Your agent is part of self-serve: it works on the same account and placements as the app, and you can mix the two at any step. The steps, each in the app and with your agent: Buy links yourself.
An agent works inside your Linkio account through Linkio's MCP server. It sees only the tools its key allows. Every paid step says what it will hold before it runs.
1. Make a key
Make a key at https://www.linkio.com/account/api-keys. The key starts with acc_ and is shown once.
| Level | What the agent can do |
|---|---|
| Reporting, Read only | Read only. Every write tool is missing from its tool list. |
| Automation | Search, order, write, send, pass or fail, record payments. It cannot change the account's spending limits or card, and cannot make keys. |
| Full access | Everything, the spending limits and the card included. |
Use Automation for an agent that does the work. A key can also be limited to one brand.
On a managed account the keys page opens on Reporting, and the agent's jobs are different: it reads, follows your approvals and invoices, and asks Linkio's team. See Linkio does it for you.
2. Connect Claude Code
With the Linkio plugin:
export LINKIO_API_KEY=acc_your_key
claude plugin marketplace add ajaypag/linkio-link-building-agent
claude plugin install linkio@linkio
Without the plugin, any MCP client:
claude mcp add --transport http linkio https://mcp.linkio.com/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer acc_your_key"
The server is https://mcp.linkio.com/mcp, with the header Authorization: Bearer <your key>. If the client
reads the key from the environment (${LINKIO_API_KEY}), export the variable before you start the client.
3. Or connect Claude.ai or ChatGPT
Both connectors sign in with your Linkio account instead of a key. Server URL: https://mcp.linkio.com/mcp.
Claude.ai (web, desktop, mobile)
- Customize → Connectors → Add → Add custom connector → URL
https://mcp.linkio.com/mcp→ Add → Connect. - Claude opens a Linkio sign-in; use the email and password of your Linkio account. No key needed: the connection acts as your account with the same permissions a key would have. Claude asks before each tool runs; choose Allow.
ChatGPT (Plus or Pro)
- Plugins → Add → Create custom MCP server → Server URL
https://mcp.linkio.com/mcp, Authentication OAuth → tick "I understand" → Create as a plugin → Continue to Linkio. - Sign in with your Linkio account's email and password when asked.
Under the hood this is OAuth 2.1: the connector reads https://www.linkio.com/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server, registers itself at POST https://www.linkio.com/api/oauth/register and exchanges the code at https://www.linkio.com/api/oauth/token. The API reference has the grants.
4. Give it the first job
Tell the agent your site and the page you want links to. The walk: Your first guest post in five minutes. What the server tells every agent: The rules your agent gets.
Scripts
A script calls the same work over HTTP with the key in X-API-Key or Authorization: Bearer. Start at the
API reference.