On Instagram we are very limited with external links in posts. Hyperlinks are not active in the description of a post, unless it in the description of an IGTV video when it’s viewed in full screen. Looking at the post in the feed, the link is no longer active.
Which is frustrating when we want to send our audience to our website, blog or YouTube video, but a smart move by Instagram to keep their audience on the platform.
So you may opt to use the ‘link in bio’ option to send your audience to a specific webpage. However, in your Instagram bio you can only have one link. This is where our multiple link in bio tools comes in to allow us to send our audience to as many destinations as we would like.
But there are a few things that could be harming your click through rates and overall success of your link in bio setup that we will look at in just a moment. First, let’s have a brief look at the different kinds of link in bio tools available and what might be the best option for you.
1. Linktr.ee
With the free version of Linktr.ee you can embed videos from YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Twitch or Vimeo and add a Spotify preview to link to music or a podcast.
You can also add social icons so your audience can connect with you on other platforms. You get a customisable username that will appear as ‘linktr.ee/yourname’ that you put in the website section of your Instagram bio.
You can easily add links, edit the title and the url destination, and turn them on and off if you only want them active at certain times. You can also add images or icons to make them more visual.
The pro version is $6 USD/month and that allows you to have a lot more customisation and control over your theme, and access to extra features like an email link, RSS feed link and even link scheduling.
Check out Linktr.ee here.
2. Direct.me
Direct.me has a similar layout to Linktr.ee but it has a few extra features for free thatLlinktr.ee has restricted to their Pro plan. In fact you won’t pay for Direct.me at all. All of their features are included, completely free, forever.
For example, you can add an email button to send potential clients straight to your inbox and people can follow you and get updates on your activity. You have a lot more customisation control so you can bring your Direct.me link in line with the rest of your branding.
And just like Linktr.ee you can add social icons, embed media, and add as many links as you like.
Check out Direct.me here.
3. Linkin.bio
Later’s Linkin.bio layout is a little different. This platform organises your links by using photos, so if you are a recipe blogger, fashion blogger, or you sell products on Instagram, this might be a good option for you because your customers can easily recognise what they want based on your Instagram feed and go straight there.
With the free version you are limited to only linking 30 photos. This maybe all you need as you may filter out your older posts and, but the paid version also gives you access to Later’s larger array of features.
As more of an all-in-one social growth platform, Later allows you to plan and schedule posts, suggest hashtags, access stock images and give you analytics all in the one place, as well as facilitate the Linkin.bio feature.
Check out Linkin.bio here.
Some tips for your link in bio
Make it as easy as possible for your audience to find what they’re looking for. If your post says, “check the link in my bio to watch my latest YouTube video,” make sure that video is really obvious or it’s right there embedded in your Linktr.ee.
I often visit profiles that say, “find the link to this video in my bio,” and they have a link for a YouTube page, that will then take me to their channel page and I have to search for the video that I’m looking for.
The average person probably isn’t going to put that much effort into watching your video unless they are really dedicated to watching that content!
One thing we know about human behaviour, especially in regards to social media use, is we have really short attention spans, and a need for instant gratification.
We want to create as little friction as possible to get our audience from A to B. Unless they are a die hard fan, most people will give up on visiting your video, blog post, website or potential sales page at the very first obstacle they encounter.
Now, in terms of the way you structure your links, just because you can have an unlimited amount of links, doesn’t mean you should. If it’s a new follower clicking your link in bio to see what you’re all about, giving people too many options may cause them to feel overwhelmed and ultimately click on nothing.
Also, put your most important offer first. The one that you want people to go for most. And you have a headline that makes it obvious, get’s their attention and makes them want to know more!
If you talk about this offer all the time on your Instagram, which you should be, make the most of it and put it right front and centre so your audience knows exactly where to get it.
If it’s hidden away under a tab that just says ‘website’ then that potential customer that really wants to work with you may get lost or distracted or not even think they’re in the right place to get what they’re looking for from you.
Use your link tree to direct people where you want to them to go and make it as easy as possible to get them there.
Read on for tips on how to grow on social media using video.
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