LinkTree is one of many tools you need for social media marketing

If you’re a marketer, especially in any sort of lifestyle or cultural space, the benefits of Instagram are undeniable. From its visual format to its fast-growing user base, Instagram is becoming a go-to visual media platform in an era where audiences are eager for it.

There’s just one problem; turning that attention into engagement is difficult. Links back to stories can only be shared in your profile bio, instead of within specific posts. For content marketers and publishers, changing out links at least once a day can be a hassle.

Thankfully, there are tools out there to help overcome these issues, no matter what your budget might be. We can look at LinkTree and LikeShop for two distinct examples of that range.

Both tools offer a standalone web page, with its own URL, where users can access an assortment of articles from a publisher. Each article is linked using a picture that a user would see on the publisher’s Instagram, and the user can access a historical archive of all articles in one place.

Best of all, you never have to change out a link in your profile; much like a custom URL shortener, your users can access the content you want them to see through one single URL.

Logistical benefits aside, publishers also enjoy data feedback through LikeShop and LinkTree. Depending on the tool used, you can see traffic numbers broken down by article, by day, etc.

These tools also allow you to customize the visuals and templates of your landing page, so that your brand experience is more consistent across these social media touch points.

LikeShop has been around for a while as an enterprise solution.

You can find its technology employed by Conde Nast publishers, such as Pitchfork and Vanity Fair, along with a host of others. As such, pricing isn’t openly disclosed, either on or off their website (that’s code for “it’s probably really expensive”).

However, it does have the most features of the two solutions. Mainly, Instagram publishers who push product can insert commercial links directly into their posts, to help increase conversions.

LinkTree is a newcomer to the game, and they are looking to bring a more affordable solution to market. In addition to offering a standalone free tier of service, they also offer a pro package for $6 per month. The pro plan gives you more customization and tracking options.

Whichever one works for you, these tools are a great investment for making your social media following engage with your website content, be it educational or commercial.