Instagram allows just one link on your page, so you have to use it wisely! The best way to do this is to set up a landing page with links to your website, blog posts, your calendar, or whatever else you may want to redirect your followers to.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Linktree, Milkshake, Linkin.bio or a few other services that provide a link you can place on your Instagram. Here’s the truth: you shouldn’t be using those.

The Problem

These services are meant to be quick, easy fixes for those looking for a way to display multiple links on their Instagram profile. The downside? Well, there are quite a few…

First and foremost, it’s a third-party platform that you don’t own, so if the service goes down, so does your link page. While we’re on the subject, since these are a third-party platform, you’re directing your audience away from your website by sending them to one of these services instead. Here’s a bonus tip: not everyone is going to actually click on a link here, friends. By using a third-party platform, you’re extending the user journey.

“Generally speaking, the best digital marketing strategies involve making the barrier to entry for users as low as possible, so it takes the least amount of effort to engage with and consume your content. If there are too many steps to get from awareness to engagement, many users will likely give up and move on with their days.”

Phoenix Menday

Let’s not forget about the SEO implications of this. If people are clicking your link in bio, but not moving forward to anything you’ve listed there, you’re missing website traffic. Phoenix goes into more detail about this in his article here, but to sum it up, Google takes actual website clicks into account when ranking search results, and if you’re not getting actual website clicks form the link in your bio, you’re not going to show up on Google the same way you would if you were getting website clicks.

In most cases, you can’t customize the design unless you pay for the premium service (and nobody wants to pay for that for a landing page in your bio), so your beautiful branding isn’t even visible to your audience once they click off of your Instagram. And I’m just going to say it…if your bio link looks the same as everyone else’s, you look basic. ?

Lastly, the analytics on these platforms are subpar compared to Google Analytics. With GA, you can see exactly where your followers are clicking through to and where they drop off. How powerful is that??

The Solution

You should be using a landing page built directly into your website with all of these links! As a service provider, this allows you to point your audience exactly where you’d like them to end up, while still getting them onto your website with the very first click.

There are ways to do this with every platform, but Showit makes it incredibly easy! With their design functionality and ease-of-use, you’ll be able to change the colors, fonts, and general layout to fit your brand and needs. You can even design your page for mobile so it looks exactly the way you want it to.

You’ve poured time, energy, and money into building your business, and you shouldn’t lose website visitors over a little link in your bio. Make sure you’re capturing your dream clients on that very first click.

What should I include on my page?

You should be sharing links to your website home page, your blog (if you have one), services, pricing guide, whatever your end goal is for your followers. Do you want them to book a discovery call or a 1:1 training session? Or maybe sign up for your newsletter? Include those links here!

A few tips

Are you ready to tackle your own Instagram link in bio page? Here are a few tips to make that as easy as possible!

Make sure you’re designing with mobile layout in mind. This isn’t the same as designing a page for desktop, not to mention that not all website platforms have the option to design specifically for mobile.

Keep it simple. This doesn’t need to be some intricate page with tons and tons of redirects, detailed design, or a bunch of content. Add in your links, maybe a quick bio or welcome message, and bam!

Don’t forget to update it! There is nothing worse that pulling up someone’s link in bio in May to see they still have their link up for their Christmas promotions. Changing out the links should only take a few minutes, just make sure you do it periodically.

Well friends, that’s all I’ve got for you! Do you have any questions for me about your link in bio? Drop them below or reach out to me here and I’ll get back with you ASAP!