“Connect” a Link-in-Bio template for Github Pages

Over the last years I’ve used connect.mattcromwell.com to be my personal “link in bio” url. Since it’s a one-pager I never wanted it to be a WP site at all. So I’ve experimented with tons of different “link in bio” solutions. They tend to cater to creatives who can’t code and often are expensive.

I was recently re-reminded of Github Pages and that they are free and that you can host a static site via one repo and thought… that’s perfect! So I spun a simple bio page up, then I thought “I think tons of folks could use this!” So I re-worked it over a few days to be more template-able and easily customizable. Now it has 5 different “themes,” and you can make it completely your own by just filling out one config file.

Introducing “Connect”: An Easy Link in Bio Template for GitHub Pages

“Connect” is a straightforward template I created for GitHub Pages to help you quickly build your own branded link-in-bio page. It’s simple to use, fully customizable, and designed to keep your brand front and center without extra costs or unnecessary complications. With Connect, you get a professional, personalized landing page in minutes.

Here’s some of the stand-out features

• Customize the whole thing in seconds by just updating the config.json file
• Uses your Gravatar because you’re using that already anyway, might as well leverage it here
• Grabs the latest blog article you wrote from whatever RSS feed you want.
• Separated layout from “theme” styles to rapidly create more themes as needed
• Dynamic theme switcher via query param for testing or for showing the right theme to the right audience

Why I Picked GitHub Pages

Here’s what sold me on GitHub Pages:

• Free Hosting: Completely cost-free and includes HTTPS by default.
• Version Control: Every change is logged and easily reversible.
• Easy Fixes: If I break something, reverting it is just a click away.
• CNAME support: Just add your domain or sub-domain to the CNAME file, update your DNS and now your Github page is your own custom domain. Genius!

Why I Chose a Subdomain

I found that using a subdomain like connect.mattcromwell.com gave me a cleaner, more professional presence. It’s short, memorable, and leverages the SEO strength of my main domain. Most importantly, it’s entirely under my control—no third-party branding sneaks in.

How I Set It Up (and How You Can Too)

Step 1: Clone the Repo

gh repo fork mathetos/mathetos.github.io --clone
cd mathetos.github.io

For your GitHub Page to work properly, your repository name must match GitHub’s specific naming convention. Make sure your repo name follows the format [your-username].github.io. For detailed guidance, refer to GitHub’s official documentation on repository naming.

Step 2: Make It Yours

The config.json file is some of the best part of this whole setup. Update your information in this one place, and the whole page is immediately yours. Here’s a quick overview of the major parameters:

• Profile – this is all your most basic information that is populated at the top of the page. Name, Gravatar email, bio, tagline
• Social – give it your social links. Right now I have svg icon support only for the platforms you see listed, but this is very easily expanded or customized
• Links – add as many or as few as you want here. They’ll be output in a responsive manner and can be whatever title and link you want.
• Blog – this is for the RSS to grab your latest article. Just give it your RSS feed and it will do the rest
• Support – if you have some sort of public place where you accept tips or donations, this is where to put that info
• Contact – A link to where people can reach out to you via a form or whatnot.

Step 3: Connecting the Subdomain

Setting up the subdomain was straightforward:

connect CNAME your-github-username.github.io

DNS propagation usually takes just a few minutes—grab a quick coffee, and your new page will be ready at https://connect.yourbrand.com.

Why It Worked for Me (and Might for You)

Using my own branded hub that I can iterate on with a simple commit makes that one aspect of my tech life 10 times easier. It’s free, quick, and reliable—give it a shot, and let me know what you think! I’d love to see more “connect” pages out there and happy to share broadly.

UPDATE: Special thanks to Marco Almeida for being the first user and contributor! See his site here: marcoalmeida.pt