At some point, everyone who does creative or freelance work hears the same advice: "You should really have a website."
Then you open a website builder, pick a template, stare at an empty About page, and close the tab. A month later, still no website.
So here's the honest question. Do you need a full website? Or would a link in bio page do the job, today, in fifteen minutes?
What each one is
A personal website is your own corner of the internet: several pages, your own domain, your own layout. You can write long case studies, run a blog, sell things, rank on Google for your name.
A link in bio page is one page that holds everything important: who you are, your best work, proof, links and a way to contact or book you. It lives behind one short link you can put anywhere.
- Step 1Someone hears about you
- Step 2Wants a quick look
- Step 3Link page answers in 10 seconds
- Step 4Wants the deep dive? A website wins
Side by side
| Link in bio page | Personal website | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to launch | Minutes | Days or weeks |
| Cost | Free to a few dollars a month | Domain, hosting and often a builder plan |
| Upkeep | Very low | Ongoing |
| Works great on phones | ✓ | Depends on the template |
| Long case studies | ~ | ✓ |
| Blog or many pages | ✕ | ✓ |
| Booking and contact | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom domain | ~ | ✓ |
~ means possible on some tools or plans. LinkPre, for example, supports a custom domain on Pro.
The real cost of a website is time
The hosting bill is small. The hours are not. Writing pages, choosing images, fixing a menu that breaks on mobile, updating a portfolio you finished two years ago. A site you don't keep fresh can hurt more than having no site at all.
When a link in bio page is enough
- You're starting out, or switching fields
- Most people find you through social media
- You want something live this week
- You mostly need people to see your work and contact you
When you need a website
- You publish long-form writing or detailed case studies
- You run a shop with lots of products
- You want to rank on Google for many topics
- Your clients expect a full agency-style site
The smart middle path
Many people start with a link in bio page and add a website later. The page keeps working even after the website exists. It becomes the short, mobile-friendly front door you put in social bios, while the website holds the deep material.
- 1
Start with one page
Put your intro, best three pieces of work, a review and a contact or booking button on it.
- 2
Share it everywhere
Bios, email signature, resume, business card QR.
- 3
Watch what people tap
If visitors keep asking for more detail, that's your sign to build deeper pages.
- 4
Add a website when it pays off
Link it from your page, and keep the page as your front door.
Questions people ask
Is a link in bio page a replacement for a website?
For many freelancers, creators and job seekers, yes, at least at first. If you need many pages, a blog or a large shop, a website is better.
Is a link in bio page good for SEO?
A single page can rank for your name and appear in search, but a full website gives you more room to rank for many topics.
Can I use my own domain on a link in bio page?
Some tools support it. LinkPre includes custom domains on Pro, which costs $1 a month.
What is the cheapest way to have an online portfolio?
A link in bio page with a portfolio section. LinkPre is free to start, and Pro adds projects, experience and bookings for $1 a month.
Get your front door live today.
Create my linkDetails about other products come from their public pages and third-party reviews and can change. Check each provider's site for current pricing before you decide.