LinkTree for Instagram

LinkTree Instagram: 5 Reasons You Should NOT Use It!

Are you using LinkTree for your Instagram profile? If you are, please stop. In this article I am going to explain why LinkTree for Instagram is 1) losing you leads, 2) tarnishing your brand and 3) just plain bad marketing.

What is Linktree?

Linktree is a third party app that people use to basically get around the “one link” rule for Instagram bios. It is a Linktree Instagram landing page where you can add multiple links to it and then add that one Linktree landing page link to your Instagram profile.

Here’s 5 reasons why I don’t like it:

 

1. You have ZERO control

You’re depending on an external third party app. If it breaks (which it has), then you have a broken link on your bio and there’s nothing you can do about it. Most people don’t even realize when the app is down or broken. Meanwhile, you’re losing potential leads, clients and cash. LinkTree Instagram links can also be banned and/or marked as spam by Instagram at any time without any notice.

2. Sacrifices your branding

The free version only has only a few color schemes and it will likely not be congruent with your brand so you are not creating a cohesive brand experience. Even the paid version you are still working within their themes.

This is especially important to consider for a personal brand because it doesn’t give you the option to add photos or a bio at the bottom so that people can get to know you more. You need your personality to shine from the first interaction. Without that, there’s no differentiation and you’ll be commoditizing yourself.

3. No analytics

Linktree does not give you an easy/free way to track your analytics and figure out if your links are even converting. Even the paid version’s analytics are super limited. Plus, all of the data belongs to THEM. This means no data for your retargeting ads. 😭

4. Bad user experience and poor conversion

I don’t know about you, but every time I’ve clicked on a user’s Linktree link from their profile, it feels confusing and I usually just exit out. All of the buttons look identical, the text on the button is small and annoying to read and there are no engaging visuals, etc. This is just not how we consume information and certainly not how we convert!

65% of humans are visual learners and our brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text.

Brands that create custom visual content have a 7x higher conversion rate.

There are hundreds of studies by marketers, psychologists and cognitive neuroscientists which prove that visual content is the present and the future. Not only does visual content attract more eyes and encourage engagement, but it also skyrockets engagement and conversion. Linktree does not provide this option so you are missing out on capturing and converting a huge percentage of your leads!

5. Hurts your SEO

Every time someone clicks the link in your Instagram bio, it is an opportunity to boost your own website ranking. However, because you are using Linktree and not your own domain, you are giving away the ranking to them instead. LAME.

“Okay Ashley, I get it. I’ll stop using Linktree.”

Sheesh, about time! THANK YOU! So happy you get it now. Okay, so now let’s talk about what to do instead of using the Linktree Instagram 3rd party app that does you, your business and your brand no justice…

INSTEAD: Use Your Website!

Listen, there is absolutely NO REASON why the home page of your website should not be doing the job!! If your website is not set up with the top things you want people to see/experience and doesn’t fully capture your brand essence, then FIXING THAT ASAP needs to be your priority.

Here’s why: you’re not only missing out on the Instagram leads but you’re also missing out on the leads that come from google when people search you or your brand name– especially if you are a personal brand.

Get your website optimized correctly and you’ll be killing two birds with one stone! No need for a third party service that doesn’t do the job right anyway.

Your website home page should be doing the following:

  • Capture your unique brand essence
  • Have engaging visuals
  • Promote what you want others to see, purchase, be a part of, etc.
  • Be well organized and structured in a way that takes the user on a journey
  • Have powerful CTAs (Calls-To-Action)
  • Be set up with the proper SEO framework
  • Look professional and give you credibility
  • Have strong messaging and copy
  • Set up with analytics so you can track performance
  • Be mobile optimized! This is different than responsive. Your website should have a totally different layout on mobile than it does on desktop.

To get the full low-down on what your website should be doing and exactly how it should be doing it, read this article on my top website tips and how to get more leads from your website.

website tips - how to get more leads

Hope you enjoyed this article! Please feel free to leave a comment or question below! 🙂

Love you!