Instagram Adds WhatsApp Connection Sticker for Stories

This could be interesting.

Instagram has added a new WhatsApp sticker for Stories, which enables you to drive clicks towards a private WhatsApp chat direct from your Stories posts.

As you can see in this example, shared by app researcher Radu Oncescu, the new WhatsApp sticker, which is now available in the Stories sticker tray, lets you link through to your WhatsApp presence, by providing your phone number for verification.

Which could be a good way to raise awareness of your business’ WhatsApp channel, where you can share updates via DM, while it could also help to drive more direct discussion with potential customers, deepening bonds in Meta’s app.

And definitely, messaging is on the rise.

Over the past five years in particular, people have been moving away from public posting in social apps, and towards more private discussion in more enclosed DM groups.

Which is particularly notable on Instagram.

As Instagram chief Adam Mosseri explains:

“Friends post a lot more to stories, and send a lot more DMs, than they post to Feed.”

Indeed, last month, in outlining his top areas of focus for this year, Mosseri also highlighted messaging, saying that:

“[Messaging] is the primary way that people share on Instagram today, even though a lot of people don’t think of us that way.”

As such, if you want to maximize your IG engagement and interaction, messaging should be part of your planning, while WhatsApp is also on the rise in Western markets, with WhatsApp reaching 100 million U.S. users last year.

It makes sense, then, to consider your WhatsApp connection and promotions options, as a means to both enhance connection, and meet your audience where they’re most active.

Providing a direct link between Stories and WhatsApp could be a key step in this regard, and it’s another consideration for your outreach process.