10 Ways to Use Short Links
Created on 23 May, 2024 • Tutorial • 100 views • 9 minutes read
Short links are like the secret sauce of the internet - they pack a punch in a tiny package, making your online presence sleek, snazzy, and supercharged. Digital branding is how you connect with your consumers, lead the conversation, and keep them comi
Short links are like the secret sauce of the internet - they pack a punch in a tiny package, making your online presence sleek, snazzy, and supercharged.
Digital branding is how you connect with your consumers, lead the conversation, and keep them coming back for more. It sparks interest, boosts your brand cred, and builds trust.
From social media swagger to SEO wizardry, these compact URLs are the unsung heroes of the digital world. Let's dive into 10 ways to unleash the power of short links and level up your online game like a boss!
1. Brand Your Links
Branding your links is a must in the digital marketing game if you wanna establish trust and look real.
Utilise a URL shortener like Bitly to create custom links that scream your brand name. It's like having your own personalised link shortener.
Branded links are the cherry on top of your digital marketing sundae. They give your audience a smooth ride and fit right in on social media profiles and posts, even with those pesky character limits. More opportunities to share your links? Yes, please!
You can shorten those long URLs into something catchy that's easy to remember and type. Plus, you can customise the shortened URL to include your own branded domain, making it look extra fly.
With the rapid advancements of link shorteners, you can
- shorten long links
- make them match your brand
- track every click.
It's like having a secret handshake with your audience, driving higher click-through rates and engagement with your unique custom domain.
Slip those short links into your email marketing campaigns to drive your peeps straight to the good stuff - your products, services, or promotions. And don't forget to add a short link to your email signature, so there's always a link to your site in every message you send.
When you're advertising online, keep a few things in mind.
Make Sure Everything Goes With the Flow
Use shortened links to fit your web address into your ad without cramping your style. It also lets you track those conversions like a pro. All credit goes to the analytics features from URL shortening services.
Opt for Custom URLs
Social media is the ultimate playground for your shortened custom URLs. Use short links on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Twitter to add some spice to your posts and stay within those character limits.
Use Affiliate Marketing
In the world of affiliate marketing, short URLs are your secret weapon. Use them as affiliate-sharing links to work with other media outlets and promote your products and services. Your affiliates get a commission when someone clicks your link and makes a purchase - it's a win-win!
Choose a Voice
Decide on your brand voice and tone. Something that reflects your brand's values and vision.
Remember, online branding is all about your customers, brand identity, location, messaging, and products. Focus on creating a brand that your target audience loves and keep it consistent across all your online channels.
Utilise QR Codes and Other Features
Use the shortening tools to create experiences that are meaningful and measurable. Customise QR Codes, manage them and your links in one dashboard, and drive more views, sales, subscribers, and leads with custom mini landing pages.
Try Getting a Certificate
Consider getting certified in branding and digital marketing to level up your game. You'll develop a portfolio of your work and learn how to reach and persuade your audience like a pro.
2. Redirect Links
When a web page URL changes, using shortened URLs can save the day. You can easily redirect the short link to the new page without hassle.
This way, all the links you’ve already shared keep working, and your audience doesn’t hit any dead ends.
It’s super handy if you’ve redesigned your site, moved content around, or switched to a new domain. Just update the short link’s destination, and you’re good to go.
Another big plus is that you don’t lose your tracking data. When you change the destination of a shortened URL, all the click-through rates and user engagement stats stay intact. Which means you can keep measuring how well your campaigns are doing.
Even if the original URLs change, you won’t have to create new links and confuse your audience; you can just update the existing ones and keep everything running smoothly.
Moreover, redirecting shortened URLs makes managing your links a breeze. If you need to update a product page URL because of a new sale or inventory changes, you can just tweak the short link to point to the new page. This keeps everything up-to-date without any extra effort.
It’s especially useful in fast-paced marketing environments where you need to be quick and flexible. With shortened URLs, your links stay relevant, your data stays accurate, and your campaigns stay effective.
3. Use in Offline Marketing
Short links are super handy for offline promotions like print ads, direct mail, and business cards. They’re easy to include because they take up less space and are simpler for people to type in. Instead of dealing with long, complicated URLs, you can use a short link that’s clean and easy to remember.
Including short links in your print materials can make a big difference. People are more likely to visit your site if the URL is short and sweet. It’s less intimidating and reduces the chance of typos. Whether it’s on a flyer, a poster, or a postcard, a short link keeps things neat and user-friendly.
Short links also help track the success of your offline campaigns. You can see how many people are visiting your site from your print ads or business cards.
This data helps you understand what’s working and what’s not, so you can fine-tune your marketing efforts. Overall, using short links makes your offline promotions more effective and easier to manage.
4. Optimize for Mobile
Short links are great for mobile devices because they’re more readable and shareable. Long URLs can be a pain to deal with on small screens, but short links are easy to see and click on. This makes it more likely that people will engage with your content.
Another big benefit is that short links load faster. When people are on their phones, they want quick access to information. A short link gets them to your content faster without any extra hassle.
This quick access can improve the overall user experience and keep your audience happy. Plus, short links are easier to share.
Whether people are texting a link to a friend or posting it on social media, short links are more convenient. They take up less space and look cleaner, making them more appealing to share. This can help your content reach a wider audience more effectively.
5. Create QR Codes
URL shorteners can generate QR codes that link directly to your short URLs. This feature is handy because it allows you to create scanable codes that people can easily use with their smartphones.
QR codes are perfect for print materials, making it simple for your audience to access your content without having to type in a URL. These QR codes work great in various places like product packaging and signage.
Imagine a customer seeing a QR code on a product box or a poster – they can quickly scan it and be taken straight to your website or a special promotion.
It is undoubtedly one of the most convenient ways to bridge the gap between offline and online marketing. Because it makes it a lot easier for people to engage with your brand.
6. Improve SEO
Using descriptive keywords in your short links can significantly boost your SEO.
For instance, a short link like yoursite.co/best-url-shorteners gives both users and search engines a clear idea of what to expect. This helps improve your search engine rankings because search engines prioritise URLs that are relevant and descriptive.
Descriptive short links also make it easier for people to understand what they’re clicking on. Instead of seeing a vague link, they get a quick snapshot of the content. It’s a simple way to make your links more appealing and trustworthy to your audience.
Avoiding generic "click here" links is important for both usability and SEO. Generic links don't provide any context or keywords, making them less effective in search engine optimisation.
It is wiser to use specific, descriptive keywords in your short links. This way, you not only enhance SEO but also improve the user experience, making your content more accessible and engaging.
7. Manage Links in One Place
URL shorteners let you keep all your links organised in one easy-to-use dashboard. This feature is super helpful, especially for teams. Instead of hunting down links in different places, you can see everything in one spot.
Having a single dashboard means you can—
- manage your links more efficiently
- quickly update, track, and share links without any hassle
- save time
- focus more on your campaigns and less on administrative tasks.
For teams, this centralised system is a game-changer. Everyone can access and manage the links they need, making collaboration smoother. Whether you’re updating a marketing campaign or tracking link performance, everything’s right there, making the whole process a lot simpler and more streamlined.
8. Shorten Links in Email Signatures
Keep your email signatures looking clean by shortening long URLs to your website, blog, or social profiles. Long links can make your signature look cluttered and messy, but short links keep it neat and professional.
Using short links in your email signature also makes it easier for people to click through to your important pages. Instead of dealing with a long, complicated URL, they get a simple, concise link that's easy to follow.
Plus, shortened URLs can make your signature more effective. They save space, making your contact information and calls to action stand out more. This way, your email signature stays tidy while still being functional and engaging.
9. Track Clicks
URL shorteners often give you handy analytics on who’s clicking your links, where they’re from, and what device they’re using. This info is super useful for tweaking and optimizing your content.
With these insights, you can see which links are getting the most attention and from which parts of the world. Knowing what devices people are using can help you make sure your content looks great everywhere, whether it’s on a phone, tablet, or computer.
Having this data at your fingertips means you can make smarter decisions about your marketing. You can adjust your strategies based on what’s working and what’s not, helping you connect better with your audience.
10. Share on Social Media
Short links are a lifesaver when it comes to saving space in tweets, posts, and bios. They’re way shorter than regular URLs, which means you can squeeze in more context and information without hitting those character limits.
With short links, you can share more about what you’re linking to, whether it’s a blog post, a product page, or your social media profiles. This extra context helps your audience understand what they’re clicking on and why it’s worth their time.
So, next time you’re crafting a tweet or updating your bio, consider using a short link. It’ll help you make the most of those precious characters and get your message across loud and clear.