URL shorteners have been around for over a decade, and their usefulness in digital marketing and business has only increased. They are tools that shorten long, complex URLs into shorter ones that are easier to share, remember, and track. This overview will explore some top URL shorteners and their benefits for digital marketing and business in 2023.
Top URL Shorteners
Bitly
Bitly allows users to create custom short links with their brand name or other relevant keywords. This helps improve brand recognition and recall and makes it easier for users to remember the link. It provides detailed tracking and analytics for all shortened links, including the number of clicks, geographic location, and the referral source of clicks. This information can help businesses understand their audience and optimize their marketing campaigns.
short.io
Short.io provides real-time link tracking, meaning businesses can see how their links perform. This allows them to adjust their marketing campaigns quickly and optimize their content for maximum engagement.
TinyURL
TinyURL does not require users to create an account, which means that businesses can quickly and easily create short links without needing to go through a registration process. TinyURL does not display any ads on the short links created, ensuring that businesses have complete control over their marketing campaigns.
ShortURL
ShortURL is compatible with smartphones, tablets, and desktops, making it easy to use on any device. ShortURL uses HTTPS protocol and data encryption to ensure that all data transmitted through the service is secure. Additionally, ShortURL deletes any links that try to disseminate spam, viruses, or malware. The service also offers an API that allows developers to integrate the service into their applications. Additionally, ShortURL integrates with over 50 other apps, including Google Analytics, Bitly, and Hootsuite.
Rebrandly
With Rebrandly, users can create custom URL slugs relevant to their brand or campaign. This makes URLs more memorable and easier to share. Rebrandly also integrates with various other tools, including Google Analytics, Buffer, and Zapier. This makes it easy to use Rebrandly alongside other tools businesses may already use. Rebrandly provides an API and developer tools that allow developers to integrate the service into their applications.
BL.INK
BL.INK enables users to track the performance of their short links by adding parameters to the URL. This helps businesses to measure their return on investment (ROI) and optimize their marketing campaigns. BL.INK offers team collaboration features, which allow multiple users to work together on link management and tracking. BL.INK’s Blaze feature is designed to handle large-scale campaigns, providing unlimited clicks, API support, and rate limits to meet any size.
What Are the Key Advantages of Using a URL Shortener for Digital Marketing?
Improve brand recognition and recall
URL shorteners can help improve brand recognition and recall by creating custom short URLs that include the brand name. For example, instead of sharing a long, complex URL that includes the website’s name, a brand can create a custom short URL that includes its brand name. This makes it easier for people to remember the URL and associate it with the brand.
Furthermore, custom short URLs can be used in social media posts, marketing campaigns, and other digital marketing efforts. This makes it easier for customers to recognize the brand and its products or services, even if they are not actively searching for them.
Increase click-through rates
URL shorteners can also increase click-through rates (CTR) by creating shorter and more visually appealing links. Shorter links are less intimidating and easier to click on, especially on mobile devices with limited space.
Moreover, URL shorteners can track click-through rates, which helps businesses measure the effectiveness of their digital marketing efforts. This can help them identify which campaigns are working and which need improvement.
Enhance social media sharing.
Social media platforms have character limits for posts, and long URLs can take up valuable real estate. URL shorteners can help enhance social media sharing by creating shorter links that leave more space for captions, hashtags, and other important information.
Additionally, some URL shorteners offer social media tracking, allowing businesses to see how many clicks and shares their links get on social media. This information can help businesses optimize their social media strategy and identify the most effective platforms for their marketing efforts.
Better tracking and analytics
A URL shortener can provide businesses with better tracking and analytics for their digital marketing efforts.
A URL shortener can provide real-time analytics, allowing businesses to see how their campaigns perform. This information can help businesses quickly adjust their marketing efforts to improve effectiveness.
Protect against broken links.
Long, complex URLs are prone to breaking, especially when shared across different platforms and devices. Broken links can harm a business’s reputation and negatively impact its SEO efforts.
A URL shortener can protect against broken links by creating permanent and reliable links that redirect to the original URL. This ensures that customers always have access to the content they seek, even if the original link breaks.
Improve SEO efforts
A URL shortener can also improve a business’s SEO efforts by creating shorter links that are easier for search engines to crawl and index. Shorter links can also include relevant keywords, which can help improve a website’s search engine ranking.
They can provide businesses with better tracking and analytics for their SEO efforts. They can track which links are getting the most clicks and shares, which can help businesses identify which keywords and topics are most relevant to their audience.
Increase the lifespan of content.
A URL shortener can also increase the lifespan of content by creating permanent and reliable links that can be reused in future marketing efforts. This means businesses can continue to promote their content even after it has been published, which can help increase their reach and impact.
A URL shortener can track the lifespan of content by monitoring how many clicks and shares a link gets over time. This information can help businesses identify the most engaging and valuable content for their audience.