3268
7 min 33 sec

Q&A: “Are Instagram links killing my reach?”

A listener worries external links are throttling her posts. We’ll use Instagram-native tools, light automation, and a simple test to keep reach high while still sending people to purchase.

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What It's About

Is Instagram quietly punishing posts with links?

Notes from Chris

Episode 3268
Instagram wants people to stay on Instagram, so posts that look “leave-y” sometimes underperform—whether or not there’s an official penalty. The solution isn’t to give up on sales; it’s to shift the link from a static caption (which isn’t even clickable) to formats the algorithm already rewards: interaction, DMs, Stories, product tags. Here’s a practical mix.

"Every time I post a new ceramic mug on Instagram, I add my Linktree in the caption so buyers can click through to my Shopify store. Lately my reach has tanked, and almost no one even sees my posts. Friends say Instagram buries posts with external links. I don’t want to spam ‘DM me to buy,’ but hiding the link kills sales. What’s the smart way to respect these annoying platform quirks yet still move followers to an actual checkout page?"

Listen to today's episode to learn more...

 
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To infinity and beyond,

Chris Guillebeau