Link in Bio: What It Means + How It Can Help Grow Your Brand 🔗
- Social Media
What does “link in bio” mean? Discover this essential feature for Independents and how it helps showcase your work on social media.
Social media is a great place for Independents to showcase their work, but engagement doesn’t pay the bills. How can you make sure potential clients find your portfolio or website link? Say hello to your new secret weapon: the link in bio.
If you’re unsure what “link in bio” means, we’re here to help. This simple yet powerful feature is a clickable link atop your social media profile in the bio section, directing visitors to any critical page you choose. The setup is simple, and the rewards are immense.
What is a “link in bio” on Instagram and Twitter? 💌
The phrase “link in bio” pops up everywhere, but what does it actually mean? A link in bio is a clickable URL you can add to your social media profiles. This link takes your audience to any outside website you choose — ideally, something relevant to your brand, products, or services, such as an online storefront or a portfolio with contact info.
Content creators and businesses commonly use links in bios on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, where users can’t add links directly to their posts. Instead, these links are placed in the text at the very top of users’ profiles.
If you’re looking to send potential fans and clients to another important location on the web, this is a perfect way.
3 reasons brands and Independents use links in bios ☘️
Whether you’re a brand, an influencer, or an artist, a link in your bio can boost your online success. If you’re an Independent, this is particularly helpful for generating interest in your services and demonstrating your skills.
Here are a few reasons why adding a link in bio is a great idea:
- It streamlines your audience’s experience. Adding a link in bio makes it easy for visitors to access your website, portfolio, or other important pages with just one click.
- It highlights relevant and evergreen web pages. A link in bio makes it easy to highlight multiple relevant pages at once, such as your website, portfolio, storefront, and other social media accounts. In addition to evergreen destinations, include links to any new or relevant projects. If you don’t have a business account, adding more than one link requires a third-party tool (more on that below).
- It drives traffic to important websites. A link in your social media bio drives traffic to destinations like your personal or e-commerce websites. This, in turn, generates leads, increases sales, and grows your business.
How to add links to Instagram and TikTok bios 🌐
Adding links to your social media bios is a straightforward way to bolster your business. It helps you connect with potential clients, and setup is a breeze.
How to add a link in bio on Instagram 📸
On the app
- Open the Instagram app and tap your profile icon in the bottom-right corner.
- Select Edit Profile underneath your name on your profile.
- Type or paste the link you want to include in your bio in the Website field. Remember to include “https://” or “http://” at the beginning of the URL.
- To save the changes, tap Done in the top right corner.
On desktop
- Log in to Instagram on a desktop computer or laptop.
- Click your profile picture in the top-right corner and select Profile from the dropdown menu.
- Click the Edit Profile button.
- Type or paste the link you want to include in your bio in the Website field. Don’t forget to include “https://” or “http://” at the beginning of the URL.
- To save the changes, click Submit.
How to add a link to your TikTok bio ⏰
On the app
- Open the TikTok app and tap the Profile button in the bottom-right corner.
- Tap Edit Profile underneath your username on your profile.
- Type or paste the link you want to include in your bio in the Website field. Don’t forget to include “https://” or “http://” at the beginning of the URL.
- Tap Save in the top right corner, and you’re done!
What if you want to add multiple links to your bio? ⛓️
Instagram and TikTok allow users to include a only single link in their bio, but what if you want to add more? Fortunately, third-party link-in-bio tools let you add multiple links to social media bios. Here are our favorites:
Contra 🌟
Add your Contra portfolio as the link in your bio to showcase your projects and services and get paid commission-free. This tool is ideal for Independents using social media to attract potential clients, and you can use it to link out to other places on the web.
Contra offers various benefits for Independents:
- It assists you with contracts and commission-free payments at no cost.
- It allows you to customize your fonts, colors, and logo to match your brand.
- It lets clients connect with you at the click of a button.
- It provides insights into your clicks, views, and engagement.
Linktree 🌳
Linktree is a popular tool that helps Instagram and TikTok users create simple, multi-link landing pages. It directs visitors to a menu of clickable links, making it an excellent option for businesses and content creators with many pages to promote.
Pros
- Free to use
- Offers basic customization options
- Provides insights into clicks, views, and engagement
- Integrates with other apps, such as Shopify and Mailchimp
Cons
- Limited analytics for free users
- Limited customization for free users
Shor (formerly Shorby) 🏖️
Shor is another valuable tool for adding multiple links to social media bios. It offers a landing page with a custom URL that directs visitors to clickable links — an excellent option for businesses and content creators with varying needs.
Pros
- Provides a landing page with a unique URL
- Offers customization options
- Integrates with Google Analytics
- Provides insights into clicks
- Functions as a URL shortener and live chat link creator
Cons
- No free version
- Analytics data is limited
- No templates are available
4 tips for using links in bios effectively 🏆
Whether you’re a brand, an Independent, or a social media marketer, adding links in your TikTok and Instagram bios drives traffic and sales — what’s not to love? Make the most of it with these helpful tips:
Highlight your most important links 🥇
Add the links that are most important to your business or brand. These may include your website homepage, current sale information, best-performing lead magnet, or most popular podcast episode. Choose wisely.
Consider your business goals 🥅
Align your links with your business goals for better results. For example, if your goal is to drive sales, link to your e-commerce store or a specific product page. To show off your skills, link to your best work or latest projects.
Link to a popular blog post ✒️
If you’re an Independent, include a bio link to your most popular blog post. This showcases your expertise and gives your audience a reason to explore your content further. You can also link to valuable offers, such as discounts and e-book sales.
Keep it short and sweet 🍭
Keep the links in your bios short, and consider adding a call to action or your brand name. Here are some good link-in-bio examples: www.yourbrand.com/buynow or www.yourbrand.com/sayhi.
Showcase your Contra Portfolio on social media ✨
Now that you know about this powerful feature, it’s time to take action! Link to your Contra Portfolio from your social media accounts to reach new audiences and increase your chances of getting hired. Contra’s the perfect platform for Independents looking to showcase their projects and services while getting paid 100% commission-free. Head over to Contra now to get started.
