How to Make a Linktree: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

If you've ever wanted to share multiple links from a single Instagram bio or TikTok profile, a Linktree (or "link-in-bio" page) is exactly what you need. It's a simple landing page that houses all your important URLs in one place — your portfolio, social profiles, shop, newsletter, and more — accessible through a single shareable link.

Here's how it works, what your options are, and what will shape the right approach for your situation.

What Is a Linktree, Exactly?

A Linktree is technically the name of one specific platform (Linktree.com), but the term has become a generic shorthand for any link-in-bio page. The concept is straightforward: instead of cramming multiple URLs into a profile bio — or constantly swapping out links — you point followers to one URL that displays a clean, clickable menu of links.

Think of it as a lightweight personal homepage, built in minutes without any coding.

Option 1: Using the Official Linktree Platform

The most direct route is creating an account at Linktree.com. Here's the general process:

1. Sign up with an email address or connect via Google, TikTok, or another supported account.
2. Choose a username — this becomes your public URL (e.g., linktr.ee/yourname).
3. Add links — paste in any URL, then write a button label for each one.
4. Arrange your links — drag and drop to reorder them however you like.
5. Customize the appearance — select a background color, button style, and profile image.
6. Copy your Linktree URL and paste it into your social media bio.

Linktree's free tier covers the basics: unlimited links, basic themes, and profile customization. The paid tiers unlock features like advanced analytics, custom fonts, video backgrounds, email capture, scheduling links to go live at set times, and the ability to use a custom domain (so your page sits at your own URL rather than linktr.ee/...).

Option 2: Alternatives to Linktree 🔗

Several competing platforms work on the same principle. Common alternatives include Beacons, Bio.link, Milkshake, Later's link.in.bio, and Carrd. The functional steps are nearly identical across all of them:

• Create an account
• Add and label your links
• Style the page
• Deploy the URL to your bio

What differs is the feature set, pricing structure, and built-in integrations. Some platforms are geared toward creators and influencers and include native shop buttons or tip jars. Others prioritize minimalist design or connect tightly to specific scheduling tools.

Option 3: Build Your Own on a Personal Website

If you already have a website — on WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or similar — you can create a dedicated page (e.g., yoursite.com/links) and manually list your links there. This approach gives you complete control over design and data, no third-party branding, and no recurring fees beyond what you already pay for hosting.

The tradeoff is that it requires more setup time and at least a basic comfort level with your website platform. You won't get the drag-and-drop simplicity of a dedicated link-in-bio tool out of the box, though many CMS platforms have plugins or blocks that replicate the same layout.

Customization: What You Can Actually Control

Across most platforms, you'll have control over:

• Link labels and order — what text appears on each button and how they're stacked
• Profile image and display name — shown at the top of the page
• Color scheme and button styles — rounded vs. sharp edges, filled vs. outlined buttons
• Background — solid color, gradient, or image (often a paid feature)
• Link thumbnails or icons — small visuals next to each button to improve scannability

On free plans, you'll usually see the platform's branding somewhere on the page. Removing that typically requires a paid subscription.

Analytics and Tracking 📊

One meaningful difference between free and paid tiers — and between platforms — is analytics depth. Basic free analytics usually tell you total clicks per link. More advanced plans may show:

• Click-through rates per button
• Geographic data on visitors
• Traffic source breakdowns
• Time-of-day engagement patterns

If you're using your link-in-bio page professionally or for a business, this data can genuinely inform which content or products to prioritize.

Factors That Shape Which Approach Makes Sense

How complex or polished your setup needs to be depends on several variables:

• How many links you're managing — three links vs. twenty changes the need for organization tools
• Whether you need analytics — casual users rarely need click tracking; creators monetizing content often do
• Custom branding requirements — a business may want its own domain rather than linktr.ee/...
• Technical comfort level — building on your own site takes more steps than a plug-and-play platform
• Existing tools — if you're already on a scheduling platform like Later, its built-in link page may be the most efficient path
• Budget — free tiers are genuinely functional for basic use, but paid plans unlock meaningful upgrades

The gap between "any free tool works fine" and "I need custom domain, advanced analytics, and design control" is real — and where you fall on that spectrum is entirely determined by how you plan to use the page and what your audience expects to find there.