Is Linktree good for business?
In 2018, there was a major outage with Linktree, a popular Instagram bio link software. 2018 is the big one, but as you can see here, this incident still happens, albeit on a smaller scale, to this day. This caused a lot of panic among users who rely on the software to link to multiple pages from their Instagram bio. This made many people start questioning, “Is Linktree good for business?” Linktree is just a simple landing page with links and that we could easily create our own alternative. In this article, I will explain why I think you should not use Linktree and how to create your own alternative using Squarespace. It’s important to note that this tutorial is only for those who are already using Squarespace for their website. If you are using another website platform, you can apply the same idea to your existing website.
I recall that during the Linktree outage, many people were expressing their frustration over the inability to use the software to link to multiple pages on Instagram. Though the situation may have seemed dramatic, it was a genuine concern for small business owners who rely on the software. The level of panic among those I was following on social media was palpable, and I can only imagine the chaos that must have ensued at Instagram headquarters.
Amid the chaos caused by the Linktree outage, I began to question the necessity of using this software. While it was convenient and widely used at the time, it occurred to me that it was essentially just a landing page with multiple links. Instagram bio link software, such as Linktree and Milkshake, allows small business owners to provide multiple options for their followers by bypassing Instagram’s limitation of only one link in the bio. Why not create our own alternative?
Linktree is simple, yet effective.
Instagram bio link software such as Linktree makes it possible to provide multiple options for followers by adding all your different links into the program and using just one Linktree URL in your Instagram bio. When someone clicks on the URL, they will be directed to a page displaying a list of all the links you’ve added. Linktree is simple yet effective in solving the problem of the single link limitation on Instagram.
In fact, the simplicity of the concept means that you don’t have to use Instagram bio link software like Linktree. I will explain why I believe it is better to create your own alternative, and provide instructions on how to do so using Squarespace. It’s important to note that this tutorial is specifically for those who are already using Squarespace for their website. If you do not use Squarespace, this tutorial may not be applicable to you.
Create a Multi Link Landing Page With Any Platform.
If you use a different platform for your website, such as WordPress, Showit, or Wix, you can still apply the concept of creating your own alternative to Instagram bio link software to your existing website. If you do not have a website yet, you can consider using our Squarespace template kits. One of the reasons to not use Instagram bio link software like Linktree is that it may experience outages, as seen in the past. This serves as a reminder to consider using a more reliable method instead, and there is nothing more reliable than a website you own!
Linktree is not good for your SEO.
Another reason to avoid using Instagram bio link software like Linktree is that it adds an extra step to redirecting users to your website. Instead of linking directly to your website, you’re directing them away from Instagram to a third-party site that you don’t control. This increases the chances of encountering problems and makes it more difficult to direct users to your website. By using the alternative method I will provide, users will be directed directly to your website. This will help increase the number of visitors to your website, and also help with your SEO.
Linktree does not align with your brand.
Another reason to avoid using Instagram bio link software like Linktree is that it does not align with your brand. The design options provided by Linktree are limited and do not allow you to incorporate your own brand style, even with the premium version. This can be detrimental to your small business as branding is essential. Additionally, the one link in your profile will not be your website URL, which can be confusing for users and diminishes your brand’s visibility. Instead, creating an Instagram landing page on your website is a simple, reliable, and free alternative that allows you to have complete creative freedom to style it according to your brand.
Step 1: Create a new page.
To begin, create a new page on your website and name it something relevant and short, such as “Learn-More.” Keep in mind that the URL for this page is what you will be using in your Instagram bio, so it’s important that it’s easy to remember. Make sure this page is not linked anywhere on your website, as you only want people to access it from the link in your Instagram bio. In Squarespace, add it to the “not linked” section. Additionally, it is recommended to turn off SEO for this page by going to the page settings, clicking on SEO, and choosing “Hide page from Search Results.” This will ensure that Google won’t index it as a regular page and prevent people from accidentally finding your Instagram links page through Google search.
Step 2: Customize your page.
Next, customize your new page by adding elements such as your Instagram handle, a list of buttons or regular links, and any other elements you want to include. If you’re using Squarespace or a similar web design platform, this is straightforward. You can add a text block at the top and then a list of buttons or links. You can also add a profile photo at the top, and any other elements to make it more engaging. If you have experience with custom CSS, you can use it to further personalize your page. If not, you can use graphics created in Canva and upload them as links. Remember to preview the page in mobile view to ensure that it looks good on mobile devices as it is where most people will view it.
Step 3 (optional):
Remove header and footer (for Squarespace 7.1 users only) To prevent visitors from navigating elsewhere on your website, you can remove the header and footer and only provide access to the links page. This requires some coding and the code is provided below.
To add the code:
- Open the page settings of your new Instagram Links page by clicking on the cog/wheel icon.
- Click on Advanced.
- Paste the appropriate code into the Page Header Code Injection area.
- <style> .header-announcement-bar-wrapper {display:none;} #footer-sections {display:none;} </style>
- Save and refresh.
The header and footer should now be removed from that page only. Note: that this step is optional and the code provided is for Squarespace 7.1 users only. If you’re still using Squarespace 7.0, you may need to consider consulting us for a website migration to Squarespace 7.1.
Step 4: Add the link to your Instagram.
Once you’ve created your Instagram landing page and customized it as desired, you can now update the link in your bio to the new URL. To do this, go to your Instagram profile, click on Edit Profile, and paste the new page link in the website field. This way, when visitors click on the link in your bio, they will be directed to your new landing page with all the links you’ve provided.
Don’t forget to double check that the link is correct and working before posting it on your Instagram bio. This simple method is definitely more straightforward than using Linktree or Milkshake. Plus, it eliminates the risk of crashes, aligns with your brand, and gives you the benefit of added in SEO.
