Learn How to Create Website Shortcut Links
Understanding Website Shortcut Links and Their Purpose
Website shortcut links, commonly called "short links" or "shortened URLs," are condensed versions of longer web addresses. Instead of typing or sharing a lengthy uniform resource locator (URL) like "https://www.examplewebsite.com/resources/guides/how-to-learn-about-government-programs/section-3," users can create and share something much shorter, such as "https://short.link/abc123."
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These shortened links serve several practical purposes in today's digital world. When you're posting on social media platforms like Twitter, where character limits exist, shorter links preserve space for your actual message. They're also valuable when you need to include links in emails, text messages, or printed materials where brevity matters. Short links look cleaner and more professional in business communications, and they're easier for people to type manually if needed.
The technology behind shortcut links involves a redirect service. When someone clicks your shortened link, the service's servers instantly redirect them to the original, full web address. This happens so quickly that users typically don't notice any delay. The redirect works similarly to how a mail forwarding service operates—you give people a simple address, and it automatically directs them to their destination.
Understanding the mechanics helps you make informed decisions about when and how to use these tools. Different situations call for different approaches. Some shortening services offer additional features beyond basic shortening, such as tracking how many people clicked your link, customizing the shortened URL to match your brand, or setting expiration dates for temporary links.
Practical Takeaway: Short links are useful tools for sharing web addresses more efficiently, but they work best in specific contexts. Evaluate whether your situation actually benefits from shortening before creating one, as sometimes the original URL is clearer and more trustworthy to users.
Comparing Popular URL Shortening Services
Several established services offer URL shortening functionality, each with different features and user bases. Bitly is one of the most widely used services, known for its straightforward interface and analytics dashboard that shows how many people clicked your links and basic geographic information about those users. Bitly offers both free and paid versions, with the paid tier providing additional customization and detailed statistics.
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TinyURL represents another long-standing option that focuses on simplicity. It requires no account creation for basic shortening—you paste a URL, and it generates a short version immediately. This approach appeals to users who want quick shortening without setup steps. However, TinyURL provides minimal analytics compared to Bitly.
Google's URL shortener, called goo.gl, operated for years but Google discontinued it in 2019. Google now recommends Firebase Dynamic Links for developers and businesses needing advanced URL management. Firebase allows users to create links that behave differently depending on the device or platform accessing them, directing mobile users to an app and desktop users to a website, for example.
Rebrandly focuses on creating branded short links using custom domain names. Instead of a generic shortened URL, Rebrandly lets you create links like "https://yourcompany.short/page-name," reinforcing your brand identity. This appeals to marketing professionals and companies prioritizing brand consistency. Rebrandly includes analytics and link customization features in both free and premium tiers.
Buffer, primarily known as a social media scheduling platform, includes URL shortening built into its service. This integration works well if you're already using Buffer to manage social media posts—you can shorten links directly within your scheduling workflow.
Practical Takeaway: Choose a shortening service based on your specific needs. If analytics matter, select a service offering detailed tracking. If simplicity is your priority, a no-signup option might work better. For business use emphasizing brand identity, consider custom domain options.
Step-by-Step Process for Creating a Short Link
Creating a shortened URL typically involves a straightforward process that takes just minutes. Here's how to create one using Bitly, a commonly used service with a free option:
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- Visit bitly.com in your web browser
- Look for the text field labeled "Paste a long URL here" on the homepage
- Copy the full web address you want to shorten from your browser's address bar
- Paste the complete URL into Bitly's text field
- Click the "Shorten" button
- Your shortened link appears in a new field—this is what you'll share with others
- Click the "Copy" button next to your new short link to copy it to your clipboard
- Paste the shortened link wherever you need it—email, social media, text messages, or documents
For TinyURL, the process is similarly simple: visit tinyurl.com, paste your long URL into the provided field, optionally customize the shortened version by adding text to the "Custom alias" field if you want something more memorable, and click "Make TinyURL!" The service then displays your shortened link ready to copy and use.
If you want to track how many people click your shortened link, you'll need to create a free account with most services. With Bitly, signing up is straightforward—provide an email address and password, verify your email, and then you can access your link history and analytics dashboard. Analytics show when clicks occurred, which geographic regions users came from, and which devices and browsers they used.
Some services offer customization options. With Bitly's free version, you can create a custom short URL using your account name. For example, instead of "https://bit.ly/3xAbCdE," you might create "https://bit.ly/myname-article." Rebrandly offers more extensive customization options but typically requires a paid plan for custom domain shortening.
Practical Takeaway: Creating a shortened link requires minimal effort and takes under two minutes. Start with a service matching your needs—choose Bitly for analytics, TinyURL for quick shortening without signup, or Rebrandly if branding matters. Remember that shortened links should point to stable, long-term URLs that won't change frequently.
Making Short Links Work in Your Marketing and Communication Strategy
Shortened links work best when strategically placed where they serve a clear purpose. In social media marketing, short links shine on platforms with character limits or where URLs consume significant space. A tweet with a shortened link leaves more room for your message content. For Facebook and Instagram, where character limits aren't restrictive, shortened links offer fewer benefits, though they can still look cleaner in posts and comments.
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Email marketing represents another strong use case for shortened links. Email clients sometimes break long URLs across multiple lines, making them appear as separate links or potentially creating broken links. Shortened URLs avoid this problem and provide a cleaner appearance in email templates. They also enable email marketers to track which specific campaign emails generated clicks.
In printed materials like brochures, flyers, or business cards, shortened links are practical because they're easier to type accurately. If someone needs to manually enter a URL, a shorter version reduces typing errors. QR codes that link to short URLs work well in print because they encode less data and scan more reliably than QR codes encoding extremely long URLs.
However, shortened links carry trust considerations. Users who see an unfamiliar shortened link might hesitate to click it because they can't see the destination beforehand. Building trust requires using reputable shortening services and, when possible, including context about where the link leads. A message like "Here's a link to the government resource guide" provides reassurance about what users will encounter.
For professional and business communication, branded short links using your domain name build credibility better than generic shortened URLs. They signal that your organization took time to carefully prepare the link, reinforcing professionalism. If you frequently share links, investing in a branded shortening service can strengthen your organization's image.
Practical Takeaway: Match your link strategy to your medium. Use shortened links where they solve a real problem—space limitations, printability, or tracking needs. When using shortened links, include enough context for recipients to understand where the link leads and why they should click it.
Tracking and Managing Your Short Links
Most modern shortening services provide analytics features showing basic information about who clicked your links. Understanding these metrics helps you learn which content resonates with audiences and how effectively your communication strategies work. Analytics typically track the
This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.