Musicians: How to set up a ‘link in bio’ and why you need to do it now
Give fans everything they need with just one click with this basic guide to how to set up a link in bio.
by Collin Steinz of Bandzoogle
As a musician, you’re using social media to promote your music, reach new audiences, and share your artistic journey with the world. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok have become essential marketing tools for musicians, and use of “link in bio” is popular there, making it an effective way to share your work and engage fans.
What is a “link in bio”
You may have heard the term “link in bio,” and–if you’re active on social media–chances are you’ve seen one.
A “link in bio” is the one link you highlight on your social media profile, to showcase your work. The use of “link in bio” started on social media platforms that wouldn’t allow direct URL links in posts, like when captioning an Instagram post for something you wanted to promote but not being able to include a link for it.
Instead, you add the promo link to your Instagram bio and mention that in your caption: “[Everything you want to say about your project/post]. Link in bio.”
Since those early days, a “link in bio” has grown into an important tool for deeper engagement, allowing someone’s followers to discover more about them and the projects they’re working on. When used effectively, a “link in bio” presents opportunities for strengthening connections between fans and musicians especially.
How to create an effective “link in bio”
The purpose of a “link in bio” should be to direct attention to one specific goal in your music career development plan. Keep in mind that this URL will be shared on social media, and clicked or tapped with intent. So this link is your chance to make an impression and potentially create fans.
A few examples of goals for a “link in bio” are:
- Promoting an album
- Drawing attention to merch
- Releasing a new video
- Sharing your music portfolio
- Building a mailing list
Using Smart Links to create your “link in bio”
The beauty of a “link in bio” URL is that you can set up Smart Links: the perfect tool to transform your “link in bio” into a multifunctional hub.
You can customize a Smart Links page with your image and branding, and create a professional stack of customized buttons that link to everything you want to include, ranging from your music and press kit, to streaming platforms and recent press – even to a mailing list sign-up form. We’ve included some specific ideas for you below!
Connect fans to your music with one simple custom sharing link for your socials. Try Bandzoogle today!
1. Promoting an album
Getting eyes and ears on your new album is easier with a Smart Links page. You can promote your album ahead of time by including pre-save links to your album on your favorite DSP’s (Digital Service Providers), and collect email addresses to let your fans know when your album drops.
Once the album is out, you can easily link to streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music so fans can hear your new album with a single click. You can also include a feature music video you’re using to promote the album, and a ‘buy’ link so fans can purchase your album directly from your website.
2. Selling merch
Merch sales are increasingly important in helping sustain an artist’s career. With a Smart Links page, you can easily link to your merch store, and even highlight buttons that link to exclusive and limited-time-only items.
Creating a run of limited vinyl pressings for the 5-year anniversary of an EP? You can focus on a successful sellout by making it easy for fans to purchase the limited release directly through a link in your bio.
3. Supporting a video release
You’ve spent lots of time bringing your ideas to life and creating a visual experience for your music – now it’s time to share it with the world. Using social media to promote your video release is a must, and you can link to your new video directly on your Smart Links page, highlighted in your “link in bio”.
With Bandzoogle, you can link fans directly to your YouTube video, customizing the button with text to help drive traffic to your content directly. You can also link to the videos page on your website, and even embed your video directly onto your Smart Link page for people to watch it there.
4. Musician portfolio
If you’re setting up a general “link in bio” you can link to all the different projects you’re working on.
In this version, the “link in bio” acts like your artist portfolio. You could include links to your DSP’s (Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal), your YouTube Channel, your merch store, any upcoming tour dates, new releases you’re planning, your discography, your blog for news, a mailing list sign-up form, your artist EPK, a place to hear your recent podcast or radio interview – the possibilities are wide open.
5. Build a mailing list
Staying in touch with your fans is as important as ever. Social media is a powerful tool, but it’s a very crowded medium. When you post on social media platforms, a large portion of your fans won’t see your content. With an email list, you can make sure that your most dedicated fans receive all the news related to your new music, limited merch, and new music videos.
It’s easy to embed a mailing list sign-up form directly on your Smart Links page, allowing fans to simply click on your link and bio, and sign up to receive your news directly in their email inbox.
Customizing your “link in bio” page
Customizing your Smart Links page will make your “link in bio” memorable for visitors. This could mean amping up your branding to include a custom domain name for your link. You might also consider using a custom color palette that’s reflected in your website, or adding a background image that uses artwork from your music releases. Get creative and bold here, so fans can feel for how you represent your art just from looking at your “link in bio” page.
For inspiration, think about what you remember from Smart Links pages you visited and liked – what stood out to you, and why do you still remember it now?
Measuring results with your link in bio
With Bandzoogle, you can create a “link in bio” as part of your website. This also means you can track page views and clicks right within your Bandzoogle Reports dashboard – are viewers clicking on specific buttons in your Smart Links? Are they moving from your links page to another page on your website? Are they joining your mailing list?
These are insights you can dial into with your Reports data, and use to plan your marketing strategies moving forward.
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Using a Smart Links page in your “link in bio” is a game changer for musicians looking to connect with their audience – it’s the perfect way to direct attention with a focused music marketing goal in mind. You can also consolidate all your important links into one easily accessible hub, allowing you to make the most of your profiles on individual platforms.
Whether you’re focused on sharing your latest music, promoting upcoming gigs, or growing your fanbase, using a Smart Links page can help streamline your efforts and provide insightful visitor data, allowing you to fine-tune your online music marketing strategies.
