The Header block is the identity layer of every UniLink page — the one block you cannot remove, and the one that does the most work convincing a stranger to stay.
- The Header block is mandatory and contains your avatar, display name, bio, social links, and cover photo or video.
- Cover video (MP4 or YouTube URL) loops silently and is the single highest-impact visual upgrade you can make.
- Bio text is capped at roughly 160 visible characters on mobile — write one sentence on who you are and one CTA.
- Low-res avatar, missing social links, and default cover are the three most common reasons a page looks unfinished.
When someone lands on your UniLink page, the Header block is the first and most persistent thing they see. Every other block on the page is optional — the Header is not. It is the only block UniLink locks in place, and for good reason: it answers the three questions every visitor asks in the first two seconds. Who is this person? What do they do? Should I keep scrolling? A default avatar, a vague bio, and a blank cover photo answer all three questions badly. This guide walks through every setting in the Header block and explains the decisions that separate a page that converts from one that gets closed immediately.
What the Header block does
The Header block is the identity layer of your UniLink page. It combines six distinct elements into a single cohesive unit: a cover photo or video that fills the top of the page edge to edge, a circular profile avatar that sits at the intersection of the cover and the content area, your display name and username, a bio text field, social media icon links, and optional action buttons (Follow, Contact, Share). None of these elements exist independently — they are all part of the Header block, and they are all rendered together at the top of every page visit.
The block is connected to your account profile, which means changes you make to your display name or avatar in Settings → Profile are reflected here automatically. However, the cover photo, social links, and bio text in the Header block can differ per page — if you run multiple UniLink pages, each can have its own cover and bio while sharing the same underlying account. This matters if you use UniLink for multiple brands or business lines.
There is one important constraint to understand from the start: the Header block cannot be deleted, moved to a different position, or duplicated. You can style it, fill it, and customize every element inside it — but the block itself is fixed as the top of the page. This is intentional. Removing the identity layer from a link-in-bio page makes no logical sense, and locking it prevents the common mistake of accidentally deleting it during editing.
Before you start
- Prepare your profile photo: Use a square image at least 400×400 pixels. PNG with a transparent background works if you want a non-circular crop — otherwise JPEG is fine. Avoid small, blurry, or heavily filtered photos. The avatar is tiny on mobile and needs to read clearly at thumbnail size.
- Prepare your cover image or video: For a static cover, use a landscape image at least 1500×500 pixels — narrower dimensions look blurry on Retina displays. For a cover video, prepare an MP4 under 8 MB or a YouTube URL. The video will autoplay, loop, and play muted.
- Write your bio in a text editor first: Count characters. You have roughly 160 characters visible on mobile before the bio is truncated with a "more" link. Draft one sentence that says who you are, then one sentence or phrase with a call to action. Do not try to say everything.
- Collect your social profile URLs: Gather the full URLs for every social account you want to list — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, and any others. You will need the full URL, not just the @handle.
How to add and configure the Header block on your page
- Open the page editor: Log in to your UniLink dashboard, select the page you want to edit, and click Edit. The Header block will already be present at the top of the editor — you do not add it, you configure it.
- Click the Header block to open its settings panel: A settings panel slides in on the right side. You will see sections for Cover, Profile Photo, Display Name, Bio, Social Links, and Buttons.
- Upload your cover photo or set a cover video: In the Cover section, click Upload to upload a file from your device, or paste a URL. To use a video, paste a direct MP4 URL or a YouTube video URL into the URL field and toggle the input type to Video. To use a gradient instead of a photo, choose Gradient and pick your colors — a gradient cover is low-effort and works well for text-heavy pages.
- Adjust cover height: Choose from Small, Medium, or Large. Medium is the default and works for most pages. Large creates a more cinematic feel but pushes links further below the fold — only use it if the cover image is exceptional.
- Upload your profile photo: Click the avatar area or the Upload button in the Profile Photo section. Your photo will appear as a circle. If you have already set a profile photo in Settings → Profile, it will already be here — you can override it per page.
- Set your display name: This is the name shown prominently below the avatar. It can be your real name, your brand name, or a handle. Toggle the "Show username" option if you also want your @username visible beneath it — useful if your username differs from your display name.
- Write your bio: Click the bio text field and type your bio. Watch the character count. Aim to stay under 120 characters so nothing is hidden on mobile — if you go to 160, check the mobile preview to confirm the most important part shows before the truncation point.
- Add social media links: In the Social Links section, click Add Link. Choose the platform from the dropdown, then paste the full URL to your profile. Repeat for each platform. The icons render automatically based on the platform you select — you do not need to upload icons.
- Configure action buttons (optional): Enable the Follow button by toggling it on and entering the URL of your primary social profile. Enable the Contact button if you want visitors to send you a message directly from the page. The Share button is on by default and lets visitors share your page URL.
- Save and check mobile preview: Hit Save, then switch to mobile preview in the editor. Verify that the cover looks right, the avatar is clear, and the bio is fully visible. Then open your live page URL on your actual phone to confirm.
Key settings explained
| Setting | What it controls | Best practice |
|---|---|---|
| Cover photo (image) | The full-width background image at the top of the page | At least 1500×500px, JPEG under 400 KB; use original photography or a branded graphic |
| Cover video (MP4 / YouTube) | A looping, muted video that replaces the static cover | MP4 under 8 MB or a YouTube URL; short loops (5–15 seconds) work best |
| Cover gradient | A CSS gradient used as cover when no image or video is set | Use two brand colors; works well as a fallback and loads instantly |
| Cover height | The vertical size of the cover area (Small / Medium / Large) | Medium for most pages; Large only if the cover image is visually exceptional |
| Profile photo | The circular avatar shown at the bottom edge of the cover | Square image, minimum 400×400px, clear face or logo at thumbnail size |
| Display name | The prominent name shown below the avatar | Your real name, brand name, or stage name — match what your audience searches for |
| Show username toggle | Shows or hides the @username below the display name | Enable if your username differs from display name; disable if it adds no new information |
| Bio text | The short description below the name — first to be read, first to be judged | One sentence on who you are + one CTA; stay under 120 characters for full mobile visibility |
| Social links | Platform-branded icon links to your social profiles | Add all active platforms; order them by priority (most important first) |
| Follow button | A prominent button linking to your main social profile | Link to your most active platform; use if you are actively growing a social following |
Optimizing your Header block for conversions
The Header block is not just a profile card — it is a conversion element. Every choice in it either increases or decreases the probability that a visitor will click something below it. Start with the cover. The cover establishes the visual register of the entire page in a fraction of a second. If it looks like a placeholder or a low-effort stock image, it signals to the visitor that the rest of the page will be equally low-effort. If it is specific, on-brand, and visually compelling, it signals the opposite. You do not need a professional photographer — a well-lit selfie or a sharp product photo taken on a recent phone is far better than a generic blue gradient.
Your bio is a copy problem, not a word-count problem. The instinct is to pack in as many credentials and descriptions as possible: "Content creator, photographer, entrepreneur, dog lover, coffee addict." That tells a visitor nothing useful. What they actually want to know is: "Does this person have something relevant to me, and what should I do next?" The most effective bios follow a simple pattern: one clear statement of who you are and what you create or sell, followed by one direct instruction. "Custom wedding presets for Lightroom — download the free pack below" outperforms "Photographer | Traveler | Preset Creator | DMs open" every single time because it names a specific value and gives a next step.
Social links are the element people most commonly set up wrong. Adding ten platform icons feels thorough, but it fragments attention. Visitors see ten equal options and often pick none. Prioritize two or three platforms where you are genuinely active and where your audience is most concentrated. If you have not posted to Pinterest in six months, remove it from the Header. Every icon that does not represent an active, maintained presence is a small credibility leak.
The Follow button is underused by creators who would benefit from it most. If your primary goal on a given page is Instagram or TikTok growth, the Follow button gives visitors a single high-visibility action at the top of the page, before they even see your links. Pair it with a bio line that gives them a reason to follow — "Weekly YouTube tutorials on Lightroom editing — follow for updates" — and it becomes a genuine growth driver rather than a decorative button.
Troubleshooting common issues
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cover photo looks blurry or pixelated | Image resolution is too low or the file was over-compressed before uploading | Re-export at a minimum of 1500×500px; target JPEG quality 80–90% for sharpness on Retina displays |
| Avatar looks blurry | Original file was too small (under 200×200px) or heavily upscaled | Use the original photo at full resolution; crop to square before uploading, minimum 400×400px |
| Bio is truncated on mobile and visitors cannot see the CTA | Bio exceeds the ~120-character mobile preview limit | Shorten bio so the most important phrase appears in the first 100 characters; move secondary info to a Text block below |
| Cover video does not play | MP4 URL is not a direct file link, or file size exceeds the limit | Ensure the URL ends in .mp4 and resolves directly to a video file; YouTube URLs work if pasted in the YouTube field specifically |
| Social link icon is missing or shows a generic globe | The platform was not selected from the dropdown — a custom URL was typed directly | Use the platform dropdown to select the correct network; the icon generates automatically from the selection |
| Display name and username both show and look redundant | "Show username" toggle is on but the username matches the display name | Turn off the "Show username" toggle when the two values are identical or near-identical |
| Changes to display name or avatar are not reflected on the page | Changes were made in Settings → Profile but not applied to this specific page's Header block | Open the Header block settings in the page editor and manually update the name and photo fields — per-page settings override account defaults |
Best fit for
- Every UniLink user — the Header block is mandatory and foundational for all page types
- Creators with strong personal branding who want a visual-first first impression
- Anyone actively growing a social following who wants a Follow button above the fold
- Businesses and brands that need consistent identity signaling across multiple pages
- Creators with compelling video content who can use a cover video for immediate personality
Not the right tool if
- You want a completely custom hero layout — the Header structure is fixed, so use the Banner block directly below it for a second hero with full layout flexibility
- Your page is a pure link directory and you want to minimize the space taken up by profile identity — the Header cannot be removed, but you can set cover height to Small to minimize it
- You need per-link analytics on social icon clicks — social links in the Header use icon buttons and click data may be aggregated differently than standard link blocks
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a YouTube video as my cover instead of uploading an MP4?
Yes. In the Cover section of the Header block settings, toggle the input to Video and paste your YouTube video URL directly. UniLink will pull the video and play it in a looping, muted format as the cover background. This is the easiest option if you already have a suitable video on YouTube — no need to download and re-upload. Note that the video will be cropped to fit the cover's aspect ratio, so a landscape video works best.
Why can't I delete or move the Header block?
The Header block is the identity layer of your page — it is the only place your profile photo, name, bio, and social links live together. UniLink locks it in place to prevent accidental deletion and to ensure every page has a clear identity anchor at the top. You can fully customize every element inside it, but the block position is fixed. If you need a different layout for the very top of your page, add a Banner block immediately below the Header — it will sit just underneath and can give you a full-width hero with custom text and a CTA button.
Does the bio text in the Header block support emojis and line breaks?
Yes to both. Emojis render correctly in the bio and are widely used to add personality and visual separation within the character limit — a single emoji can replace several words and add tone. Line breaks also work: pressing Enter in the bio field creates a visible line break on the published page. Many creators use this to separate a who-I-am sentence from a CTA on the next line, which makes the structure easier to scan on mobile.
If I have multiple pages, can each page have a different Header?
Yes. The cover photo, cover video, cover height, bio text, and social links in the Header block are per-page settings. Your account-level display name and avatar are used as defaults, but you can override them independently on each page by editing the Header block for that specific page. This is useful if you run separate pages for different projects, audiences, or brands under the same UniLink account.
How do I make my profile photo appear without a circle crop?
By default, profile photos in the Header block are displayed as circles. If you want a non-circular shape, you can upload a PNG image with a transparent background cut to your preferred shape (square, rounded rectangle, etc.) before uploading. The transparent areas will remain transparent when rendered. Alternatively, some UniLink plan tiers offer shape options in the Header block's profile photo settings — check the design settings panel for a shape selector if your plan supports it.
- The Header block is mandatory and cannot be removed — it is the identity anchor of every UniLink page, containing your avatar, name, bio, social links, and cover.
- Cover video (MP4 or YouTube URL) loops silently and is the single highest-impact visual upgrade available in the Header — far more engaging than any static image.
- Write your bio for mobile first: stay under 120 characters and lead with who you are plus a single CTA — anything beyond that risks being truncated before the visitor sees it.
- Add social links for active platforms only — three strong icons with maintained profiles outperform ten icons where half are dormant.
- Use the per-page Header override if you manage multiple pages — each page can have its own cover, bio, and social links while sharing the same account profile.
Ready to make a strong first impression? Create your free UniLink page and set up your Header block today.