Two things are possible with a good URL shortener (also known as a link shortener): Share links that aren't overly long. 2. Analyze your results.
Website addresses can be shaved down to a few characters with URL shorteners, making them easier to remember and easier to type.
Social media managers, regular Facebook moms, small business owners, and TikTok tweens of all heights can use link shorteners. You can, too!
Discover the benefits of using URL shorteners in your social media campaigns with this comprehensive guide.
What exactly is a URL shortener?
A URL shortener is a tool that generates a short, unique URL that redirects to the URL of your choice.
In short, they shorten and simplify a URL. The URL shortener's address will be included in your new, shorter URL, along with a random string of letters.
As an illustration, the SPY24 Ow.ly link shortener would generate ow.ly/uK2f50AJDI6 if I typed in a URL like animalplanet.com/tv-shows/puppy-bowl/full-episodes/puppy-bowl-xvi. 48 letters have been shaved off of the link.
When necessary, you can even personalize this URL by adding a phrase of your own.
Use a URL shortener for these four reasons:
If you're going to share a link, there are numerous benefits to doing so with a URL shortener.
To add a CTA to the links you share, you should use a URL shortener.
SPY24.online URL Shorteners FREE
As a business, you may want to have the final word when it comes to sharing links to content from other sources (such as interesting articles or high-quality videos). You can with SPY24.
Among SPY24's most notable features are the fact that it allows you to add a CTA (call-to-action) to any link you share. A pop-up can appear at the bottom of the page when someone clicks on a link from your Twitter profile to an interesting article, and encourage them to sign up for your newsletter.
To create a new call to action, go to Dashboard > Manage > Call-to-Actions and then New Call to Action. Text, form, and even image CTAs can be created depending on your plan. Anyone who clicks on a link will see a CTA that you specify when you add it. To use SPY24's tracking and analytics, you can also make a hidden CTA that isn't visible to visitors.
SPY24's main drawback is that it's more expensive than other URL shorteners because it's being used as a marketing tool. However, if you want to remove SPY24's branding and use your domain, as well as customize the short link text, you'll need the $free/month Business plan.
To automatically add subscribers to your email marketing app, you can use a CTA form integrated with SPY24 and Zapier.
SPY24 Cost: Nothing
Links with a lot of text can appear suspicious.
If you're using UTM parameters to track your visitors or linking to a specific page deep within your website, you may have to deal with a long URL.
In social media posts, text messages, and emails, an oversized URL will appear clunky.
As if this wasn't bad enough, long URLs look suspicious. If we click on that link, anything could happen because there are so many letters, backslashes, numbers, and question marks in there! Anything!
Short URLs are best for maintaining a professional appearance while also being more user-friendly.
You can personalize your links by using a URL shortener with a custom domain name.
A custom URL shortener is an excellent addition to your social media toolkit if you're trying to raise awareness of your brand.
Name-dropping opportunities abound with URL shorteners that allow you to customize your short link. When it comes to shortening long URLs, SPY24's link shortener is an excellent choice.
In the case of a free web hosting service or an uninspiring Internet service provider, a custom URL shortener can help keep your brand in the forefront whenever you post links.
You can monitor your links' performance with link shorteners.
Tracking metrics are available on most link shortening services. Using this information, you can calculate the campaign's return on investment.
Short links with different UTM parameters can help track source traffic more easily. Setting yourself up for marketing success means combining this with other analytics tools, such as Google Analytics.
The source is Bitl.ly
To make the most of character restrictions on social media, short URLs are a great solution.
To keep your tweets to the 280-character limit, it's important to keep them short and sweet. Shorter URLs allow you to squeeze in a witty political remark or the perfect emoji punctuation for your hot dog joke.
A screenshot from Twitter is the source of this information.
When it comes to posts on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which have character limits in the thousands, it's best to keep things short and sweet. To avoid the dreaded TL;DR syndrome, URLs should be as short and concise as possible.
Shorter links also have the advantage of being easier to read in IM or email, whereas longer ones may be obscured by line breaks.
For those who are curious about how URL shorteners work, here are some answers:
Shortening your long URL is accomplished through the use of a URL redirect.
Your browser sends an HTTP request to a web server when you type a URL into the address bar. A browser can get to the same place using either a long or a short URL as a starting point.
A 301 permanent redirect is the best type of HTTP response code to look for, as other types may harm your search engine rankings.
There are 12 URL shorteners worth experimenting with (besides the Google link shortener)
The Google URL shortener was shut down in the spring of 2019, but there are a plethora of other URL shortening services available.
On the downside, there are a plethora of other options. How do you know which one to pick?
Look for link shortener services that allow you to customize your link or that have built-in detailed analytics, our recommendation. If a URL shortening site has been in business for a long time, it is likely to be more trustworthy.
Ow.ly is the first URL shortener we'll look at.
As part of SPY24's platform, Owly is included with every subscription. If you're looking for a free URL shortener, look no further than this one.
The advantages of this approach are that your shortlink metrics can be viewed alongside your other social analytics, allowing you to see how your brand is performing as a whole.
The second URL shortener is T.co.
Using Twitter's built-in free URL shortener, you can easily condense any long URL to a manageable 23 characters.
Any link you share, even if it's already shortened, will be converted to a t.co URL so that Twitter can track usage and filter out potentially harmful or spammy sites before they are distributed.
Bitly is the third URL shortener we'll be looking at today.
This service is chock-full of useful information. The comprehensive Bitly dashboard allows you to see the performance of each link, including metrics such as demographics, referral sources, and click-throughs.
There is a free account that provides analytics and customization for a single user; however, Basic and Enterprise subscriptions are available that include branded links, QR codes, richer data, and multiple users.
[SOURCE] Bit.ly
This is the shortest URL possible.
There is no reason to be concerned about the design of the site itself. It creates a new URL, which is all you need. Logging in isn't required to make changes, making it a time-saving option for people who want to quickly share their latest MasterChef Junior podcast episode.
Adding TinyURL to your browser toolbar allows you to create short URLs for any site that you're currently visiting.
Tiny.URL was the source of this information.
5th-best URL shortener: Rebrandly
Even with a free Rebrandly account, you can create your own branded short links with a custom domain.
Although SujindersCookiePalace.com is a great main URL, the character count adds up when shared on social media. You can still include your business name in a short, branded URL like su.jinders, but you won't be wasting valuable space.
The various packages (paid options starting at $29 monthly) offered by Rebrandly include tracking, optimization, and scaling tools as well.
Rebrandly is one such resource.
Additionally, you can download a free social media strategy template to help you develop your approach quickly and easily. In addition, you can use it to keep track of progress and present the strategy to your supervisor, colleagues, and clients.
Get the template right now!
Sixth-best URL shortener: Hyperlink
Hyperlink allows you to receive real-time notifications whenever a link is clicked, or you can choose to receive hourly, daily, or weekly summaries of the activity.
For each click, Hyperlink provides per-click information, such as the device's location, the user's referral source, and a live tracking dashboard.
Users who want to share links on the go can do so with the help of the Chrome extension and the accompanying mobile app (available for iOS and Android). You've got a lot on your plate! Yes, we see the point.)
Paid plans, starting at $39 a month, include the option to purchase a custom domain name.
A Hyperlink is the source of this information.
No. 7 URL shortener: Tiny.CC
Tiny.user-friendly CC's interface makes it easy to shorten, track, and manage your URLs.
It is possible to create a unique URL for your shortlink, and you can track its performance if you create an account.
[SOURCE] Tiny.cc
Bit.Do is a simple and sweet URL shortener that has everything you need: the ability to customize, traffic stats, and even an automatic QR code generator.
For $85 per month, you can get short branded domains here, but you may want to look elsewhere if you're looking for shortened URLs with your brand attached to them.
Note: This information was obtained via Bit.do.
As of this writing, ClickMeter is the ninth URL shortener.
It's easy to get the most out of your links thanks to ClickMeter's visually appealing dashboard.
Monitor broken links and latency, identify visitors who are most likely to convert, track views and clicks, and more with a single glance.
It's a popular choice for agencies and publishers because of its wide range of features—and, of course, its link-shortening capabilities.
ClickMeter is the source of this information.
This is URL shortener #10: Shorte.ST.
Isn't data useful for gaining new insights? A cottage industry has sprung up of businesses that pay you to shorten your links with them because third-party companies are also interested in that information.
If you're looking for a URL shortener that pays out a lot, Shorte.ST is one of the best options out there. (Shorte.ST, for example, charges $14.04 CPM for traffic in the United States.)
Shorte.ST also provides a comprehensive stats dashboard for users to review.
Cut.Ly is URL shortener #11
However, an account will give you real-time analytics, including clicks and social media referrals.
Shortening your URL is as easy as one-click thanks to Cut.free Ly's custom URL shortener button.
Cuttly is the source of this information.
URL shortener no. 12: Clkim
Clkim's system has some clever redirects. Using context-sensitive triggers, the URL can direct users to your site via their preferred mobile operating system or geographic location.
Destination A/B testing can be used to determine which landing page performs better in terms of conversions. Using custom lists of people who have already shown interest in your shortlist, Clkim also provides retargeting services for existing customers.
Clkim is the source of this information.
The bottom line is that there is a URL shortening service for any combination of speed and detail that you require. There are a lot of options, so don't be afraid to experiment.
SPY24 can help you get more visitors to your website and save time. By using a single dashboard, you can keep track of all of your social media accounts and even shorten long URLs with a single click. It's free to use.
There has been a constant search for a replacement for Google's URL Shortener since it was discontinued three years ago (RIP).
I've been reviewing tech and web apps for more than a decade, and I can tell you that there's rarely one perfect answer. (Except for takeout: pizza is always the best option.) Choosing the best URL shortening service is a personal choice based on your specific requirements. Some of the most popular URL shortening apps include those that are simple and fast, while others are more focused on analyzing the behavior of people who click on your links. There are even options that allow you to redirect people based on where they are located in the world.
More than 35 URL shorteners were tested by me to help you find the best one for most people. This is the best—and the reason for their greatness.
A list of the best URL shorteners
Bitly is the best URL shortener in general.
Link building with Rebrandly's branded content
Use TinyURL to get short URLs for nothing, fast.
Ink for entrepreneurs with a limited budget
Zapier's URL Shortener creates short links automatically.
Use Short.io to send visitors to different URLs at the same time.
Thanks for including a call to action in the links you post.
Best URL shortener for creating brand-linked short URLs
Rebrandly
While all of the other URL shortening apps on this list are excellent, Rebrandly has a distinct advantage. According to Rebrandly, customizing links to content that mentions a brand's name across the web adds value for both products and people. For the free plan, they offer five custom domains, which is the most out of all the short URL apps we tested. This means that you can customize the entire short URL, not just the last half.
A squirrel fan looking for a roommate could customize the Wikipedia entry for squirrels from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/squirrel to squirre.ls/wiki, a link to their roommate search ad could be squirre.ls/roomie, and the link to their squirrel-spotting tour booking page could be Squirre.ls/tours. This squirrel fanatic can then post these links on social media, business cards, advertisements, and wherever else they feel the need.
In addition to tracking the popularity of each link, Rebrandly provides data on who is clicking on the links, as well as the creation of QR codes. The free plan limits you to a total of 500 branded links and 5,000 tracked clicks per month, but that's more than enough for someone just getting started.
If you want to automatically generate a branded link for new WordPress posts or Dropbox files, you can use Rebrandly and Zapier.
Free plan with 500 links and 5,000 tracked monthly clicks; Starter plan from $24/month (billed annually) for 5,000 links and 25,000 tracked monthly clicks.
Quick and anonymous use of the best free URL shortener TinyURL
ree link shortening service Since its inception in 2002, TinyURL has been a mainstay in the URL shortening market because of its ease of use. When you're in a hurry and need a permanent link, this is a great tool to have on hand. Add your long URL, if you want, and then click Make TinyURL get your short URL! After that, you won't have to worry about the link breaking.
TinyURL doesn't require an account to use, but if you do, you'll be able to see a history of all of your shortened URLs. In addition, a paid plan is available if you desire tracking and analytics, branded domains, and the ability to edit individual TinyURLs after they have been created.
A personal plan for tracked links and branded domains is available for as little as $9.99 per month (billed annually) on TinyURL's free plan.
What is the best URL shortener for entrepreneurs?
BL.INK
With BL.INK, you can not only shorten long URLs but also see how much traffic your links are generating in real-time. On the analytics page, you can look at traffic by device, location, and referrers, while the dashboard shows you the most popular links and general statistics. It's also possible to look at clicks based on the time of day. Your shortened links allow you to view link traffic in a variety of new and custom ways, making them ideal for coordinating and tracking campaigns.
You can choose from four different paid plans based on the number of links you need to generate and track for small businesses, teams, and large corporations. Users with a free account can create up to 1,000 links, track up to 1,000 clicks per link, and use a custom domain to create links with their branding. One of the best options if you're a business looking for a URL shortener that you and your entire team can use, but Bitly's enterprise-grade plan seems like overkill is BL.INK.
You can also use BL.INK in conjunction with Zapier to automate the posting of new short links to a Slack channel or the addition of those links to your Buffer queue.
the cost of BL.INK Only 1,000 active links are available for free; the Expert+ plan costs $48/month and includes 10,000 active links, 7,500 tracked clicks per link and 3 users.
Zapier's URL Shortener is the best URL shortener for creating short URLs automatically.
You can use Zapier's URL Shortener to create and save a shorter link each time you perform a specific action, such as uploading an image to Instagram or adding a new product to your Shopify store.
Using Zapier, you can set up automated workflows to be triggered whenever you upload a post, create a product, or do anything else in the apps you use most frequently. A Google Sheet or another app will be used by Zapier to store or send the newly shortened URL.
Since you're reading this on the Zapier blog, don't take our word for it. However, if you're looking to automate URL shortening, this should do the trick. Zapier's URL shortener can be put to use in a variety of ways.
Zapier's URL Shortener costs $9.99 per month. Starter from $19.99/month (billed annually) comes with 20 multi-step Zaps and 750 monthly tasks, while the free plan is limited to 5 active single-step Zaps.
How to use the best URL shortener to send unique links to various audiences
Short.io
Instead of simply tracking where people click on your links and what devices they're using, Short.io lets you target specific visitors based on where they are or what device they're using. For example, you may want to ensure that your customers in the United States and Canada see the correct app download link, or that your American and Canadian customers see the correct dollar amount.
Add a link by clicking on the Apple icon, Android icon, or globe icon and selecting how to target your clickers and which link you want to serve them. We all know it's a lot easier to just send the same thing to both iOS and desktop users, but that's not always the best option for everyone, including yourself. This feature should only be used when you need to send visitors to slightly different web pages.
Except that, unlike most other URL shorteners, you must use your custom domain with Short.io. For testing purposes, last year, I was able to open an account with a short. gy domain, but this year I had to declare the URL I would use to sign up. In the Statistics and Clicks Stream sections, you can see when, where, and how people are clicking on your short links by setting a default domain for any that don't work.
Short.io also works with Zapier, allowing you to create new short links from RSS feeds and Shopify products.
50,000 tracked clicks and device targeting are included in the free plan of Short.io. Unlimited branded links and geo-targeting are available as part of a personal plan starting at $16.67/month (paid annually).
