts, from kitchen retailer Williams Sonoma. Nearly every posts on their Instagram feed is shoppable. This post is particularly timely, as it was posted just a few weeks before Valentine’s Day.
Interested in using Shoppable posts? This Shoppable posts guide on Instagram will get you started.
6. Take the conversation to DMs
Another method for how to drive traffic from Instagram to your website is through direct messages. Ask questions on Instagram (particularly in your Stories) and invite users to DM you with their answers.
For example, you might ask what their favorite product is, what area of their life they struggle the most in, or what is holding them back from success in their career. (You will want to tailor your questions to your brand and industry, of course.) Then, you can share links or resources with them directly in messages.
Tread carefully here. Make sure you are only sharing links that are genuinely related to their answers. Spamming isn’t a good look on anyone. Aim to be helpful, not pushy.
7. Run an Instagram ad campaign
This might be the most effective way for how to drive followers from Instagram to your site, but it does require spending some cash. However, if you have a solid Instagram following, Instagram ads can offer a solid return on investment.
Here is an example of an Instagram promotion. Take note that the ad looks very similar to a regular post; it isn’t disruptive to the user experience at all.
Unlike standard Instagram posts, this one is clickable. Instagram ads use the Facebook Ads platform, which allows you to create detailed targeting. Plus, there is no minimum spend on Instagram ads, which means you can try it out without investing hundreds of dollars.
If you don’t have the followers to use Shoppable posts or add links to your Stories, Instagram ads are a great alternative. Here’s a guide on how to create Instagram ads in Facebook Ads manager, including more details on how to create extremely targeted audiences.
Final thoughts on how to drive traffic from Instagram to your website
Following the tips in this post should help you work out how to get followers on Instagram to click your links and get more traffic to your site.
Have you had success getting Instagram followers to your website? What works for you? Let us know in the comments below!
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