It’s Time To Break Up With LinkTree
Update, June 2021: TikTok does not recognize Linktree links as legit links now either! If you use Linktree on TikTok, users will receive an “unsafe” warning before they can visit your links. Keep reading to see what you should use instead.
Original Blog, Nov 2019: You may recall a little fiasco on Instagram last year when ALL Linktree links were marked as spam and were temporarily broken. The issue caused panic among those who currently use the service and people spent the day trying to find an alternative method for sharing links on their pages.
Never heard of Linktree? Let me tell you a bit about the service. Linktree is a popular 3rd party app you can use to get around the ‘one link in bio’ rule on Instagram. The app creates a landing page that you add multiple links to, and then you add the Linktree branded link to your Instagram bio. It seems great in theory, but you’re relying on space on the Internet that you don’t own. If you’re a regular reader of our blog or one of my clients, you know I’m not a fan of relying on resources you don’t own for your marketing.
So besides not owning the site, why do I think you should break up with Linktree? I have a few reasons.
NOT YOUR OWN URL
The link in your Instagram profile/bio being a Linktree link is driving traffic to ANOTHER website instead of your own. Why would you want to make getting to your website more difficult for your customer or client? You are missing a huge opportunity to claim your customer immediately by driving them to an outsourced website.
SACRIFICES YOUR BRANDING
The free version of Linktree only has a handful of color schemes and options that likely do not fit your branding so you are not creating a cohesive brand experience from the get-go. The free version also has the Linktree logo on the bottom and does not have the option to add your own company logo. Linktree doesn’t give you the option to add photos, a bio, or much about your business for visitors to know about your business.
NO GUARANTEE YOUR LINK WILL WORK
Linktree links could be banned and/or marked as spam by Instagram at any time with no notice – leaving you with a broken link on your Instagram bio. This has happened as recently as this year when Instagram temporarily recognized Linktree as against community standards.
YOU’RE HURTING YOUR SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION
Every time a person clicks the link in your Instagram bio is an opportunity to boost your own website page ranking. By using Linktree, you are giving away this ranking to them instead.
ANALYTICS, ANYONE?
Third-party apps and tools give you no way to track analytics and see what links are converting. This means no data to know what content is performing best for you, no data for your retargeting ads, and no data to measure over time.
So, if I break up with Linktree, what should I do?
That’s easy! Make your own Instagram landing page on your website! You’re already paying to host your site and drive traffic to it - drive more with your #LinkInBio.
Here are a few easy steps to create your own landing page:
Contact your web designer to create the page and have it be optimized for mobile
Customize the page with links, your branding, information about your business, and anything else you want your Instagram visitors to know about you
Set up the Facebook Pixel on the page to use with retargeting ads
I firmly believe that every online business needs to own its own Instagram #LinkInBio page. You will elevate your brand and online presence, plus have so many more customization and analytics options.
