Linktree
Linktree is a link in bio service for publishing a flat list of links at a short vanity path (like Twitter and other social media silos) for what appears to be for the sole purpose of effectively linking to multiple sites from social media profiles like Instagram which only allow one clickable link in a profile.
Why
The use-cases for the Linktree silo are the same in general as link in bio use-cases, in particular the ability to share a single link, either in a social media profile or in a message to someone, which the reader can click to then explore a handful of destinations.
Why not
Make a simple homepage instead: https://twitter.com/v21/status/1486377898948898823
a "homepage" is like a linktree, except decentralized and also you can design it however you like.
@v21 January 26, 2022
IndieWeb Examples
Make a link in bio page on your personal site instead!
See link in bio IndieWeb Examples
Odesli
Odesli (formerly Songlink) is a service for creating shareable "perma"-links to individual songs, whole albums, or specific artists, allowing people to open links on their music streaming service of choice. They use domains song.link, album.link, and artist.link for this. Linktree acquired Odesli in 2021. E.g.:
Criticism
Criticism of the Linktree silo in particular:
Bans sex workers
- 2022-01-14 Linktree Is Kicking Many Sex Workers Off Its Site
Linktree billed them for the service (which costs $9 a month if you’re using the “pro” subscription version) and then canceled their account without refund.
Used to spread misinformation
Ironically in contrast to the other criticism:
- 2021-08-06 Why antivaxxers and conspiracy theorists love Linktree / The popular “link in bio” service presents a sneaky way for crackpots to get their ideas out there.
Leaning into web3 hype
Has fallen into the web3/NFT deep end
- Three new NFT features to build your Web3 brand and community
- 2022-05-17 : Linktree is rolling out new features to allow creators to showcase their NFTs (archived)
With this launch, Linktree is providing meaningful features to empower creators in the Web3 space,” Linktree CEO Alex Zaccaria told TechCrunch. “This adds value by extending the core utility of NFTs – verified ownership, monetization, and community. As the number of creators tapping into web3 grows, Linktree provides these creators the tools they need to display their NFTs anywhere they have their Linktree link and to provide exclusive incentives to their community.
Requires JS
Links don't work on Linktree pages if JS doesn't load.
Outages
- 2024-03-24 @danderson: via Mastodon
F in chat for linktr.ee, who let their domain registration expire 2 weeks ago. TLD NS records got pulled today, so once the cached TTLs run down...Still got another month to grab it back before it becomes available for purchase, but still, oof.
Brainstorming
linktree page
Has anyone has used the brandname recognition of Linktree to their advantage for such links?
E.g. rather than
linktr.ee/example.com
you could make a
example.com/linktree
as a page on your own site or as a redirect your "links" page (like Andy Bell's above) and then use that link in "social media profiles" just because people have been taught to click on something that is called a linktree (or has "linktree" in a short URL)
Anthony Ciccarello With the proliferation of different services, it seems to me that link in bio is a broadly accepted phrase that isn't tied to one brand.- link in bio#IndieWeb_Examples shows
/linkis the most commonly used path.
IndieWeb Feature Requests
- 2022-12-02 @DavidAugust (personal site) requested rel-me support: via Twitter
@Linktree_ feature request: if you could add rel=me to links on our profiles, or let us add them, it would help machines understand what profiles are ours.
Like on Mastodon, it would verify our Linktrees links: https://docs.joinmastodon.org/user/profile/#verification
More on rel=me: https://microformats.org/wiki/rel-me