The Shadow Economy of “Link in Bio” Tools

They look like digital footnotes, but these tiny link hubs are quietly powering a $200M+ industry, and changing how creators and businesses monetize attention.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

In the world of online business, attention is currency.

And for creators, coaches, and founders who operate on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, there’s one real estate that matters more than almost anything else:

The link in your bio.

What started as a workaround for platforms that only allow one external link has turned …