Linktree

Linktree is a freemium social media reference landing page developed by Alex Zaccaria, Anthony Zaccaria, and Nick Humphreys, headquartered in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. Founded in 2016, it is made to provide a landing page for a person or company's entire associated links in social media, which rarely allows linking multiple sites. The site was inspired by the developers' annoyance with social media, in which it can't allow multiple hyperlinks. It is stated to have more than 5 million users worldwide.
History.
Linktree was established in 2016, out of annoyance regarding social media not allowing multiple hyperlinks in profiles. The site was created in six hours. It is reported to have 3,000 users overnight, which caused the server to crash due to overload. In 2018, Instagram banned the site due to "spam," although it was lifted and Instagram issued an apology. Despite it, Linktree has gained more than 8 million users.
Technique.
Linktree is a freemium service: it is free, but also offers a 'Pro' subscription launched in April 2017, which gives more benefits, such as more customization options, more detailed analytics, email sign-up integration, removal of the Linktree logo, etc. Users can upload as many links as they wish despite not subscribing. Pro analytics allows users to view their click-through rates. Linktree also partnered with Amazon, allowing users to upload their Amazon store profile as an affiliate link. Amid the George Floyd protests, Linktree allows users to turn the 'Support Anti-Racism' icon, which pops a tab linking visitors to articles to further understand racism, organizations to donate to, and places to protest.
Responses.
Linktree received negative, mixed, to positive reviews. Social media-themed writer Brooke Ford highlights that "Linktree's a smart and free method of increasing the targeted traffic that you need for your business account." A Digital Marketing Manager tagged Linktree as a "Tool to monetize Instagram." An anonymous alternatives-based writer summarized that "Linktree can be a real life savior when it comes to boosting up your presence over the Internet."
On the mixed to critical side, online publication "Socialfollow" states that "[It is not] a bad tool, it's not one of our recommended tools at the moment," and pointing another site called Bio.fm as a better alternative. Two Linktree users complained about it for "crash[ing], and it might crash again," that "you're one step further from your website," and that "it's not on brand." Technology writer Rohit Ghodake points at the URL shortener interface, which "will not give effective marketing for your brand," as well as the basic analytics on the free version, however recommended it simply because "it does [its] job." Writer on influencers Phoenix Manday states similar criticisms, and summarized that Linktree "is hurting [the user's] website['s] SEO."
Accolades.
In 2019, Linktree is included in CNBC's 'Upstart 100' list of "brightest, most intriguing, young startups promising to become the great companies of tomorrow." In March 2020, Fast Company placed Linktree as fourth place in the 'Most Innovative Companies of 2020' list in the 'Social media' category for "making Instagram's "link in bio" into a sleek menu for sharing articles, merch, or paid partnerships"."" The place is once earned in 2018 by Reddit, in 2019 by Are.na, and in 2016 by Periscope.
Continuous Instagram bans.
It is reported that Linktree is banned by Instagram in 2018, since it is noted as "breaking the community standards," specifically as a spam website. Although the ban has been lifted and Instagram has issued an apology, rumors circulate that Instagram will issue another ban. Linktree states that they are "working on it" with their "representatives on Instagram."
Funding.
On October 27, 2020, Linktree announced that it had received US$10.7 million in Series A financing from Airtree Ventures and Insight Partners. The funding is the company's first from an institutional investor. On March 26, 2021, Linktree announced the closing of a $45M Series B financing round. The round was co-led by Index Ventures and Coatue, with participation from returning investors AirTree Ventures and Insight Partners.