In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the biggest challenge for any eCommerce business is capturing customers' attention. As an eCommerce owner, you are probably aware of the difficulty in driving potential customers from social media to product pages. So what's the solution? The "Link in bio" feature!

Link in bio is a gateway between your social media profiles and eCommerce store boosting your traffic and sales. 

This blog talks about how to use the link in bio feature to increase your eCommerce sales. We'll also list some powerful link-in bio tools to help you optimize your profile. But first, let's start with the basics.

What Is Link In Bio? 

Have you ever explored an eCommerce brand's profile on social media and seen a URL at the top?

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The clickable URL in the profile or bio section is called a "link in bio."

This feature is commonly seen on platforms like Instagram and Twitter. You might have read or heard eCommerce businesses using the phrase "link in bio" in their posts. So next time you read or hear that, it is the URL they are talking about to lead you to a specific page or campaign. 

The link in bio can be used to direct users to a variety of places, such as:

• A website or blog
• An online store
• A social media profile on another platform
• A contact page
• A landing page for a campaign or promotion

Why Is Link In Bio Used? 

Below listed are some reasons why eCommerce businesses use ‘Link in bio’ feature:

1. Increased Traffic 

The key benefit of using the link in bio feature is to drive traffic to specific landing pages, product pages, or promotional offers. By sharing a link in bio for eCommerce, you can make it easy for customers to access relevant information quickly.

Also, if you are struggling to drive traffic to your landing pages. We have got the perfect solution for you — Social storefronts!

2. Enhanced user experience 

A link in bio is a simple way to direct users to the most important content or product on your online store or website. It can help to simplify the user journey and reduce the likelihood of them getting lost or frustrated while searching for what they are looking for.

3. Promotion Flexibility 

As an eCommerce business, you might be experimenting with different marketing campaigns and running several product offers from time to time. A link in bio offers you the flexibility to promote your campaigns, products, and offers without updating every post or story.

Recommended read: Don’t know how to really measure the impact of your social campaigns? Here are the key takeaways from our conversation with ModCloth at ETail Boston 2023.

4. Tracking And Analytics 

Many link-in-bio tools offer analytics that can help your eCommerce business track the performance of its social media marketing efforts. This data can include click-through rates (CTRs), conversion rates, and other valuable insights to refine their strategies.

Want to learn which customer analytics are most important in eCommerce retail? Check out expert insights!

5. Improved customer engagement

You can use your link in bio to improve customer engagement. For example, you can add a link to a blog post where people can learn more about your products or services, or you can add a link to a social media chat where people can ask questions.

What Are The Best Link In Bio Tools? 

While there are several link in bio tools in the market, not all of them cater to the needs of eCommerce businesses. 

When choosing a link in bio tool for your eCommerce business, it's important to consider your specific needs and budget. Some factors to consider include:

• The number of links you need to add
• The level of customization you want
• The features you need, such as analytics or the ability to create a digital storefront
• Your budget

Here are some link in bio tools that we have personally tried and tested:

1. Linktree 

Linktree is one of the most popular link-in-bio tools, with over 10 million users. It offers a free plan with unlimited links and is easy to use and customize. Linktree has various features that can help you promote your eCommerce business, such as analytics, social media integration, and custom branding. 

2. Linkpop

Linkpop is a newer link in bio tool designed specifically for eCommerce businesses. It offers a free plan with unlimited links.  It also offers features such as product galleries and checkout buttons to make it easy for your eCommerce business to promote its products.

3. Shorby 

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Shorby is a link in bio tool that helps eCommerce businesses create more visually appealing and conversion-optimized landing pages. It offers a free plan with up to 3 links and a variety of templates and customization options. It is a great tool to showcase your products or services, promote your latest blog posts, or drive traffic to your website.

4. Beacons 

Beacons is a link in bio tool designed for businesses of all sizes but is especially popular with businesses with a large following. It offers a variety of features that can help you manage your social media presence, such as social media feeds, running contests, and scheduling posts. 

The best part is that it offers a free plan with all the basic features.

5. Sprout Links

SproutLink is a link in bio tool specifically designed for eCommerce businesses. It offers a variety of features that can help you boost sales, such as adding product cards, tracking clicks, and creating custom landing pages.

SproutLink offers a free trial, so you can try it before committing to a paid plan.

How To Use Link In Bio? 

Now that we have talked about benefits and key link in bio tools it’s time to address the elephant in the room - How to use link in bio for your eCommerce business?

1. Direct followers to your website or online store

This is the most common use of link in bio tools. It allows you to give your followers a quick and easy way to access your website or online store.

2. Promote special offers and discounts 

Link in bio tools are a great way to promote limited-time offers and discounts to your followers. This is a great way to drive traffic to your website or online store and boost sales.

3. Drive traffic to social media channels

You can use link in bio tools to link to your social media profiles, such as Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest. This can help you connect with new followers and grow your social media presence. 

4. Share latest blog posts or content

If you have a blog or create other types of content, you can use link in bio tools to share it with your followers. This can help drive traffic to your content and keep your followers engaged.

5. Run contests and giveaways

Link in bio tools can be used to run contests and giveaways to promote your brand and attract new customers.  This is a great way to engage with your followers and build excitement around your brand.

6. Collect leads and email addresses

You can use link in bio tools to collect leads and email addresses from your followers. This is a great way to stay in touch with your customers and promote future sales. 

7. Share About Us Page

With character limitations in the Instagram bio section, you can share your brand story and mission by linking to the "About Us" page. This can help create a more personal connection with your audience.

8. FAQ and Support

Link to a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page or a customer support portal to assist and address common queries. This will enhance user experience and help customers find queries to their answers quickly.

Why Are Link In Bio Tools Not Enough For Ecommerce?

Having a link in bio tool in your arsenal is a great strategy to help customers help your website and buy your products, but is it enough? The answer is NO and we have reasons for it. Let’s understand them:

1. Frequent Updates 

E-commerce businesses exist in a fast-paced world with time-sensitive promotions, sales, and campaigns. Link in bio tools, while helpful in consolidating multiple links into a single accessible point, present a notable challenge in this context — the need for regular updates.

Constant promotions, seasonal sales, and new product launches require attention and quick action. However, the reality is that maintaining such real-time accuracy can be time-consuming and sometimes impractical.

2. Limit on Links

Link-in-bio tools often come with a significant drawback — a limit on the number of links allowed in a profile. This limitation can pose a substantial challenge for eCommerce brands, particularly during peak or holiday sales.

Imagine a scenario where a brand has a holiday sale, a new product launch, and a limited-time discount offer all happening simultaneously. With the link limit, they are forced to choose which deserves the spotlight, potentially neglecting the others. This limits their ability to capitalize on various revenue streams and fails to cater to their audience's diverse interests and needs.

3. Not Able To Capture Multiple Intent And Interest 

Link-in-bio tools often fall short of capturing users' diverse intents and interests, leading to high bounce rates. 

While these tools efficiently channel social traffic to a designated landing page, they may fail to cater to the initial engagement factors that enticed users through content or ads. For example, a user who clicks on a link to learn more about a product may be disappointed if they are redirected to a landing page with only a contact form.

When users are redirected to a generic landing page rather than a tailored destination, they may experience a disconnect between their expectations and the content they encounter. This mismatch can result in frustration and result in high bounce rate.

Want to learn the impact of social media bounce rate for your eCommerce business? Read here! 

So What Is the Solution?

AI-powered social storefronts are a new way to create personalized and responsive shopping experiences for users. It makes it possible for brands to use AI to analyze data in real-time and dynamically adapt to user behavior, preferences, and intent. This ensures that users are directed to relevant and engaging content, reducing bounce rates and increasing conversion rates.

SimplicityDX enables eCommerce brands to set up AI powered social storefronts in no time, removing the need to use the limited features of the link in bio feature, creating comprehensive shopping experiences for their target audience.

To learn more, book a demo today!