Instagram Swipe Up

Introduction

For marketers, influencers, and businesses, Instagram Swipe Up was once the holy grail for driving traffic from Stories to external websites or product pages. By swiping up, viewers entered an in-app browser and landed directly on a link without the friction of “link in bio” workarounds. However, access was limited to verified accounts or those with more than 10,000 followers, leaving many creators and small businesses unable to leverage this seamless CTA.

In late 2021, Instagram replaced Swipe Up with the Link Sticker, democratizing direct traffic for every account. Today, the strategic focus has shifted from merely gaining access to optimizing and scaling Link Sticker campaigns—especially when you manage multiple profiles.

The Evolution from Swipe Up to Link Stickers

The Original Swipe Up Feature

Instagram Swipe Up appeared as an arrow icon and “See More” text at the bottom of a Story. Key benefits included:

• Direct Traffic: One swipe → one destination.
• Exclusivity: A badge of trust for verified or 10K+ follower accounts.
• Measurable ROI: Instant commerce and content-driving clicks.

But its gated nature forced smaller accounts to rely on indirect tactics, limiting their ability to convert engaged audiences into website visitors or buyers.

Why Link Stickers Changed the Game

Link Stickers unlocked universal access and richer creative control:

• Universal Access: Every account can now add tappable Link Stickers.
• Customizable Design: Resize, reposition, and style stickers to match brand aesthetics.
• Clear CTAs: “Tap Here” prompts replaced ambiguous swipe gestures.
• Interactive Integration: Combine polls, quizzes, and links for multi-layered engagement.
  This shift makes Link Stickers one of Instagram’s most potent tools for turning Story views into measurable outcomes.

Why Instagram Link Stickers Matter for Your Marketing Strategy

Direct Traffic Generation

Unlike a single bio link, Link Stickers let you:

• Run targeted promotions (product launches, blog posts, event registrations).
• Shorten conversion paths to two taps: view Story → tap sticker.

Enhanced Story Engagement

Adding a Link Sticker transforms passive viewing into active decision points, signaling high-value engagement to Instagram’s algorithm. Stories with Link Stickers typically generate 25–40% more taps forward than standard Stories.

Three Core Use Cases

1. E-commerce: Schedule flash-sale Stories across 20 accounts in under 5 minutes.
2. Content Distribution: Automate daily blog-post announcements with Link Stickers for immediate traffic.
3. Lead Generation: Drive newsletter sign-ups or webinar registrations via Story-embedded landing pages.

Challenges of Managing Link Sticker Campaigns at Scale

Multi-Account Bottleneck

Manually creating, uploading, and posting Link Sticker Stories for dozens of clients can consume 10–15 hours per week.

Consistency and Timing

Scheduling batch posts from one device often misses optimal engagement windows across different time zones.

Security Risks

Repeated logins from the same IP/device fingerprint can trigger action blocks or shadowbans. A single flagged account may jeopardize your entire portfolio.

How GeeLark Simplifies Multi-Account Link Sticker Management

Cloud Phone vs. Browser Solutions

Feature	Cloud Phone	Browser Solutions
Device Authenticity	Real Android Fingerprint	Browser Simulation
Instagram Support	Full Instagram App Support	Limited Web API
Cross-Account Contamination Risks	Zero Cross-Account Contamination	Shared Cache Risks

Each GeeLark cloud phone profile lives on dedicated hardware with a unique device ID, model, OS build, and residential proxy. Instagram sees every account as a separate user on a separate device.

Automated Story Posting with Link Stickers

1. Centralize Assets: Upload Story creatives to GeeLark’s cloud storage.
2. Build Workflows: Use pre-built templates or no-code canvas to add and configure Link Stickers.
3. Bulk Deployment: Apply workflows across dozens of cloud phones. Stagger posting times for natural behavior.
4. Scheduled Execution: Run campaigns hands-off on your calendar.

Secure Isolation of Instagram Profiles

With each profile running on its own cloud phone and proxy, there’s no shared cookies or hardware ID. This isolation eliminates Linked-Account penalties and keeps every profile safe.

Step-by-Step: Deploying Link Stickers at Scale with GeeLark

1. Create Isolated Cloud Phone Profiles

• In GeeLark’s dashboard, spin up a new cloud phone per Instagram account.
• Customize device models.
• Assign high-quality residential proxies matching your target markets.

2. Install, Warm Up, and Automate Stories

• Install Instagram from the Google Play Store.
• Log in and complete profile setup.
• Warm up accounts with light manual activity (likes, follows) using our best practices for managing multiple Instagram accounts.
• Build a “Post Instagram Story” workflow, including Link Sticker addition and scheduling.

3. Monitor and Optimize Campaigns

• Track Instagram Insights per account: Taps Forward, reach, and exits.
• Refine visuals, CTAs, and posting times based on performance data.
• Iterate automated workflows in GeeLark for continuous improvement.

Best Practices for Link Sticker Stories

Design and Effective CTAs

• Keep visuals uncluttered around the Link Sticker area.
• Position stickers where thumbs naturally rest.
• Use direct language: “Tap to shop,” “Reserve your spot.”
• Create urgency: “Offer ends tonight,” “First 50 sign-ups get a bonus.”

Maintain Compliance

• Limit link-heavy Stories to 3–4 per day to avoid spam filters.
• Ensure destination pages comply with Instagram’s content policies.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Instagram Swipe Up has evolved into the fully accessible Link Sticker, enabling every account to drive traffic directly from Stories. The true competitive advantage now lies in automating and scaling these campaigns across multiple profiles—without risking bans or burning hours on manual tasks.

Ready to eliminate bottlenecks and secure your Instagram multi-account strategy? Start your 14-day free trial of a GeeLark cloud phone.

People Also Ask

How to do the swipe up on Instagram?

To add a “Swipe Up”-style link in your Story:

1. Open Instagram and tap the Story camera.
2. Capture or upload your photo/video.
3. Tap the sticker icon at the top, choose “Link.”
4. Paste your URL, then customize and place the link sticker.
5. Share your Story.
   Now viewers can swipe up (or tap the sticker) to open your link directly.

Is Instagram Swipe Up gone?

Yes. Instagram retired the old “Swipe Up” link (available only to verified or 10K+ accounts) in October 2021 and replaced it with a tappable link sticker in Stories. Now everyone who meets Instagram’s link-eligible criteria uses the sticker instead of swiping up—even though some older Stories may still show “Swipe Up” graphics, the actual gesture no longer applies.

What does swiping up on Instagram mean?

Swiping up on Instagram usually refers to the action in Stories that opens an external link attached by the creator. Historically called “Swipe Up,” this gesture launched an in-app browser to display websites, products or articles without leaving Instagram. Since October 2021, it’s been replaced by a tappable link sticker, but the idea remains the same: it’s a built-in call-to-action for driving traffic directly from your Story.

What is the new swipe feature on Instagram?

Instagram’s new “swipe” feature is actually a tappable Link sticker in Stories that replaced the old Swipe Up gesture. Once your account is eligible, you add a Link sticker to any Story, customize its text and placement, and viewers simply tap the sticker to open an external URL in Instagram’s in-app browser—no swiping needed.