Unlike other platforms, Instagram has restrictions when adding active links. This feature may only be available for certain accounts, such as business accounts or profiles with over 10,000 followers. However, several ways exist to sidestep this limitation and set up a link for online scheduling on Instagram.

Getting the link

The link can be a website address, a widget address, or a more detailed URL. Let's look at their purpose and how to get them.

Link to the company website

EasyWeek provides you with a ready-to-use website loaded with photos and information about the company, services, and specialists as you enter this information into your personal account. If you want to direct clients from Instagram to this site, use a link like:

https://easyweek.io/company?ref=instagram 

where 'company' is your organization's URL set in Settings - Administration - General.

The actual link is located in the Integrations and Apps catalog. Open it and select the Instagram card, which is usually one of the first on the list:

The link to your company page is contained in a text field with a copy button.

Link to the online booking widget

To avoid extra clicks and speed up the booking process, you can direct clients directly to the booking form instead of having them browse the site. The link looks like this:

https://widget.easyweek.io/company

The current version includes the word 'widget' additionally to the previous link. 

Employees' individual links 

You can use personal links to your employees' pages in the widget for more precise targeting. This can be useful for the individual services promotion by the masters while interacting with clients remains within the company widget.

The individual link for online booking is located on each employee's card. Their status must be set to Active, and booking through the widget should be Activated:

Tracking the booking source

Each of the above links contains or can contain the ending ?ref=instagram.

This does not affect the page that clients will be directed to. Bookings made through links with this key will be reflected in analytical reports as being made via Instagram, which provides a clear illustration of the effectiveness of client attraction through this social network:

It is advisable to create distinct data sources to better organize incoming clients from different sources such as corporate Instagram, personal profiles, or advertising campaigns. More details can be found in this article.

Placing the link on Instagram

Let's explore how any of the obtained links can be placed on Instagram with or without the tracking key.

Adding a link to the profile description

Link editing is only available on mobile devices. Visit the Instagram app and edit your profile to change the websites in your bio.

1. Navigate to your profile page by selecting the icon in the bottom panel:
2. Press Edit Profile 3. Next, select Links
4. We are interested in the top row + Add external link
5. Paste the previously obtained link here. For example, the company widget URL.

After pressing the link in your profile description, clients will be directly taken to the booking form:

Inserting link in Stories

This is the most dynamic and popular way to use links. Share your company's achievements with subscribers and clients, and add a link for booking your services!

1. Open the Instagram app and swipe sideways to go to the creation of Stories. 2. Add a photo, video, or text.
3. Press the sticker icon in the top row
4. Select the Link among the available elements
5. Paste the link in the URL field. 6. To display useful text, personalize the sticker text with the corresponding option and press Done.

For instance, you can create different Stories about your employees and include individual links for booking with them:

Swipe Up feature

To utilize this feature, your account must be verified or have the required number of followers (usually more than 10,000).

1. Create Stories as described above and select the addition of a link.
2. Instead of entering a URL, swipe up on the screen and find the Swipe Up option.
3. Press Swipe Up and enter the URL you want users to navigate to.
4. Press the Done button.

Conclusion

Instagram frequently alters the terms of link usage. Thus some features may be inaccessible or require the fulfillment of certain conditions.

The booking process can be simplified and made more interactive through online scheduling by utilizing various methods of obtaining and placing links. Engage your clients and maximize your business outcomes!