If you’re using a link shortener, like the ones listed in the next section, and one of them goes under or makes major changes, your links could become defunct.
You have no idea what this is a link for, and, if someone just sent it to you with no context, it would either be blocked or you would find it suspect and not click on it. Here’s the same URL after being shortened: You know it’s taking you to an FDA page, and, from the rest of the link, you get a good idea of what’s going to be on that page. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website with related news and updates looks like this: Say you wanted to visit a website for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines.
This can be helped by using a custom domain, but even then, it could seem suspicious. You have no idea where a link is sending you when it’s in a shortened form. While this tool is a great option for many reasons, it’s important to be aware of the possible downsides as well. If you’re aiming for high social media engagement, using shortened URLs might be just what you need. Long URLs with random characters and numbers can look shady, especially to someone who’s a new customer. More legitimacyĪ shortened link matching other links on your digital marketing materials and social media content lends legitimacy to you as a business. When that person or team goes to put together reports, having the metrics for links is just as important as tracking likes, comments, follows, etc. This is not only beneficial for your business as a whole but for whoever handles your social media management. Tracking capabilitiesĪnother asset of using an online tool to shorten a link is that clicks on the link can be tracked. There’s too much room for error, and a would-be sharer could end getting frustrated and quit before sharing your link with anyone. But if someone has chosen to share a URL by typing it out into a message, having to then type in 45 different numbers, letters, and characters isn’t efficient. This doesn’t happen much anymore, given the ability to copy and paste a link from pretty much any device. They provide a clean look to a page that can otherwise be overwhelmed with photos and other types of content. Shortened links look better in Instagram bios, as well as in Twitter bios. If you’re trying to build a brand and are doing so through a social media campaign, having all your links be the same length and appear very similar is crucial. More streamlined in appearanceĪll URLs start out the same way, but after that initial similarity, they can go many different ways. Image source: Author Benefits of using a URL shortenerĪside from just being more pleasing to the eye, shortened URLs can have the following added benefits. URL shortening can be as simple as plugging your long URL into a tool and getting a shorter one, or as complex as using a link shortener as a social media management tool. Once that’s taken care of, the process is fairly straightforward. If it’s a paid tool, you’ll have to purchase a subscription before being able to utilize the URL shortener and access all of the extra features. However, sometimes all you have to do is paste the long URL into the allotted space on a website.
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Once you decide which custom URL shortener you’re going to use, if it’s a free tool, you will most likely only have to create an account to get started. There are some free link shorteners and some that you would have to pay for, but, either way, short URLs will work in your favor. It seems overly simple, but that’s the reality.
Overview: What is a URL shortener?Ī URL shortener is an online tool that allows you to enter a long URL and receive a shortened version in return. But when someone sees a URL like that, they can be put off and start to question if it’s one they should visit or send to a friend.Ī simple way around this situation is to use a URL shortener. It could be a perfectly fine URL, just long and intricate. It’s interesting how the length of a URL, or the characters seen in one, can really impact the legitimacy of how that URL comes off. If you’re looking for a different way to use social media marketing and track your efforts, a URL shortener can help streamline your links, add legitimacy, and so much more.
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