Where Social Platforms Stand on External Links in 2025: A Guide for Marketers

For marketers, external links are a cornerstone of driving traffic and generating leads. But in 2025, social media platforms are making this more challenging than ever, as they prioritize keeping users engaged within their apps over sending them to external sites.

So, how can you navigate this landscape effectively? This guide will break down how major platforms treat external links, explore the impact on referral traffic, and share actionable strategies to optimize your content.

At Amber 90, we help marketers and businesses stay ahead of trends and maximize their digital presence. Here’s what you need to know.


Why Social Platforms Limit External Links

Social platforms rely on user engagement to generate ad revenue. Encouraging users to click away from their platform disrupts this model, so many platforms either limit the visibility of external links or penalize them outright.

Key Challenges for Marketers:

  • Reduced Reach: Link-based posts often see less organic distribution.
  • Increased Costs: Platforms like LinkedIn encourage paid promotions to amplify link visibility.
  • Algorithmic Bias: Platforms prioritize native content that keeps users engaged over posts with external links.

Understanding these challenges is the first step in crafting a strategy that works.


How Major Social Platforms Handle External Links

1. Facebook

  • Current Stance: Facebook doesn’t officially penalize link posts, but their visibility has declined over time.
  • Key Stats: Less than 5% of posts in user feeds contain external links, with a growing emphasis on Reels and AI-recommended content.
  • Best Practices:
    • Use Reels or carousel posts to share insights and direct users to links in comments or bios.
    • Pair links with engaging visuals or video content to boost reach.

2. Instagram

  • Current Stance: Links aren’t allowed in captions or comments but can be included in Stories and bios.
  • Impact: External links see limited reach beyond your followers.
  • Best Practices:
    • Use link stickers in Stories to make access seamless.
    • Leverage tools like Linktree to optimize your bio for multiple links.

3. Threads

  • Current Stance: Threads claims not to penalize links, though user behaviour may limit engagement with link-based posts.
  • Best Practices:
    • Share engaging content that naturally integrates links without making them the focus.

4. X (formerly Twitter)

  • Current Stance: Explicitly limits the reach of link-based posts.
  • Notable Insight: Elon Musk has publicly stated that links are deprioritized in favour of native content.
  • Best Practices:
    • Use multimedia posts to tell a story, then include links in replies or threads.
    • Focus on starting conversations and sharing links as follow-ups.

5. TikTok

  • Current Stance: Links can’t be added to captions or comments but are supported in bios and paid ads.
  • Impact: TikTok blocks links to competitors like Amazon but allows seamless integration for TikTok Shop.
  • Best Practices:
    • Collaborate with influencers to drive traffic indirectly.
    • Use TikTok Ads for direct conversions with embedded links.

6. Snapchat

  • Current Stance: Links are supported in Stories but not in public posts.
  • Best Practices:
    • Focus on creating dynamic, engaging Snaps with clear CTAs to encourage clicks.

7. LinkedIn

  • Current Stance: Reduces the size of link previews for unpaid posts, encouraging paid promotions.
  • Impact: Link-based posts often see lower organic reach.
  • Best Practices:
    • Pair links with professional insights or thought leadership content.
    • Include links in comments or articles for improved engagement.

How Marketers Can Adapt and Succeed

1. Create Platform-Specific Content

Tailor your posts to fit the unique features and audience expectations of each platform.

  • Example: On TikTok, prioritize short, engaging videos with subtle calls to action.

2. Focus on Native Formats

Platforms favour native content that keeps users engaged. Use Stories, Reels, or carousels to maximize reach while embedding links strategically.

3. Leverage Paid Ads

Invest in paid promotions to amplify the reach of link-based content, especially on LinkedIn and TikTok.

4. Use Analytics to Refine Strategy

Monitor performance metrics to understand what content resonates and adjust your strategy accordingly.

5. Optimize Landing Pages

Ensure that links direct users to mobile-friendly, fast-loading landing pages that drive conversions.


The Future of External Links on Social Media

Social platforms are unlikely to reverse their trend of deprioritizing external links. Instead, marketers will need to adapt by:

  • Diversifying Traffic Sources: Don’t rely solely on social media—invest in email marketing, SEO, and other channels.
  • Exploring Emerging Platforms: Platforms like Bluesky, which embrace external links, could offer new opportunities.

Conclusion: Mastering External Links on Social Media

While social platforms are making it harder to drive traffic with external links, a strategic approach can help you maintain visibility and grow your audience. By understanding platform-specific limitations and focusing on value-driven, native content, you can turn these challenges into opportunities.

Ready to optimize your social media strategy?

  • Partner with Amber 90 for expert guidance and cutting-edge solutions tailored to your business.
  • Let’s navigate the future of social media marketing together.

Contact us today to start driving results in 2025!

Content Marketing Agencies: How They Drive Growth for Your Business

Introduction

Content marketing is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity in today’s digital landscape. As the cornerstone of successful digital marketing strategies, content marketing helps businesses attract, engage, and convert their target audience. But achieving this requires more than just publishing content; it demands a strategic approach. That’s where a content marketing agency comes in. By providing expertise in strategy, creation, and optimization, these agencies play a pivotal role in driving business growth. In this blog post, we’ll explore how content marketing agencies contribute to your business’s success and why partnering with one can be a game-changer.


What is a Content Marketing Agency?

Comprehensive Content Strategies

A content marketing agency is much more than a service provider; it’s a strategic partner in your business’s growth. These agencies specialize in developing and executing comprehensive content strategies that align with your business goals. The key to their effectiveness lies in their ability to understand your brand, audience, and industry.

  • Strategy Development: A robust content strategy begins with a deep understanding of your target audience. A content marketing agency conducts thorough market research to identify your audience’s needs, preferences, and pain points. This research informs the creation of content that resonates with your audience and drives engagement.
  • Diverse Content Types: Content marketing agencies don’t just stick to one type of content. They create a variety of content formats—blog posts, articles, videos, infographics, and more—that cater to different stages of the buyer’s journey. This multi-format approach ensures that your brand can effectively engage with your audience across various touch-points.
  • Long-term Planning: A successful content strategy is not a one-off effort. It involves long-term planning and continuous refinement. Content marketing agencies work with you to develop a content calendar that aligns with your marketing objectives, ensuring consistency and coherence in your messaging.

Role of Content Creation Services

High-quality content creation is the heart of any successful content marketing strategy. Without compelling, relevant content, even the most well-crafted strategy will fall flat. Content marketing agencies provide professional writing, video production, and design services that enhance your brand’s online presence.

  • Professional Writing Services: Content marketing agencies employ skilled writers who are experts in creating content that is not only informative but also engaging. Whether it’s a blog post, an article, or web copy, these writers know how to craft content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to take action.
  • Video Production: Video content has become increasingly important in digital marketing. Content marketing agencies offer video production services that range from concept development to post-production. Videos can be used to explain complex concepts, showcase products, or share customer testimonials, all of which can significantly enhance engagement.
  • Graphic Design: Visual content is just as important as written content. Agencies provide graphic design services to create infographics, social media graphics, and other visual elements that can make your content more appealing and shareable.

The Importance of a Solid Content Strategy

Steps to Create a Content Strategy

A well-defined content strategy is the blueprint for your content marketing efforts. It begins with understanding your audience and setting clear, measurable objectives.

  • Audience Research: The foundation of any content strategy is a deep understanding of your audience. This involves creating detailed buyer personas that represent your ideal customers. These personas help guide the content creation process, ensuring that your content addresses the specific needs and pain points of your target audience.
  • Objective Setting: What do you want to achieve with your content? Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, generating leads, or driving sales, setting clear objectives is crucial. These objectives will inform every aspect of your content strategy, from the types of content you create to the channels you use for distribution.
  • Content Planning: Once you have a clear understanding of your audience and objectives, the next step is to plan your content. This involves creating a content calendar that outlines what content will be published, when, and where. Planning ensures consistency and helps maintain a steady flow of content.
  • Content Creation and Distribution: After planning, the focus shifts to content creation and distribution. It’s essential to create high-quality content that aligns with your strategy and objectives. Equally important is distributing that content through the right channels to reach your target audience effectively.

Content Optimization for Search Engines

Creating great content is just the beginning. To ensure your content reaches the right audience, it must be optimized for search engines. SEO plays a crucial role in content marketing, as it helps your content rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

  • Keyword Research: Effective SEO starts with thorough keyword research. Content marketing agencies identify the keywords and phrases your target audience is searching for and incorporate them naturally into your content. This increases the chances of your content appearing in search results when potential customers are looking for information.
  • On-page SEO: On-page SEO involves optimizing individual pages of content to rank higher in search engines. This includes optimizing meta tags, headers, and images, as well as ensuring your content is structured logically and is easy to read.
  • Content Structure and Readability: Search engines favor content that is well-structured and easy to read. Content marketing agencies ensure that your content is broken down into digestible sections with clear headings (H1, H2, H3) and bullet points. They also focus on using transition words and shorter sentences to enhance readability.
  • Continuous Optimization: SEO is not a one-time effort. Content marketing agencies continuously monitor the performance of your content and make adjustments as needed. This includes updating keywords, refreshing content, and making technical SEO improvements.

Key Services Offered by Content Marketing Agencies

Overview of Services

Content marketing agencies offer a wide range of services designed to drive organic traffic and increase engagement. These services are tailored to meet the specific needs of your business and target audience.

  • Blog Writing: Blogs are a cornerstone of content marketing. Agencies provide professional blog writing services that focus on creating informative, engaging, and SEO-optimized content. Regularly updated blogs help establish your brand as an authority in your industry and improve your website’s search engine rankings.
  • SEO Content Creation: SEO content creation goes beyond blog writing. It includes creating content that is specifically designed to rank well in search engines, such as keyword-optimized web pages, product descriptions, and landing pages. This type of content is essential for driving organic traffic to your website.
  • Multimedia Content Creation: In addition to written content, content marketing agencies offer multimedia content creation services, including video production, infographics, podcasts, and more. Multimedia content is highly engaging and can help you reach a broader audience.

Examples of Content Types

Different types of content serve different strategic purposes. Content marketing agencies help you create a variety of content types that align with your overall strategy.

  • Blogs and Articles: Blogs and articles are excellent for building authority and driving organic traffic. They provide in-depth information on topics relevant to your audience, helping to position your brand as an expert in your field.
  • Videos: Videos are one of the most engaging forms of content. They can be used for product demonstrations, tutorials, customer testimonials, and more. Videos are highly shareable and can significantly increase brand visibility.
  • Infographics: Infographics are a great way to present complex information in a visually appealing format. They are highly shareable and can drive traffic to your website from social media and other platforms.
  • E-books: These long-form content pieces are ideal for generating leads. They provide in-depth information on a specific topic and can be gated behind a form to collect contact information from potential customers.

Measuring the Success of Content Marketing

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

To gauge the success of your content marketing efforts, it’s essential to track key performance indicators (KPIs). These metrics provide insights into how well your content is performing and whether it’s achieving your business goals.

  • Website Traffic: One of the most common KPIs for content marketing is website traffic. By tracking the number of visitors to your website, you can gauge the effectiveness of your content in attracting and engaging your audience.
  • Conversion Rates: Conversion rates measure the percentage of visitors who take a desired action, such as filling out a form or making a purchase. High conversion rates indicate that your content is not only attracting visitors but also convincing them to take action.
  • Engagement Metrics: Engagement metrics, such as time on page, bounce rate, and social shares, provide insights into how your audience interacts with your content. High engagement levels indicate that your content is resonating with your audience and holding their attention.
  • Lead Generation: For many businesses, generating leads is a primary goal of content marketing. Tracking the number of leads generated through your content can help you assess the effectiveness of your strategy in driving business growth.

Case Studies Showing ROI

Effective content marketing can lead to significant ROI. Case studies that highlight success stories can illustrate the impact of a well-executed content strategy.

  • Increased Traffic: A case study might show how a content marketing agency helped a client increase website traffic by 150% over six months through a combination of blog writing, SEO, and social media promotion.
  • Improved Conversion Rates: Another case study could demonstrate how a content marketing agency helped a business improve its conversion rates by optimizing landing pages and creating targeted content that addresses specific customer pain points.
  • Enhanced Brand Visibility: A third case study might focus on how a content marketing agency helped a brand enhance its visibility through a strategic combination of video content, infographics, and social media engagement, resulting in a 200% increase in social media followers.

Conclusion

Content marketing is a powerful tool for driving business growth, but it requires expertise, strategy, and continuous optimization. Partnering with a content marketing agency can help you create and execute a content strategy that aligns with your business goals, attracts your target audience, and delivers measurable results.

If you’re interested in boosting your business growth through strategic content marketing, contact us for a free consultation or content audit. Let’s work together to take your content marketing to the next level.