You are building brand equity on rented land

Every time you share linktr.ee/yourname, you are advertising Linktree's domain — not yours. Every click, every indexed page view, every backlink from a podcast show note flows to a third-party platform you do not control.

If Linktree changes pricing, kills features, or shuts down? Your audience's bookmarked URL dies with it.

A custom domain — links.yourname.com, bio.yourname.com, or even yourname.com itself — converts your link page from a temporary hub into permanent brand infrastructure. The SEO equity compounds. The professional signal is immediate. And you own the asset.

What a custom domain actually gives you

Benefit	Third-party URL	Custom domain
Google indexing for your brand	Rarely	Yes
SEO equity accumulation	Zero	Compounds over time
Professional perception	"Default template"	"Established brand"
Platform independence	Locked in	Portable
Email consistency	`you@gmail.com`	`hello@yourname.com`
Brand deal credibility	Lower	Higher

Brands, press, and podcast hosts notice. A creator who shares links.sarahchen.com in a Forbes feature is building a searchable asset. One who shares linktr.ee/sarahchen is building Linktree's domain authority.

Choosing your domain structure

Option 1: Subdomain (recommended for most influencers)

links.yourname.com or bio.yourname.com

Keeps your main website separate (if you have one)
Easy DNS setup (one CNAME record)
Clear purpose for visitors
Professional without requiring a full website build

Option 2: Root domain

yourname.com pointing directly to your link page

Maximum SEO authority (root domains rank strongest)
Best if you do not have a separate website
Requires purchasing the domain if you have not already

Option 3: Path on existing website

yourname.com/links

Works if you already have a website
SEO equity flows to your main domain
Requires website access to add a page or redirect

Domain naming conventions

Format	Example	Best for
`links.name.com`	links.sarahchen.com	Universal — most common
`bio.name.com`	bio.marcusfit.com	Social-media-focused creators
`shop.name.com`	shop.glambyjess.com	Affiliate-heavy fashion/beauty
`name.com`	sarahchen.com	Creators without a separate site

Keep it short. Avoid hyphens. Use .com if available.

Technical setup: step by step

Step 1: Purchase your domain

Registrars: Namecheap, Google Domains (Squarespace), Cloudflare, Porkbun. Cost: $10–$15/year for .com. Buy your name immediately — even if you are not ready to use it.

Step 2: Connect to your link page

On LinkForge Pro (€7/month):

Go to Settings → Custom Domain
Enter your domain (e.g., links.yourname.com)
LinkForge provides a CNAME target
Add the CNAME record in your registrar's DNS settings
SSL certificate provisions automatically (HTTPS)

Propagation takes 5 minutes to 48 hours. Test by visiting your domain in an incognito browser.

Step 3: Configure meta tags

Set these in LinkForge Pro:

Page title: [Your Name] | [Niche] — Official Links
Meta description: One sentence describing who you are and what visitors will find
OG image: Professional headshot or brand logo (1200×630px)

These tags control how your page appears in Google results and when shared on social media.

Step 4: Update every platform

Replace old URLs everywhere:

Instagram bio
TikTok bio
YouTube channel links
Twitter/X bio
LinkedIn featured section
Email signature
Podcast show notes
Media kit PDF

One migration weekend. Permanent benefit.

SEO optimization for your custom domain

Content that gets indexed

Google needs text, not just buttons. Add to your link page:

Bio paragraph (80–150 words, third person for press)
Section headings ("Coaching," "Shop," "Press")
FAQ section (3–5 questions with answers)
Alt text on images

This is enough content for Google to understand and rank your page for branded queries.

Branded keyword targets

Focus on queries your audience actually types:

[your name] (you should rank #1)
[your name] links
[your name] [niche]
[your name] shop
[your name] contact
[your name] collaborations

Submit your domain to Google Search Console (free). Monitor impressions and clicks monthly.

Backlink building with your custom domain

Every external mention of your custom domain builds SEO authority:

Podcast appearances: Provide links.yourname.com as your show link
Guest articles: Author bio links to your domain
Brand partnerships: Campaign pages link back to your hub
Press features: Journalists link to your official page
Social profiles: Every platform bio points to the same domain

Consistency signals to Google that this is your canonical web presence.

The professional perception upgrade

Before and after

Before: linktr.ee/jessicamartinez

Brands see: default tool, hobbyist
Press sees: unprofessional, unsearchable
Followers see: generic, forgettable

After: links.jessicamartinez.com

Brands see: established business, searchable media hub
Press sees: official page, quotable bio, indexed
Followers see: premium brand, trustworthy

Creators report 20–40% more inbound brand inquiries within 60 days of switching to a custom domain — before any other changes.

Email alignment

Pair your custom domain with a professional email:

hello@yourname.com or collabs@yourname.com

Google Workspace ($6/month) or Zoho Mail (free tier) on your domain. Brands take collabs@yourname.com seriously. They ignore jessmartinez23@yahoo.com.

Cost analysis: is it worth €7/month?

Item	Annual cost	What you get
Domain registration	~$12/year	Ownership of yourname.com
LinkForge Pro	€84/year (~$91)	Custom domain, 50 links, analytics, CSS, 5 pages
Google Workspace (optional)	$72/year	Professional email
Total	~$175/year	Full brand infrastructure

One brand deal at $300 covers nearly two years of costs. One coaching client at $197/month covers everything with profit left over.

The custom domain is not an expense. It is the cheapest brand investment you will make.

Migration checklist

Purchase domain
Connect to LinkForge Pro
Set meta title, description, OG image
Add bio paragraph and FAQ content
Update all social bios
Update email signature
Update media kit PDF
Submit to Google Search Console
Set up 301 redirect from old link page (if possible)
Announce the new URL in a Story/post (optional but helpful)

FAQ

Do I need a custom domain as a micro-influencer?

If you are earning or pursuing brand deals, yes. The professional signal and SEO benefit outweigh the cost at any stage where income matters.

Can I use a custom domain with a free link-in-bio plan?

Most tools, including LinkForge, require a paid plan for custom domains. LinkForge Pro at €7/month is among the most affordable options.

What if my name domain is taken?

Try variations: yourname.co, yourfullname.com, heyyourname.com, or [niche]byyourname.com. Secure your name on social platforms regardless.

Will I lose traffic when switching domains?

Minimal if you update all bios within one week. Post a Story announcing the new link. Old links stop receiving traffic once bios are updated.

How long until my custom domain ranks on Google?

Branded queries (your name links) typically index within 2–4 weeks. Full branded search dominance within 2–3 months with consistent cross-linking.

Stop renting your brand's web presence. Own the URL your audience, brands, and Google all look for.

Connect your custom domain on LinkForge Pro →