Does a link-in-bio page help SEO?
By SoloWOS teamPublished
IN SHORT
A link-in-bio page helps people more than rankings. Links on user-generated pages usually carry rel="ugc" or rel="nofollow", which Google treats as hints and may not count for ranking. The page's value is one trackable address for every profile. If search traffic matters, link it to a real website on your own domain.
Prices and limits as of .
Key takeaways
- Google treats rel="nofollow", "ugc" and "sponsored" as hints since its September 2019 change: it may or may not use those links for ranking.
- A link page on a platform's address (like a shared subdomain or a /l/ path) builds that platform's domain, not yours.
- A thin link page with three buttons rarely ranks for anything except your own name.
- For search, a website with a page per service beats a link page; for social traffic, a link page beats sending people to a homepage.
The question comes up because link pages look like mini websites. They aren't, as far as search engines are concerned, and that's fine: they solve a different problem. This page is part of our sharing and presence guides; for what to put on the page, start with link in bio ideas for freelancers.
What a link-in-bio page does and doesn't do for SEO
| Question | Link-in-bio page | Your own website |
|---|---|---|
| Can it rank in Google? | Sometimes for your name; rarely for a service | Yes, with a page per service and location |
| Do its outbound links pass ranking value? | Often marked ugc or nofollow, which Google treats as hints | Yes, if they're normal links |
| Whose domain gains from it? | The platform's, unless you use your own domain | Yours |
| Good for social traffic? | Yes: one tap to the action | Only if the homepage is built for it |
| Click data per link? | Usually built in | Needs analytics set up |
Nofollow, ugc and why it matters
Google's guidance on qualifying outbound links asks sites to mark user-generated links with rel="ugc", paid links with rel="sponsored" and other links they don't vouch for with rel="nofollow". Since the September 2019 change, Google treats all three as hints rather than strict rules. Link-in-bio pages are user content, so platforms tend to mark their outbound links this way to discourage spam pages. The result: the link from your link page to your website is not a reliable ranking boost, and neither is the link from your Instagram profile to your link page.
That doesn't make the link worthless. Google still finds pages by following links and through other routes, and people who click are real visitors. It means you shouldn't build a link page expecting it to lift your website's rankings.
Platform address vs your own domain
A link page at a platform's address (linktr.ee/you, solowos.com/l/you) builds recognition for that platform. Moving the page to a subdomain you own, like links.yourname.com, keeps your name in every link you share and lets you move to another tool later without changing the address printed on your cards. Owning the address is the biggest long-term gain from a link page, more than any ranking effect.
How to check whether a link is nofollow
- Open your link page in a desktop browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari).
- Right-click one of the buttons and choose Inspect.
- Find the highlighted a element and read its rel attribute: "nofollow", "ugc" or "sponsored" are hints Google may not count; no rel value (or only "noopener") is a normal link.
- Repeat on your social profile's link to your page. You'll often see the same pattern there.
Some link pages also send every click through a redirect so they can count it. That's normal for click stats, and it's one more reason to treat the page as a traffic tool rather than a ranking tool.
When a website beats a link page (and the reverse)
- Clients search for your service in your city ("wedding photographer Austin"): you need a website with a page for that service. A link page won't rank for it.
- Most clients find you through Instagram, TikTok or referrals: a link page does the job, and a website can wait.
- You have both: put the website as one of the page's links, and keep the link page for social profiles where one tap to booking matters more than a full site.
Worked example
WORKED EXAMPLE
A copywriter deciding where to spend a weekend
Her clients come 70% from LinkedIn and referrals and 30% from Google searches for "SaaS copywriter", based on her inquiry form's "How did you hear about me?" answers over the last 20 inquiries. The link page already handles LinkedIn traffic. The weekend goes to a website page targeting "SaaS copywriter" with three case studies, because that's the only channel a link page can't serve. The link page gets one new link, "Case studies", pointing to the new website page.
In SoloWOS
SoloWOS link pages follow the same logic. When you publish a link in bio page, it stays out of search results, and its outbound links carry rel="ugc nofollow", until the page has a bio and at least 3 links. After that the page can be indexed and its links carry rel="ugc". On Solo ($15/month) and Team you can serve the page from your own subdomain, set up in Settings > Advanced > Custom domain. If your links are mostly short links, read when a branded short domain is worth it.
Questions
Is Linktree good for SEO?
A link page on a platform's domain mostly helps people, not your rankings. Its outbound links are user-generated content, which Google asks sites to mark with ugc or nofollow and treats as hints. Use it for social traffic, and a website for search traffic.
Will my link-in-bio page show up on Google?
It can show up when someone searches your name or handle, if the platform lets search engines index it. It rarely ranks for service searches, because a page with a short bio and a few buttons doesn't answer those queries.
Does the link in my Instagram bio help my website's SEO?
Not in a reliable way. Profile links on social platforms are typically marked nofollow or similar, which Google treats as a hint. The value of the link is the visitors who click it.
Should I use my own domain for my link page?
If you can, yes. A subdomain like links.yourname.com puts your name in every link you share and lets you switch tools later without changing printed materials. In SoloWOS, a custom subdomain is included on Solo and Team.
Sources
Facts checked against these sources on October 18, 2026. Rules and amounts change, so confirm them at the source before you file or sign.
- Google Search Central: Qualify your outbound links to Google
- Google Search Central Blog: Evolving "nofollow", new ways to identify the nature of links (September 2019)
- Google Search Central: SEO link best practices
Last reviewed:
SoloWOS tools mentioned here
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