How to Create a Link in Bio Page Without Linktree: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

You do not need Linktree to have a professional Link in Bio page. You do not need its URL, its branding, or its limitations. What you need is a platform that lets you build a bio page on your own terms — your domain, your analytics, your brand — with the flexibility to grow alongside the rest of your link management stack. This guide walks through every step of creating a Link in Bio page without Linktree, from creating an account to configuring a custom domain, customizing the design, setting up analytics, generating a QR Code, and distributing the page across your channels.

Everything in this guide is built around Cuttly's Link in Bio builder — available free, no credit card required. You can follow along step by step as you read.

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Why Build a Link in Bio Without Linktree?

The question is worth answering directly before we get into the steps, because the motivation shapes how you set things up.

The most common reason is the URL. When you use Linktree, your bio page URL is linktr.ee/yourname. That URL appears in every platform bio, every piece of marketing, every QR Code, every email signature. It tells your audience — explicitly, every time — that you are using a third-party tool. For a personal creator building a casual following, this is inconsequential. For a brand, a business, a professional, or anyone who has invested in building a recognizable web presence, handing the URL of your most-shared link to a third-party platform is a brand decision worth reconsidering.

The second reason is analytics. Linktree tells you which links on your page were clicked and how many times. That is useful but limited. It does not tell you how those clicks compare to the traffic coming from your short links in social posts, your QR Codes in print materials, or your UTM-tagged email campaigns. If you are managing link performance across channels, bio page analytics in isolation are only a partial picture.

The third reason is consolidation. If you are currently using Linktree for your bio page, a separate URL shortener for short links, a separate QR Code generator, and a separate analytics dashboard — you are paying for and context-switching between multiple tools that a single platform can handle. The Cuttly approach consolidates all of this: short links, QR Codes, bio pages, campaign analytics, and surveys in one dashboard.

What You Need Before You Start

To follow this guide, you need a Cuttly account (free, takes under a minute to create) and the links you want to feature on your bio page. Optionally — for the custom domain steps — you need a domain you own and access to its DNS settings.

You do not need a credit card for the free plan. You do not need technical knowledge for the basic setup — the DNS configuration in Step 6 requires one A record and one TXT record, which any domain registrar's control panel can handle. If you have ever configured a domain before, this is straightforward. If you have not, the steps are documented precisely below.

Step 1: Create Your Cuttly Account

Go to cutt.ly/register. Enter your email address and create a password. Verify your email via the confirmation message Cuttly sends. That is it — you are in the dashboard.

The free plan is active immediately. No credit card, no trial timer, no feature restrictions specific to the free plan's Link in Bio capability. You can create your first bio page right now.

If you want to access cutt.bio or a custom domain for your bio page URL, you will upgrade to the Single plan ($25/month) at some point in this process — but the complete build and customization can be done first on the free plan, and upgraded later without losing any of your work.

Step 2: Create Your First Link in Bio Page

In the Cuttly dashboard, find the Link-in-Bio section in the left navigation menu. Click "Create new Link-in-Bio." A side panel slides out asking for your first target link — the first URL you want to add to the page. Enter it.

You will then be asked to choose the domain for your Link in Bio page. On the free plan, this is the cutt.ly domain — your page will be at cutt.ly/bio/your-name. On the Single plan, you will see additional options: cutt.bio and any custom branded domain you have connected to your account.

After confirming the domain, your Link in Bio page is created. It appears in the Link-in-Bio section of your dashboard with edit, copy, analytics, and QR Code options available.

There is also a second method for creating a Link in Bio from existing links: in the main dashboard, select the checkboxes next to one or more short links you have already created, and click "Create Link-in-Bio" in the batch action panel that appears. This converts your existing short links into a bio page — each link retains its individual analytics while also appearing as a button on the bio page.

Step 3: Add and Organize Your Links

Go to the Link-in-Bio section, find your new page, and click the edit icon. The editor opens. Here you manage everything about the page's content and appearance.

To add links: in the editor, click "Add link" or the equivalent button. Enter the destination URL and the button label (the text your audience will see on the button). Cuttly automatically detects known social media and service platforms — if you add your Instagram profile URL, Cuttly will offer to display it as an icon-only button with the Instagram logo rather than a text label. You can choose either presentation.

To reorder links: drag and drop to change the order in which buttons appear on the page. This is available from the Starter plan. Put your highest-priority link first — the link you most want visitors to click. On mobile, users scroll from top to bottom, and first-position buttons consistently outperform lower-position ones.

Link volume per page: up to 5 on Free, up to 20 on Single, up to 50 on Team, up to 99 on Enterprise. If you are on the free plan and need more than 5 links, upgrading to Single ($25/month) is the path forward — it also unlocks all the other capabilities covered later in this guide.

To edit a link title: each link button can have a custom label. Change it to anything that makes sense for your audience — "Book a Call," "Shop the Collection," "Read My Latest Article," "Watch on YouTube." Clear, action-oriented labels consistently perform better than generic ones like "Click here" or raw URLs.

Step 4: Customize the Design

A Link in Bio page that looks generic undermines the purpose of having one. Cuttly's customization covers three areas: background, template, and content elements. Here is how to work through each.

Background

Click "Edit BIO link background" in the editor. You have three options. Predefined gradient styles are ready-made color combinations — select one and save. Custom color lets you pick any specific color from the palette. Background image lets you upload or choose from the image library, with control over attachment (how the image behaves on scroll), position, repeat, and size (contain or cover).

The practical advice: your background choice affects text readability. If you use a dark background, use light text settings. If your background is pale or colorful, check that button labels remain legible. The preview panel shows you the result in real time — use it. More gradient options (beyond the basic set) are available from the Single plan.

Template

Click "Edit Template." The template controls the visual style of every element on the page. Options:

• Main link shape: Rounded (standard pill-shaped buttons), Square (sharp corners), Oval (more pronounced pill shape). Choose based on your brand aesthetic.
• Main link fill mode: Filled with dark (solid dark background on each button, slightly transparent), Filled with white (white button background), Outline dark (transparent button with dark border), Outline white (transparent button with white border), Outline grey. Outline styles work best on colorful or image backgrounds; filled styles work best on plain backgrounds.
• Header style: Center, Left, or Right — controls the alignment of your profile image, name, and description at the top of the page.
• Header text color: Light Text (for dark backgrounds), Dark Text (for light backgrounds), Grey Text.
• Font family: Select from the available font options. More fonts are added progressively.

Template editing is available from the Starter plan.

Content Elements

In the editor, add your profile image (upload a square image — it appears as a circle at the top of the page). Set your title (your name, brand name, or tagline — visible as the heading on the page). Set your description (a one- or two-line bio that tells visitors who you are and what the page is for).

From the Single plan, you can also add a video (YouTube or Vimeo) to the page. The video appears as an embedded player — useful for creators who want to feature their latest video directly on the bio page, or for brands who want to embed a product demo or brand film. Visitors can watch without leaving the page.

Step 5: Set Your Custom Alias

Available from the Single plan. In the editor, click "Edit BIO link alias/name." A side panel slides out where you enter your chosen back-half — the part of the URL after the domain. For example, if your brand is Northwood Studio, you might set the alias to northwood — giving you cutt.bio/northwood or bio.yourdomain.com/northwood as your bio page URL.

Choose a back-half that is: short (easier to type and share), recognizable (your name, brand, or a clear identifier), and consistent with how you present yourself elsewhere. Your Instagram username is usually a good starting point — it is already known to your audience and creates a consistent identity across platforms.

Important: if you change the alias after sharing the URL, any QR Codes generated for the old alias will stop working — they encode the old URL. If you have printed QR Codes, set your alias before printing and do not change it afterwards. If you need to update the destination links on the page, do that through the editor — the alias stays the same, the links behind it change.

Step 6: Connect Your Own Custom Domain

Available from the Single plan ($25/month). This step makes your Link in Bio page live at your own domain — bio.yourbrand.com, links.yourbrand.com, or any subdomain you choose — rather than at cutt.bio or cutt.ly.

Part A: Add the Domain in Cuttly

In your Cuttly dashboard, go to Settings → Branded Domains (or the Custom Domains section). Click "Add domain." Enter the domain or subdomain you want to use — for example bio.yourbrand.com. Cuttly will show you the DNS records you need to configure.

Part B: Configure DNS

Go to your domain registrar or DNS provider (wherever you manage the DNS for your domain). You need to add two records:

• A record: Host = the subdomain you are using (e.g. bio if you are setting up bio.yourbrand.com). Value = Cuttly's IP address (shown in the dashboard when you add the domain). TTL = 3600 or your provider's default.
• TXT record: Host = the same subdomain. Value = the verification string Cuttly provides. This confirms domain ownership.

Do not use a CNAME record — Cuttly's DNS configuration uses A record and TXT record only. If your DNS provider suggests CNAME, ignore that option for this setup.

DNS propagation typically takes between 15 minutes and a few hours, depending on your provider and TTL settings. Once Cuttly detects the correct records, the domain is verified and SSL (via Let's Encrypt) is provisioned automatically. You will see the domain status update in your Cuttly dashboard when it is active.

Part C: Assign the Domain to Your Link in Bio Page

Once your domain is verified in Cuttly, go back to the Link-in-Bio editor. In the domain settings for your page, select your custom domain instead of cutt.ly or cutt.bio. Save. Your Link in Bio page is now live at your own domain. Anyone visiting your old cutt.ly or cutt.bio URL will still reach the page — you can update your bios to the new URL at your own pace.

Step 7: Understand Your Analytics

Cuttly tracks analytics for your Link in Bio page automatically — no tags, no setup, no third-party integrations required. Here is what you get and how to read it.

Page-Level Analytics: CTR

The primary metric for a Link in Bio page is click-through rate — page visits divided by button clicks. If 100 people visit your page and 40 click a button, your CTR is 40%. This tells you whether the page is doing its job: attracting visitors is the role of the link in your bio; converting them into clicks is the role of the page itself. A low CTR typically means your button labels are unclear, your link order is not optimized, or the page design is creating friction.

Per-Link Click Data

Cuttly tracks clicks per individual link on the page — so you can see not just how many total clicks the page received, but which specific links are generating the most engagement. This is important for understanding which content or offers your audience actually responds to. If your "Shop" link is clicked ten times more than your "Newsletter" link, that is a signal about audience intent worth acting on.

Referrer Sources

Cuttly shows you where traffic to your Link in Bio page is coming from — which platform's bio link is driving the most visits. If you share the same bio page URL across Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, you can see which platform sends the most traffic. This shapes how you allocate content effort across platforms.

Analytics History

On the Free and Starter plans, analytics are available for the last 30 days. On the Single plan, 180 days. On Team and Enterprise, 1 year. Set a reminder to review analytics at least monthly — cumulative trends over time reveal patterns that day-to-day numbers obscure.

Step 8: Generate and Customize Your QR Code

Every Link in Bio page in Cuttly has a QR Code available. In the Link-in-Bio section, click the QR Code icon next to your page. On the Free and Starter plans, a basic QR Code is available in PNG, JPG, and WEBP formats. On the Single plan and above, full customization is available.

Customization Options (Single Plan+)

Dot style — the visual style of the data modules in the QR Code (square dots, rounded dots, small squares, or other patterns). Dot color — set to your brand's primary color. Corner style — the three corner squares that help scanners orient the QR Code (square, rounded, or other patterns). Corner color — can match or contrast with the dot color. Size — the pixel width of the output. Logo/image overlay — upload your logo to appear in the center of the QR Code. SVG export — a vector format that scales without quality loss for print production.

When customizing: prioritize scannability over aesthetics. A QR Code with extreme color contrast (dark dots on a light background) scans more reliably than one with low contrast. If you add a logo overlay, keep it small — the QR Code standard has error correction that can compensate for a small obscured area, but a large logo degrades scan reliability. Always test scan the final QR Code before printing or publishing at scale.

Where to Use Your Link in Bio QR Code

Business cards — the QR Code on the back links directly to your bio page, giving the recipient access to all your links with one scan. Event materials — conference badge, lanyard, or name tag QR Code. Print advertising — QR Code in a flyer, poster, or magazine ad that links to your bio page rather than a specific URL that might change. Product packaging — for creators selling physical products, a QR Code on the packaging that leads to your bio page with social links, tutorial videos, and product support. Presentations and pitch decks — a QR Code on the final slide that audiences can scan to connect with you after the session.

Step 9: Distribute Your Link in Bio Across Channels

Once your page is built, designed, and has a clean URL, the work is distributing it. Here is the channel-by-channel approach.

Instagram

Go to your Instagram profile → Edit profile → Website. Replace any existing URL with your new Cuttly Link in Bio URL. In your bio text, add a directional cue — "All links below ↓" or "Links in bio" — so new visitors know to tap the URL. In Stories, you can share the link directly using the Link sticker.

TikTok

Go to your TikTok profile → Edit profile → Website. Add your Link in Bio URL. Reference it in video captions with "Link in bio" and in the video content itself when directing viewers to a specific destination.

LinkedIn

Edit your LinkedIn profile → Contact info → Website. Add your Link in Bio URL with a descriptive label (not just "website" — something like "All my links"). Also add it to your About section summary. LinkedIn posts allow direct links in the text — consider occasionally sharing your bio page URL in content posts when contextually appropriate.

Twitter / X

Edit profile → Website. Add your Link in Bio URL. Also consider adding it to your pinned tweet if you regularly drive followers to specific content or offers.

YouTube

Channel page → Customize channel → Links. Add your Link in Bio URL as a featured link. Also add it to video descriptions — particularly in the first two lines, which are visible before the "more" fold. Reference it verbally in videos when directing viewers to additional resources.

Email Signature

Add your Link in Bio URL to your email signature — either as a plain URL or as the destination behind a "My links" or "Connect with me" anchor text. This turns every outbound email into a passive distribution of your bio page.

Physical Materials

Add your QR Code to business cards, packaging, signage, and any print material where your audience might want to follow up digitally. The QR Code is the physical-world equivalent of the bio link tap — it should lead to the same destination.

Advanced: Turn Bio Links Into Tracked Short Links

The most powerful Link in Bio setup in Cuttly is one where every link on the page is also an individual tracked short link. Here is how to do it and why it matters.

When you add a link to your Link in Bio page, you can choose to add it as a short link rather than a raw URL. In the dashboard, create a short link first — with a custom alias, UTM parameters, and any other settings. Then add that short link's URL to your bio page. The short link now has two analytics views: its own individual click analytics (device, geography, referrer, time) and its aggregated contribution to the bio page CTR.

This matters because it reveals which of your bio page links is actually driving traffic to what destination, from what context. If you are running a campaign where the same link appears in your bio page, in an email newsletter, and in a social post, each instance can have its own short link (or UTM parameter set) — so you can distinguish bio page traffic from newsletter traffic from social post traffic in your analytics.

For creators with affiliate links, this is especially useful: each affiliate destination gets its own short link on the bio page, and you can see exactly how many clicks each affiliate link received and from which referrer source — data that informs which partnerships are worth prioritizing.

Advanced: Adding Video to Your Link in Bio

Available from the Single plan. In the Link in Bio editor, find the video option and paste a YouTube or Vimeo URL. The video embeds directly on the page as a playable player — visitors can watch without navigating away.

What to feature: your most recent YouTube video (keeps the page fresh for returning visitors), a brand or product intro video (turns the bio page into a lightweight landing page for new followers), a tutorial or demo (useful for software, services, or educational creators), or a testimonial reel (builds social proof for business accounts).

The video placement on the page is between the profile header and the link buttons. It is prominent but does not displace the links. Visitors who engage with the video have already demonstrated higher intent — they are more likely to click through to your linked destinations than passive visitors who only glanced at the page.

Advanced: Managing Multiple Link in Bio Pages

Cuttly supports multiple Link in Bio pages per account. The Single plan allows up to 3 pages, Team allows up to 10, Enterprise up to 20. Multiple pages are useful in several scenarios.

Different audiences: a creator who runs a professional consulting business and a personal creative project might want separate bio pages for each — different links, different design, different tone, each on its own URL or domain. Agencies: a team managing Link in Bio for multiple clients can create separate pages per client within the same account. Campaigns: a time-limited campaign might get its own bio page with a specific set of links — separate from the evergreen bio page — which can be retired after the campaign ends without affecting the main page.

Each page has its own analytics. You can monitor them simultaneously in the Link-in-Bio section of the dashboard.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too many links. The bio page works because it focuses attention. Adding 15 links creates decision paralysis — visitors with too many options frequently choose none. Start with 5 to 8 links maximum. Audit ruthlessly: if a link has not been clicked in 60 days, remove it or move it to the bottom.

Generic button labels. "Click here," "Website," "Shop" — these do not tell visitors what they get when they click. "Shop the Winter Collection," "Book a Free Strategy Call," "Watch My Latest Review" — specific labels convert significantly better.

Changing the alias after printing QR Codes. Once your QR Code is printed, the alias it encodes is fixed. If you change the alias, the QR Code breaks. Update destination URLs through the link editor instead — the alias stays the same, the destination changes.

Ignoring analytics. Creating a bio page and never checking which links are actually being clicked is a missed opportunity. Review your CTR and per-link click data monthly. Rotate out underperforming links. Move high-performing links higher on the page. The data tells you what your audience actually wants — use it.

Not testing the page on mobile. The majority of Link in Bio traffic comes from mobile users tapping the bio link directly. Open your page on your own phone before sharing it. Check that buttons are easily tappable, text is legible, images load properly, and the overall experience is smooth on a small screen.

Ready to build yours? Create a free Cuttly account and follow this guide step by step. Your Link in Bio page can be live in under 15 minutes. Registration required; free plan available with no credit card needed.