SEO-Based Reasons Interior Designers Shouldn't use LinkTree

Do you use Linktree in your Instagram bio? While it's popular and seems like a great idea, Linktree is actually taking all the traffic that should be going directly to your website. This is no fault of Linktree; it's just how technology works. Rather than using a third-party tool like this to redirect your social media fans to wherever they need to go, and thus lose the website traffic, you should instead be using a page on your own website for this exact purpose.

In this blog post, I'm showing you exactly how to set up your own version of Linktree and why it really, really does matter.

5 Reasons You Should Stop Using Linktree if You Want Better SEO

The concept behind Linktree is genius because of its simplicity: Rather than constantly changing the link in your bio to match whatever you are posting that day, simply create one link that contains a link to everything. Your blog, your shop, and your discovery call booking page — all great things that people from social media will need to access at some point.

However, have you considered the fact that platforms like Linktree and LinkinBio are getting their own website traffic from all those clicks? Let's break down what is happening here...

1 | Linktree and its competitors create an unnecessary barrier between users and your website.

The more you make someone click to access your content, the less likely they are to keep clicking. This is true of your website itself and also true of your social media channels. If you post content that references the link in your bio and someone clicks that link...only to be taken to a series of links they must choose from and they STILL aren't even on your website...that's a problem.

Just think about all the times that someone has clicked your Linktree or LinkinBio URL but never finished clicking through to your website. Talk about a lost lead. Makes me cringe a little!

2 | Linktree isn't branded to your business unless you pay for it.

Branding is key to a professional business. Your leads should experience your brand consistently from social media through your website. A free Linktree account is not able to be customized to your brand.

Yes, you could pay for Linktree, but do you really want the extra expense?

3 | Google Analytics won't track Linktree clicks.

If you are trying to figure out how to get more website traffic, using Linktree is like putting a roadblock in front of your car when you're already running late. You should be using Google Analytics to track where and how people are getting to your website.

If you use a service like Linktree or its many alternatives, Google will simply report that traffic as coming from Linktree. This is really unhelpful if you are using that Linktree URL in multiple places. Is your Linktree traffic coming from Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook? Unless you use the paid version of Linktree, you'll never have enough of that data (and Google Analytics won't be able to access and record that data, regardless).

Knowing the source of your website traffic matters greatly. It tells you which parts of your marketing are working or not working, which should direct your next steps, including your financial investments.

4 | Using Linktree or similar tools can hurt the long-term SEO of your website.

Clicks from social media directly to your website are great for your SEO. However, clicks to Linktree and then to your website do absolutely nothing to help your SEO. Google keeps track of how people are getting to your website — even if you don't use Google Analytics — and will rank your site higher or lower depending on how people are finding you.

5 | Instagram will occasionally mark Linktree URLs as spam.

When this happens, your Linktree URL becomes unclickable, aka: totally useless. The sad part is that most Linktree users will figure this out by accident and not because Instagram alerted them to the issue. Your link could be unclickable for weeks or months before you even realize it. Yikes, that's a lot of lost clicks.

A Linktree Alternative that Makes Strategic Sense While Also Saving Money

Rather than sending your traffic to a third-party tool, create a new page on your website that doesn't show up in the main menu (this is called an "unlisted" page). Name that page "Instagram," or something similar. List your links as stacked buttons. You can include an image with each button if you prefer. Add that link (www.yourwebsite.com/instagram) to your social media bios.

Boom, you've got your own version of Linktree, but it's fully branded, sends traffic directly to your own website, and is completely free.

Linktree & LinkinBio Alternative

Here's an example of what this setup looks like from one of my agency's clients: https://www.mygroovyhome.com/funthings. Follow her on Instagram at @groovyhome to see how she uses this link.

If you don't have a website, but want to share links to different businesses or organizations you support, you could use Linktree. However, that use-case is very small and limited. It's always best to invest in your own landing page or website.

Resources

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