When I started posting about my blog on social media, I quickly realized I could only attach one link to my account. What would this all important link be? It can’t just be my blog; I wanna give readers quick access to content. Maybe I wanna give them an easy button to reach me on Wattpad or LinkedIn. After perusing other accounts, I discovered Linktree.
The answer was oh so obvious.
Then I opened an account. While the free version allows you to do the main things, it makes customization nearly impossible. Limited branding, limited fonts, limited text. As a designer, Linktree crafted the perfect headache: having all the skills to build something really cool but having no capability to do so. With a little more digging, I found lnk.bio. I now had subscribing features with some integrations, room for text, and all the links I can desire. But I couldn’t adjust the stacking, the integration I needed wasn’t available, and I still couldn’t design how I wanted.
Now not everyone is me. You might not have my itch to control every little detail of a webpage. But the dilemma of the Linktree still remains. What information do you put on it? What method works best for getting audiences engaged with your content?
Since I’ve done a bit of exploration, I figured it’s my duty to give you my thoughts so you don’t waste time and money trying to solve this dilemma. What follows is a little test for deciding what your linktree should accomplish, a breakdown of Linktree and other options, and a recap of why investing the time matters to your business.
How a Link Tree can Benefit You
If you’re new to the game, here’s the skinny: Linktree is an online software that creates a mobile-friendly landing page where you can put several links. This can be your online store, work portfolio, blog, and social media. The software has now become synonymous with the concept, like Band-Aid being the word we use when we need to cover a papercut. But there are many “linktree” options in the world now; how do you pick one?
Consideration 1: What’s it for?
Wow. Revolutionary.
As basic as it sounds, you do need to define what your building this page for. Let’s use my blog for an example; I’m a writer but also a web designer. Originally, I combined the two. The entire blog on this website was once housed on srsinkfeather.com alongside short stories and character breakdowns. My portfolio sat as a permanent feature on my linktree.
So why the change? I slowly realized that, while I was providing good information on both sides, short stories have a different audience than design. So I separated the two. More recently, I completed this change on my linktree as well, dividing my fantasy and sci-fi writing from the storytelling I do through web design.
Your audience can expand, but you need to hone in on the specifics. What are people coming to you for? What do you want to provide? When you know who you’re building for and what your overall presence is going to be, that’ll determine the following considerations.
Consideration 2: Top 3 Purposes
Technically you should have only one primary. If you’re a business, you wanna sell a product. If you’re a blogger, you want people to read your blog. Now purposes can get muddy, especially if you want to do everything and anything.
Pro Tip: RESTRAIN YOURSELF.
It’s hard, believe me. But you have to focus your purpose or else confuse your audience. If you try to appease everyone, you’ll please no one. Define your audience and your business, and use that definition to orient your primary purpose. With that focus, you can discern what you need to present to the wide web. Maybe you add a link to a popular product or post alongside your website. Perhaps you integrate a subscription opt-in so you can get consumers. Possibilities are endless even with a narrow focus.
Now I’m not naive; the whole point of a linktree is to display links. Hence why I said 3 purposes. Define your primary and focus your efforts there. Then pick two secondary purposes. Maybe you want people to A) buy your product and B) learn about your product. You prioritize the purchase of said product, but then also link to a blog or articles about it. Up to 3 related purposes gives your audience options without overwhelming them with information.
Consideration 3: How it will be Displayed
Another revolutionary idea. A real nostradamus I am.
Joking aside, this does play a factor. People view the internet differently. Younger generations prioritize their phones while older ones hop onto their computer. You’ll see in a bit that each linktree feature looks better in one format or another. Or, if customized, looks great on both.
When defining your audience, think about who they are. Are they on their phone? Do they have 5 minutes or 5 seconds to view your content? How much instruction do they need to complete the task you want? Let’s be honest: sometimes people are stupid. We have our routines and ways of seeing the world that only make sense to us. It’s not bad or good, it’s just something to consider when building an experience.
Maybe your audience has a few moments, so you skip long-winded text and give them the necessary links. Or the purpose for them clicking the link is to read so you provide content for them to consume. Your audience’s habits and methods should determine how you provide information and what information is provided.
Now that we’re on the same page, let’s take a look at some linktree solutions.
LinkTree: The OG Mobile-Friendly Hub
Linktree played its cards right; it’s the simplest “link in bio” tool on the market with name recognition and sufficient customization for the average user. Everyone knows Linktree and everyone can use/edit Linktree.
The free version of Linktree gives you the bare minimum: unlimited links, free themes and color options, custom bio and profile photo. If all you want is to direct users to your illustrious collection of links, this is the cost-effective way to do so.
But let’s say you want to gain subscribers through your linktree, or want to sell products directly through the page. While taking payment is available for $5/mo in the Starter plan, collecting emails isn’t possible unless you purchase the Pro for $9/mo. Thankfully these paid options include other perks, such as scheduling links to publish and unpublish, more themes to choose from, animation, analytics, and various integrations. Linktree is a good starter program and can grow with you as you expand your business or blog.
As mentioned in the header, Linktree is very mobile-friendly. Desktop not so much. Because it handles the mobile optimization, your main editing is adding links and organizing the order. If you’re accustomed to building a website or designing beyond necessity, that’s not possible here. With paid versions, you can pick fonts, button colors, and background images. They’ve updated since I last used them, so perhaps there’s more I’ve missed. Nevertheless, if you’re going with free, be prepared for limited customization.
lnk.bio: The New Kid on the Block
As I previously mentioned, I wasn’t the hugest fan of Linktree. The simplicity works well for some, but I wanted to do more. That’s when I discovered lnk.bio, another “link in bio” builder with greater customization and content options. This high-powered underdog offers a free version with unlimited links, music and video embeds, several integrations, multiple templates and pages. The big winner for me was the price: you can pay $0.99/mo for the mini or buy it outright for $10. Yep, this is a one-time purchase kind of product, so you’re not watching your dollars leave your account once a month.
Where Linktree is optimized for mobile, lnk.bio allows customization for mobile and desktop. If you’ve experienced a web builder like Wix or Elementor, you’ll be well equipped to work with the block editor they utilize. You can add dividers, integrate email collection services, add bodies of text, include your social icons, and so on. The analytics are basic but give you a feel for popular links and icons on your page.
For the downside: it can be a little cumbersome to work with. Usually I have to hunt for an hour to rediscover my email leads since my current newsletter provider doesn’t integrate with them. The labeling is sufficient to navigate you through the features, but sometimes you need to test it to understand what it actually does. If you’re prone to getting aggravated with technology, I suggest skipping this program. It’s more control for less, but also more of a learnign curve.
The SRS Inkfeather Design Solution
I’m sure there’s other “link in bio” builders, but these were the two prominent ones that worked for a spell. But once the magic faded, I was left wanting more. At this stage in my career, I’ve learned a ton about responsive design and building for desktop and mobile. Rather than entrusting my many desires and links to an outside program, I decided to build my own.
Here’s how I did mine. My WordPress site is built with Elementor Pro, which has a landing page feature included. If you have the free Elementor, you can do something similar with a regular web page. I selected the mobile editing view and built everything out with the mindset of mobile. Because I’m in a sense building a webpage, I can use all the features and customization I’m used to when building a website.
If you don’t have a website, you can build one that’s intended for “link in bio” use. Many single page websites exist that offer a range of information, imagery, and shopping capabilities for users. Your landing page can be modified specifically for mobile, just as long as you don’t forget the desktop iteration. In my case, it made sense because of my control freak habits and because the primary link is my blog URL. This means my website gains traffic directly from Instagram and Facebook rather than an assortment of clicks through third parties.
Why Invest Your Time
When it comes to investment, the price is paid in money and time. And for linktree content, time is the biggest factor. Depending on your program of preference, be it Linktree or a custom webpage, your investing time into collecting links, activating integrations, creating content, and maintaining what users have access to.
If you’ve reached the end and are still uncertain, take a breath. The world isn’t going to end if you decide to put your website link in your bio. For most, that’s all one needs to gain traction. The link in your bio should lead to an experience catered to newcomers. What do they need to know about you and your service? If your homepage is mobile-friendly, add it. But if you want to direct users to certain posts, products, portfolios, and media, a linktree may be the way to go.
Assess what you wish to accomplish, recognize your audience and their needs, and make a decision based on those two factors. When it comes to “link in bio” options, it’s up to how much branding and control you want over the process. To expand your brand, a little time is required. But it’s well worth the reward.
