How to shorten a hyperlink (and make it instantly clickable)

Readers don’t care about the full hyperlink; they care about where it leads them. But long, exposed URLs? They clutter the page, disrupt readability, and make your content harder to trust.

The solution is simple: shorten the hyperlink to make it more trustworthy.

Instead of linking to a long, clunky URL, you can use a short, branded link that looks neat and is easy to manage. In this blog, we’ll explain what a hyperlink is, how to shorten a hyperlink with Replug, and the benefits of doing so.

Let’s start with the basics before we move on to the process.

What is a hyperlink?

A hyperlink is a clickable element in a document, web page, or email that takes the reader to another location. It could open a new page, lead to a section within the same file, or direct someone to external content like a video, image, or resource.

Hyperlinks usually appear as text, phrases, or buttons. For example:

• In a blog: “Click here to learn more”
• In a document: a word like “Download” might point to a file link
• In an email: a phrase like “Shop now” could take readers to a landing page

Behind the hyperlink is a URL. If that URL is long, you can create a short link so the hyperlink remains clean and reliable.

Why shorten a hyperlink?

Shortening hyperlinks has clear benefits for both presentation and performance:

• Cleaner look: no distracting or broken lines in documents or blogs.
• Professional branding: links can carry your brand name with Replug.
• Improved trust: readers are more likely to click short, branded links.
• Analytics and tracking: shortened links allow us to monitor clicks.
• Flexibility: edit or update the destination without changing the hyperlink text.

In short, shortening makes hyperlinks smarter and more useful.

How to shorten a hyperlink with Replug

Here’s the step-by-step process on how to shorten a hyperlink using Replug:

Step 1: Sign in or sign up

Go to Replug and sign up for a free 14-day trial (no credit card needed). If you already have an account, log in to the dashboard.

Step 2: Paste your long URL

On the dashboard, paste the original long link into the bar under “Quickly shorten your link”. This creates a shortened version instantly.

Step 3: Create a branded URL (optional)

At first, Replug generates a short URL with an alphanumeric slug. For example:

You can customize the slug to make it look more recognizable and professional:

This not only looks professional but also improves recognition.

Step 4: Enable link cloaking (optional)

Replug also offers link cloaking. If you want the shortened URL to appear as a vanity link in the browser (helpful for affiliates or content marketers), you can enable this option while setting up your link.

Step 5: Save and copy the short URL

Once ready, click on “Save Shortened Link” and copy your short link.

Step 6: Add it to your hyperlink

Now, go back to your document, blog editor, or email tool. Highlight the text you want to hyperlink (for example, Learn more). Insert your Replug short link instead of the original long URL.

Now, when readers click the hyperlink, they’ll be directed to the shortened link, which then forwards them to the intended destination.

Benefits of using Replug for shortened hyperlinks

Replug lets you shorten a link while turning it into a complete marketing asset. Here are the benefits that it offers:

• Custom branded links: build trust and align links with your brand.
• Click analytics: track number of clicks, user devices, and geography.
• UTM parameters: measure campaign performance precisely using UTM links.
• Retargeting pixels: capture audiences who clicked your hyperlinks.
• Link rotation: send traffic to multiple offers from the same hyperlink.
• Editable links: update destinations anytime without changing the hyperlink itself.
• QR codes: create dynamic QR codes for offline or print materials.

Who actually benefits from shortening hyperlinks?

Shortened hyperlinks can be applied across multiple scenarios:

• Digital marketing: Short hyperlinks help brands maintain consistent messaging across platforms. They’re easy to share in emails, ads, and campaigns while keeping everything clean and trackable. Marketers can also run A/B tests with different links to see which strategies bring better results.
• Social media marketing: Short hyperlinks keep posts neat, boost engagement, and encourage sharing. A branded link also feels more trustworthy, making users more likely to click.
• Vanity links: Custom, keyword-based links are easier for people to remember and type. With a URL shortening tool, creating vanity links becomes simple, giving businesses a professional, user-friendly way to share content.
• Affiliate marketing: Replug helps cloak affiliate links into branded hyperlinks that look clean, trustworthy, and click-worthy. Plus, with advanced link tracking, affiliates can see which campaigns are driving real conversions.
• Campaign analytics: Every click on a hyperlink tells a story. Marketers gain insights into click-through rates, demographics, and user behavior, which helps optimize campaigns and allocate resources more effectively.
• QR codes: Pairing QR codes with short hyperlinks is a powerful way to reach audiences across touchpoints. With dynamic QR codes, you can update the destination anytime without changing the code itself, keeping campaigns flexible and future-proof.

Conclusion

Long hyperlinks not only look messy but also reduce trust and harm readability. By shortening them, you can keep links clean, branded, and easy to share while unlocking analytics and flexibility.

With Replug, hyperlinks go beyond shortening. You can create custom branded links, cloak affiliate URLs, track campaign performance, and even generate QR codes. Whether it’s for digital marketing, social media, or affiliate promotions, Replug turns every hyperlink into a smart marketing asset.

If you want hyperlinks that people are irresistibly clickable, it’s time to shorten and manage them with Replug!

Frequently asked questions

How do I reduce the length of a hyperlink?

Shortening the length of a hyperlink is simple: Copy the long link from your website or social media, paste it into Replug, click to create, and save your new short link.

How do I rename or shorten a hyperlink?

• If you just want to rename it, most platforms (Word, Google Docs, emails, websites, etc.) let you edit the display text of the link. Instead of showing the full URL, you can replace it with cleaner text like “Read more” or “Visit here”.
• If you want to shorten the actual link itself, you can use a URL shortener like Replug. Just paste your long URL, generate a short one, and use that wherever you share it.

How to shorten a URL safely?

Use a reliable URL shortener, opt for branded links, and avoid suspicious third-party tools. Always preview and test shortened links before sharing to ensure they’re safe and trustworthy.

How do I edit a hyperlink to make it shorter in Word?

Right-click the link, select Edit Hyperlink, then choose ScreenTip (top-right of the dialog box) and type in your preferred text.