Instagram offers a range of features that make it easy to showcase affiliate content, connect with followers, and drive sales. The options below show how to use the platform’s tools to promote affiliate links effectively and help your followers find and engage with your content.
1. Add affiliate links to your bio
Instagram lets you add up to five links in your profile bio. Use this space to highlight affiliate links to the products or advertisers you want to promote. This makes it easy for followers to find your links without relying on individual posts or Stories.
To share more than five links, you can use third-party services such as Linktree or Linkin.bio. These allow you to group multiple affiliate links behind a single profile link.
To shorten your links before adding them to your bio, see How can I shorten my affiliate link?
2. Use link stickers in Instagram Stories
Stories are ideal for time-sensitive promotions such as flash sales or limited-time discounts. You can use link stickers to place affiliate links directly in your Story. To increase visibility, save Stories with affiliate links to a ‘highlight’ on your profile. For a step-by-step guide to creating links, see How can I create an affiliate link?
3. Share Reels to highlight products
Instagram Reels is one of the platform's most engaging and visible features. While Reels don't support clickable links, you can add calls to action in your voiceover or captions, such as ‘Link in bio’ or ‘Watch my Story.’
Reels are a good way to show how a product looks or works in action, which is ideal for fashion, tech, or beauty content.
4. Mention brands and use hashtags
When relevant, @mention the brand’s official account and include targeted hashtags to increase reach. This improves content discoverability and may lead to re-shares, increasing visibility.
Tagging the brand can also help build relationships for future collaborations.
5. Share discount codes
If you're using Voucher Attribution on Awin, you can promote affiliate-linked vouchers and discount codes through Stories, Reels, grid posts, or by pinning them to the top of your profile.
Discount codes not only motivate purchases but can spread organically when followers share them with their networks.
To learn more, see What is Voucher Attribution?
6. Use Instagram Live for direct promotion
Use Instagram Live to demonstrate products, answer questions, and promote time-limited offers in real time. During your livestream, you can direct viewers to the affiliate links in your bio or Story.
This format works well for launches, tutorials, or Q&A sessions tied to a product or brand.
7. Explore Broadcast Channels (Creator accounts only)
For Creator account holders, Instagram's Broadcast Channels offer a way to send exclusive updates to followers. While these channels support images, videos, and voice memos, they don't allow affiliate links.
To work around this limitation, use your broadcast messages to direct followers to your bio or Story where they can find your affiliate links.
8. Pin key posts to your profile
Pin up to three posts to the top of your grid to keep your most important promotions visible. This works especially well for evergreen content like product reviews or ongoing discounts. Include compelling calls to action and direct followers to your bio link.
Summary
Instagram offers multiple ways to promote products effectively, from bio links to Stories, Reels, and live broadcasts. By combining these different features and maintaining authentic engagement with your audience, you can create a strong promotional strategy that drives results.
For more detailed guidance on setting up and using Instagram's business features, visit Instagram’s help center.
