How to Use Squarespace as a Linktree Alternative
Linktree is a piece of software which allows you to create a simple webpage with a few button links, and then add this to your Instagram account.
If you don't have a website, I can understand why Linktree has become the standard for Instagram accounts who need to add a personalised "link in bio". It's free (for the bare minimum anyway) and saves you the hassle of setting up your own website just to send people to a few links. That said, I'll be explaining why you should avoid Linktree and how to create your own "link in bio" page using Squarespace.
This post was created for Squarespace 7.1. If you're on Squarespace 7.0, it will not work for you. Find out which Squarespace version you have here.
Why shouldn't I just use Linktree?
Personally, I'm not a fan AT ALL of Linktree. Don't get me wrong, there are some benefits…but if you already have a website there is absolutely no need to shell out money for (or even use) Linktree.
Aside from the poor styling options and inability to change anything other than the colours without paying, it just doesn't make sense to send your Instagram visitors to the Linktree website, then presumably your own.
Unless you pay for the Pro Plan, (currently at $6 per month) you're also advertising Linktree directly on your page with their logo. Oh, and whichever plan you're on - even the $24 per month plan - you'll never be able to add your own domain. That means your "link in bio" will always start with www.linktr.ee, and your traffic will always end up on Linktree first.
Honestly, that just doesn't sound like a good deal to me.
Why should I build a Linktree page on Squarespace?
Even without the downsides of Linktree, Squarespace is still a far better option for this type of page because of the incredible flexibility it has to offer. Here are just a few of the benefits:
You have complete control over the appearance of your page, which includes colours, fonts and button styles. It's much easier to stay on brand!
You have more flexibility with the layout of the page and the elements you want to have. Any of the Squarespace blocks can be added!
Your website visitors are sent straight to your website, which means when they click your buttons links the loading times will be faster.
It doesn't cost you anything extra to have all of these features!
How to Build a Linktree Page on Squarespace
Create a Links Page
To create a new page, follow these steps:
In the home menu, go to Pages. Next to Not Linked, click the Plus Icon and add a Blank Page.
Make sure the URL for the page is simple, as this will work better in your Instagram profile. If you want to check, hover over the page and click the Cog Icon. In the General tab, click the URL Slug Field to edit the page URL.
Click Save.
Remove the Header and Footer
A good Instagram links page won't have any distracting features or elements other than the bare minimum. By default, any page you create on Squarespace will have the Header and Footer added automatically. To remove the Header and Footer from your Linktree page, follow these steps:
In the home menu, go to Pages then hover over the page and click the Cog Icon.
In the pop up, click Advanced and paste this code snippet into the Page Header Injection:
<style>
#header, #footer-sections {
display: none;
}
</style>3. Click Save.
4. Refresh the page to see the changes.
Removing the header and footer requires the Business Plan or above, as the Page Header Injection is required. However, if you are on the Personal Plan, read this post to use the workaround.
Enable Fluid Engine
Squarespace is rolling out Fluid Engine, which is the new drag-and-drop editor. I recommend getting to know the editor and using it on your website going forward, as it is more flexible than the old Classic Editor and receives the latest features.
To enable Fluid Engine, follow these steps:
On the page, click Edit, then hover over the page and click Add Section.
Hover over the new section and click Upgrade.
You should now see a grid when you hover over the section, as well as some other small changes to the editor.
If you don't have this option, then Fluid Engine is already enabled for you. Only recently created websites have Fluid Engine enabled automatically.
Add Page Content
You'll want to add any images and text to your page first. This typically goes above the buttons (we'll add those next) and may include your logo and a brief description of your business.
To add blocks, follow these steps:
On the page, click Edit, then click Add Block and select Image from the menu.
Click the Plus Icon on the image to upload your logo from your computer or media library.
Click Add Block again and select Text from the menu.
Add a small amount of text in this box, and use a Paragraph text style rather than a Heading style.
Click Add Block again and select Social Links from the menu.
Click the block and click the Pencil Icon. In the Content tab, add your social media links. In the Design tab, make sure the alignment is set to Center.
Arrange these blocks so they sit centred on the page and are stacked vertically.
Hover over Done and click Save.
Add Buttons
Next, we'll add the buttons which will link to your chosen pages/URLs. There is a specific way these need to be added, so don't skip this step when creating your Linktree page!
To add the buttons, follow these steps:
On the page, click Edit, then click Add Block and select a Button Block from the menu.
Click the block again and click the Pencil Icon. Under the Content tab, click the Text field to change the button text.
Click the Link field to change the button link. You can link to a page on your website or an external page.
Under the Design tab, click the drop-down to switch the button between the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary styles.
Make sure the button type is set to Fill. This is important because it will help keep all of the buttons the same width, which makes the page look much better on mobile.
Click and drag the button so it sits below the logo and text on the page. You can drag the corner of the button to adjust the height and width.
Repeat this step to add multiple button links. You can get fun here and use different button styles to add pops of colour and make the page more dynamic.
Hover over Done and click Save.
I recommend adding 4 - 6 links to your page as anymore will be a bit overwhelming. You want to keep focused on a few specific pages you want your audience to visit. Examples of good pages include:
Landing page/home page
Freebie/lead magnet opt in page
Services or pricing page
Latest blog post or article
Newsletter sign up page
Contact form/email link
Discovery call scheduling link
Check the Page on Mobile
This is very important because you will have been editing the page in the desktop view, and will probably be unaware of issues on mobile. To preview and edit the page on mobile, follow these steps:
On the page, click Edit, then select the Mobile Icon at the top. Your website will shrink down to a mobile preview.
If things look a bit odd, feel free to drag and drop the blocks around until they look normal. Edits you make on the mobile preview do not affect desktop! Plus, no one will see this page on desktop anyway.
Hover over Done and click Save.
How to Add Your Links Page to Instagram
Now it's time to add your new page to your Instagram profile! It’s probably easiest to do this on your mobile device, since you’ll already be logged in and ready to go. To add a new link in bio, follow these steps:
Open up the Instagram app on your phone and go to Edit Profile.
Click the Website field and paste or type your page URL.
Click Done.
That’s it! Your Instagram links page will now be live and attached to your Instagram profile. Anytime you want to update it, just head back into your website and swap out the content on Squarespace.
