Tag: best url shortener.

Free URL shorteners are great and all, but let’s be real: paid URL shorteners take things up a notch. 

When you’re paying for something, you expect to get more out of it, right? And with URL shorteners, that “more” includes some seriously cool features. But here’s the real question: 

Which paid URL shortener actually gives you the most value for your money?

Any URL shortener can clean up a long, clunky link. But the good ones? They let you brand and customize your links, turning that messy string of text into something sleek and professional. They also give you tracking insights to see who’s clicking your links and even help you figure out which marketing campaigns are actually working.

So, if you’re ready to upgrade your links, here are the top 5 paid URL shorteners that bring value, functionality, and style to the table.

What to look for in a paid URL shortener

When choosing a paid URL shortener, it’s important to consider the following features:

• Custom branded domains: Make your links match your brand’s identity.
• Detailed analytics: Track click data, including location, device, and referral source.
• Retargeting and tracking: Re-engage users through targeted ads based on their interactions with your links.
• Link rotation: Direct users to different destinations based on conditions.
• Mobile compatibility: Ensure your links and campaigns are optimized for mobile users.
• Team management: Allow multiple users to collaborate and streamline workflows.

You may also like: 5 powerful benefits of URL shorteners you should know

Pricing at a glance

Here’s a quick breakdown of each tool’s pricing plans to help you make an informed decision:

Tool
	Free plan	Basic	Pro	Agency/Premium/Business
Replug	14-day free trial with all advanced features across all plans	$19/mo	$49/mo	From $79/mo
Rebrandly	Yes, but with limited features	$14/mo	$39/mo	$119/mo
Bitly	Yes, but with only 10 links and 100 clicks per month	$8/mo (annual plan only)	$35/mo	$300/mo
Sniply	14-day free trial with basic features across plans	$9/month	$29/mo	$59/mo
Rocketlink	10-day free trial but with limited features and volume	$19/mo	$29/mo	$69/mo

Top 5 URL shorteners

1. Replug

Replug is a powerful link management tool that allows you to create unlimited short links, giving you the flexibility to streamline your link-sharing process. With in-depth analytics to track link performance, Replug offers valuable insights into your audience’s behavior and engagement.

What sets Replug apart is its all-in-one solution packed with advanced features like white-label solutions, custom CTA campaigns, deep linking, and more. Unlike other tools that provide only one or two of these features, Replug combines them all into a single, powerful platform. 

Replug features

With Replug, you get access to an all-in-one platform with powerful features. Here’s what’s in store:

• Link management: Manage all your links through a simple and clean dashboard, whether you’re an agency, affiliate marketer, content creator, freelancer, or e-commerce business.
• Link shortening: Shorten unlimited links, create vanity URLs, and customize link previews with branded links and favicons.
• Link analytics: Access detailed analytics, including total and unique clicks segmented by location, referral, device, and browser.
• Bio links: Create customizable bio link pages with social links, blocks, RSS feeds, and retargeting pixels.

• Call-to-action generation: Create eye-catching CTA campaigns for your links to boost converstions and sales.
• White-label solution: Customize the dashboard, logos, domain, reports, and more, which is ideal for agencies wanting to brand their services.
• Retargeting pixels: Add retargeting pixels to your links to track users and re-engage them with targeted ads on multiple digital platforms.
• Deep linking: Direct users to specific pages within your app or website for a personalized, seamless experience.
• A/B testing: Test up to 10 URLs simultaneously, with percentage-based traffic distribution to optimize link performance.
• Link rotation: Set up to 10 traffic rules for short links, directing users to different destinations based on conditions. A default link ensures users are always redirected.
• QR code generation: Generate customizable QR codes with trackable performance, editable colors, and PNG or SVG download options.
• Team management: Collaborate efficiently by inviting team members and assigning roles, ensuring streamlined workflows for link management and campaigns.

Replug pricing:

• Basic: $19/mo
• Professional: $49/mo
• Agency (Small): $79/mo
• Agency (Medium): $149/mo
• Agency (Large): $299/mo
• Agency (Enterprise): $499/mo

2. Rebrandly

Rebrandly specializes in branded links, allowing you to customize URLs with your own domain. With powerful features like link tracking, custom slugs, and advanced analytics, Rebrandly is ideal for businesses that want to make a strong, professional impression with every link.

Top features: 

• Custom domains & links: Create and manage branded links.
• Advanced analytics: Track detailed link performance.
• Traffic routing: Direct clicks to specific pages based on conditions.
• Bio links (Link Gallery) & QR codes: Build bio link pages and generate trackable QR codes.

Pricing:

• Essentials: $14/mo
• Professional: $39/mo
• Growth: $119/mo
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Related: What is a branded short domain and how do I get one?

3. Bitly

Bitly is known for its simplicity and reliability. It offers features like branded links and basic analytics. However, to access its more advanced analytics, you’ll need to opt for a paid plan.

Top features: 

• Branded links: Customize URLs with your domain.
• Analytics & reporting: Track clicks, referrers, and geographic data.
• Retargeting pixels: Add pixels to retarget users.
• Integrations: Sync with tools like Zapier.

Pricing:

• Core: $8/mo (annual plan only)
• Growth: $35/month
• Premium: $300/month

Related: Top 10 Bitly alternatives and competitors in 2025

4. Sniply

Sniply is unique in that it allows you to add a custom call-to-action (CTA) overlay to your shared links. This can drive traffic back to your website or encourage specific actions while sharing valuable content.

Top features: 

• CTA overlays: Add CTAs to any link you share.
• Link analytics: Track clicks, conversions, and more.
• Retargeting & A/B testing: Re-engage users and test different strategies.
• Team management: Share link management with your team.

Pricing:

• Basic: $9/month
• Pro: $29/month
• Business: $59/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

5. RocketLink

RocketLink is ideal for marketers who want to add retargeting pixels and CTAs to their links. It’s powerful, but when it comes to ease of use, flexibility, and features, Replug leads the way by offering a more comprehensive toolkit for link management and analytics.

Top features:

• Branded Domains: Customize your short links.
• Retargeting Pixels: Add pixels for ad retargeting.
• Analytics: Track link performance and audience behavior.
• Custom CTAs: Add custom CTAs to drive engagement.

Pricing:

• Liftoff: $19/month
• Space: $29/month
• Galaxy: $69/month

Best use cases for paid URL shorteners

Paid URL shorteners are versatile tools that cater to diverse industries and professionals. Here’s how different types of users can benefit from them:

• E-commerce: Track customer behavior with detailed analytics, use branded links for a polished, trustworthy shopping experience, and boost conversions with deep linking to specific product pages.
• Content creators: Customize bio links for platforms like Instagram or TikTok, promote specific content with branded URLs, and monitor audience engagement to refine your strategy.
• Affiliate marketers: Use A/B testing to experiment with different campaigns, retarget users who clicked your links, and analyze traffic performance to maximize commission opportunities.
• Agencies: Leverage white-label solutions to add your branding, collaborate with team members on client accounts, and utilize advanced analytics to demonstrate campaign success to clients.
• Freelancers: Create professional-looking links to promote your portfolio or services, use bio links to consolidate your online presence, and track link engagement to identify your most effective outreach strategies.
• Event planners: Share event registration links, direct attendees to specific event pages, and track sign-up trends to plan better for future events.
• Nonprofits and NGOs: Share donation links with branded URLs, track donor engagement, and run A/B tests on different campaigns to see what drives more contributions.
• Music artists: Promote new releases, concert tickets, and merch with branded links, consolidate links to your streaming platforms and social media with bio links, and track fan engagement to identify your top-performing campaigns.
• Social media managers: Optimize link performance for multiple social platforms, create branded short links that align with your brand identity, and analyze clicks to see which platforms drive the most engagement.
• Mobile App developers: Use deep linking to guide users directly to specific app features, track user acquisition campaigns, and personalize experiences with advanced analytics.

By tailoring the use of paid URL shorteners to your niche, you’ll unlock new levels of efficiency and engagement in your marketing strategies.

Final verdict: Which is the best URL shortener?

At this point, you are familiar with the benefits of using link management tools. Moreover, we have also mentioned the top paid URL shorteners.

However, when it comes to which URL shortener is an all-rounder, Replug truly shines as the all-in-one, customizable, and scalable solution for marketers, agencies, and businesses looking to level up their link-sharing game. With features like branded URLs, detailed analytics, bio links, retargeting, and more, Replug has everything you need to create powerful, performance-driven links.

Investing in a paid URL shortener is more than just shortening your links—it’s about optimizing your marketing strategy and driving results. And when you choose Replug, you’re choosing a tool that gives you the power to truly take control of your links.

If you’re looking to make your links work harder for you, why not give Replug a try? With a 14-day free trial and advanced features, it’s the perfect way to see what paid URL shorteners can do for your business. Start your trial today!

No one likes those long, complex URLs – They look weird, can be unsafe, tough to share, might not fit social bio, can’t be optimized for mobile use, and cause various issues.

To tackle these hurdles, consider using a URL shortener — a handy tool that transforms lengthy URLs into more manageable ones.

Beyond saving space, URL shorteners offer diverse features like click tracking, link customization, UTM tags, security and reliability, compatibility with phones and desktops, and much more.

These tools have gained popularity, especially since social media platforms and messaging apps limit post characters. But with so many options available, knowing which URL shortener is the best for your needs can be difficult.

For your help, we have shortlisted some of the best URL shorteners of 2025, with features, reviews, pricing, and what sets them apart. Keep reading to learn more…

Best URL shorteners in a blink

In recent years, URL-shortening tools have seen significant growth. After detailed research, we have found the below 6 link shorteners to be the best, as they are complete link management solutions in terms of pricing, features, user-friendliness, and customer reviews.

Tool	Best For	Agency Plans
Replug	Complete link management solution with high-end and low-cost features	$79 /mo
Bitly	Widely recognized URL shortening with robust analytics	$300 /mo
Rebrandly	Focus on link branding and customization	$399 /mo
Pixelme	Renowned for retargeting pixels	$400 /mo
Bl.INK	Feature-rich URL shortening with advanced tracking and analytics	$599 /mo
Cuttly	Straightforward link shortening with detailed analytics	$99 /mo
Capsulink	Simple tool to shorten, customize, and track links.	$160/mo

Note: Find out the detailed features, pricing, and reviews of these link shorteners in the “Top 6 URL Shorteners” section of the blog. However, if you are looking for even more, you may explore other URL shorteners at the bottom of the blog that didn’t end up in the top 6 list. 

10 reasons to use a URL shortener – Buyers guide

Making a purchase for the first time or even switching from one brand to another. Using a URL shortener offers numerous advantages across different areas, making it a valuable asset for anyone.

Here’s why it’s the ultimate advantage for your specific needs.

1. Tracks the number of impressions, clicks & conversions
2. Cut short complex URLs to more recognizable ones. Thus, improves web traffic, CTR and conversion rates
3. Custom short links boost brand promotion and brand reach
4. Short URLs take less character space, hence are best for SMS & social bios
5. Branded URLs are easier to share and remember, which means enhanced brand recalls.
6. Improves user experience through smooth navigation.
7. Improve SEO efforts by optimizing long random URLs with branded keywords.
8. Get data in the form of reports, helping content creators and businesses make informed decisions
9. Rotate links to preferred link destinations on a specific date, time, or location.
10. Feature-rich URL shorteners offer multiple ways to use a short link. Create personalized bio landing pages, generate QR codes of any shortened link, A/B test performance of multiple URLs, etc.

Related: How to Create an SEO-Friendly URL: Ultimate Tips

What should you consider when choosing a URL shortener?

The CAGR of 19.7 till 2031 and the growing demand for personalized user experiences, has made URL shorteners are a must-have tool for brands, agencies, and content creators.

Whereas, picking the right URL shortener can be tough with so many options out there, each with its own perks. To make the best choice, it’s important to consider the following points when checking out URL shorteners:

1. User-friendly

One of the primary considerations when choosing a URL shortener is its user interface. A streamlined interface that simplifies shortening links enhances the overall user experience.

The interface design and functionality should prioritize ease of use, allowing users to generate shortened URLs quickly and effortlessly. However, the integrations with other tools and platforms you’re already using and compatibility across devices and browsers further add to its usability.

2. Cost efficiency

Pricing is a key consideration when choosing a URL shortener. Be sure to evaluate the cost of each service and consider what features are most important to you when making your decision.

While free options are enticing, they might come with constraints that limit their utility, making premium versions with additional features more appealing for businesses or advanced users.

Also Read: Top 5 Paid URL Shorteners Worth Paying For!

3. Customization options

Customization options are essential because they allow you to personalize your shortened URLs. Adding branded domains or specific keywords reinforces brand identity. 

However, this can be particularly useful if you’re using them for branding, specific campaigns, or content categories, as it allows you to make your links more recognizable and memorable.

4. Link analytics

Link analytics is a key feature when choosing a URL shortener. The ability to track clicks, conversions, and other key metrics can help you understand the performance of your campaigns and make data-driven decisions about your marketing efforts.

Related: How to Build a Custom Audience through URL Tracking

5. Security

Security is a critical consideration when choosing a URL shortener. A reliable URL shortener should prioritize link safety and protection against malicious activities. Encryption, expiration features, and measures to prevent link manipulation ensure the integrity and safety of shared links.

Moreover, privacy considerations, such as the handling of user data and adherence to data protection regulations, are vital for individuals and businesses concerned about confidentiality.

Top 6 URL shorteners for 2025

1 – Replug

The first and most top-notch URL shortener is Replug – An all-in-one link management tool for agencies and marketing pros with cost-effective pricing. With this handy tool, users can shorten branded URLs, do A/B testing, create catchy CTAs, set up white-label boards, build bio-links, and more.

Unlike its competitors, replug also has a Chrome extension and web app. It also provides additional benefits such as link-retargeting, link history, high-end customer support, tracking individual links, bulk link creation, and viewing related analytics on a dashboard.

With Replug, you can even track the performance of specific marketing campaigns in specific locations. All in all, it’s the perfect fit for businesses of all sizes and industries.

Pricing:

• Basic: $19 / Month (with free trial)
• Professional (Most Popular): $49 / Month (with free trial)
• Agency: $79 / Month (with free trial)

Pros	Cons
Advanced analytics for in-depth insights	Currently, no freemium plan is available
Link retargeting options
Customizable short links
Complete link management solution
User-friendly interface

Reviews and Ratings

• G2 Ratings 4/ 5
• Capterra Ratings 4.5/ 5

Here’s what customers have to say about Replug:

2 – PixelMe

PixelMe is a mighty URL shortener designed to help you track and optimize your online advertising campaigns. It allows you to shorten your links and add tracking pixels to them, providing valuable insights into your campaigns’ performance. 

With its user-friendly interface, real-time analytics, and integrations with popular advertising tools, Pixelme is a complete solution for anyone looking to take their online advertising to the next level.

Related: Check out the best Pixelme alternatives 

Pricing:

• Growth: $99 / Month
• Scale: $149 / Month
• Elite: $240 / Month

Pros	Cons
Custom Domain	Do not offer agency features
Link analytics	Browser Extensions
Browser extensions	Branding on micro landing pages
	No white-label

Reviews and Ratings

Capterra Ratings 4.7/ 5

Here’s what customers have to say about Pixelme:

3 – Rebrandly

Rebrandly is a state-of-the-art URL-shortening solution with a host of features. With this digital tool, you can craft custom, branded, and concise links that are memorable and easily shareable across various social media platforms.

Preferred for team collaboration and allows you to set up multiple workspaces and invite team members, making it an excellent choice for team-based URL-shortening needs. Additionally, it boasts advanced features such as link retargeting support, making it a well-rounded and versatile solution.

Also read: How to Disguise a Link Using a URL Shortener?

Pricing:

• Lite: $12 / Month
• Essential: $28 / Month
• Professional: $85 / Month

Pros	Cons
Focus on link branding and customization.	It may not have as robust analytics as others.
Branded short links.	Pricing may be higher for branding features.
Enhances brand visibility.
Suitable for businesses.

Reviews and Ratings

Capeterra Ratings 4.7/ 5

Here’s what customers have to say about Rebrandly:

Related: 9 Best Alternatives of Rebrandly For Agencies 

4 – Bitly

Bitly is a widely used tool to shorten URLs, making them more manageable. Alongside URL shortening, Bitly includes a QR code generator commonly preferred by social media influencers and businesses. While these basic features are available for free, they come with Bitly branding on the shortened links.

For users seeking more advanced capabilities, the paid version of Bitly offers additional features, including link retargeting, access to detailed link history, priority customer support, and a user-friendly dashboard to easily track and analyze link performance. However, if you’re looking for a powerful and customizable alternative to Bitly, Replug is an excellent choice.

Related: 9 Bitly Competitors That Agencies Should Try Out

Pricing:

• Starter: $8 / Month
• Basic: $29 / Month
• Premium: $199 / Month

Pros	Cons
Widely recognized and trusted.	Does not offer as many advanced features as some competitors.
Robust link analytics.	Limited customization options.
	Purposeless free tier

Reviews and Ratings

Capeterra Ratings 4.8/ 5

Here’s what customers have to say about Bitly:

5 – BL.INK

BL.INK is an all-in-one platform that handles links, keeps track of them, and gauges how well they’re doing. It shows how links perform either through reports or by working together with tools like Google and Adobe. 

Plus, it easily combines with other systems using its open API. It fits small to large organizations and ensures security with top-notch features and customizable user access

Pricing:

• Expert: $48 / Month
• SMB: $99 / Month
• Team: $299 / Month
• Business: $599 / Month

Pros	Cons
Feature-rich URL-shortening tool.	Pricing may be higher for the feature set.
Easy to use.	Can be a bit buggy at times.
Suitable for data-driven marketing

Reviews and Ratings

Capterra 4.7/ 5

Here’s what customers have to say about BL.Ink:

6 – Cutt.ly

Cuttly is a comprehensive link management platform offering advanced URL-shortening services and other features. With its built-in link analytics, you can monitor clicks on shortened URLs and measure their effectiveness. 

Cuttly offers a user-friendly interface, making it an excellent tool for beginners and experts, no matter the size of your company or your role as a blogger or marketer. If you ever need assistance, it provides support with an average email response time of two to 24 hours.

Related: Grow your business with branded short URL links

Pricing:

• Single Monthly: $25 / Month
• Team Monthly: $99 / Month
• Team Enterprise Monthly: $149 / Month

Pros	Cons
Customizable short links.	Limited branding options.
Detailed analytics.	In-app purchases are highly paid
Straightforward link shortening

Reviews and Ratings

Capterra 4.2/ 5

Here’s what customers have to say about Cuttly:

7 – Capsulink

Capsulink is a custom URL shortener and link management tool that empowers you with full control over your online links. Its advanced features, including smart links, branded links, an API URL shortener, destination URL modification, analytics, broken link notifications, and password protection, enable you to create, personalize, target, automate, manage, and measure your shortened URLs.

It stands out with smart URLs that adapt based on device, location, language, time, or behavior, ensuring users see the right landing page. It is also great for targeted marketing, A/B testing, and enhancing user experience. Additional features include detailed analytics, deep linking, QR codes, email encapsulation, Facebook cache clearing, and the cli.fm domain for verified users.

With affordable plans, unlimited links, and multi-user access, Capsulink delivers exceptional value for businesses of all sizes.

Also read: 5 powerful benefits of URL shorteners you should know

Pricing:

• Pro: $10 / Month
• Business: $40 / Month
• Ultimate: $160 / Month

Pros	Cons
Unlimited clicks	Access to custom slugs for paid subscription plans only
QR code generator for social videos and offline usage	Creating an account is necessary to shorten links
Hiding email addresses within shortened links
OpenGraph cache clearing
Exclusive access to cli.fm short domain for verified users in paid plans

Reviews and Ratings

G2 Ratings 4.5/ 5

Here’s what customers have to say about Capsulink:

What’s the link functionality of Replug

1. Get your best link for sharing: Get a link to any website you want your audience to share. You do not need to be affiliated with that website at all. It can be a blog post, a news article, or something from any website.
2. Replug will help in creating an optimized link: Choose a call-to-action type that can be a connect button, an opt-in form, or a retargeting pixel. Then, personalize the call-to-action message and appearance.
3. Let your audience explore it: On social media networks, email newsletters, or whatever else you want, simply share the new shortened connection. On the chosen tab, anyone who visits the connection will see your call to action.
4. Boost up your engagement: To get more traffic, followers, and leads, share more links. Measure your success by analyzing users, clicks, and conversions from the platform’s analytics.

Related: How to add UTM code to the URL using a link shortener?

Other link shorteners you may like:

We’ve highlighted some of the top and widely used URL shorteners above. However, if you’re seeking alternative options, consider the following ones listed below:

Here’s the list:

Sr.	Other Link Shorteners
1.	Ow.ly
2.	ClickMeter
3.	Joturl
4.	T2mio
5.	TinyURL
6.	Linkjoy
7.	Linkly
8.	RocketLink
9.	Linky.com
10.	Chit Link
11.	SmartURL
12.	Linkish

Faqs on URL shorteners

You may also like:

• Bitly Alternatives
• PixelMe Alternatives
• Best Tracking Tools

Are you looking to change the destination URL of a published page, blog post, or web link?

We’ve all been there. You publish a page or blog post, only to realise the destination link needs a change. Maybe it’s not quite right, or the content has moved. For instance, you share an important announcement, but the link you used now points to the wrong page. Instead of retracing your steps and updating it everywhere manually, wouldn’t it be easier to update the link once and be done? 

With a few simple steps, you can quickly create a new, short URL that redirects smoothly, saving you time and keeping everything on track. Here’s how:

6 simple steps to change a URL:

Replug is an all-in-one link management tool for creating custom URLs, embedding call-to-actions, and making social media bio links. You can change the URL of a website in seconds by following these simple steps with Replug:

Step 1: Go to the Replug app

First things first, you need to go to the Replug app. Simply type in the URL of the app in your search bar:

Step 2: Sign in to your account

Sign in to your Replug account or create one if you don’t already have one:

Step 3: Shorten your desired link

Once you sign up or log in, you’ll be directed to the main dashboard. All you have to do now is paste the URL you want to shorten in the “Enter URL to shorten” bar:

Step 4: Click the “right arrow” button

Once you have pasted the long URL, click the “right arrow” button to proceed further:

Step 5: Edit your URL

Click on the edit icon and type the slug you want for your newly created URL. 

Once you have done that, click on the green tick to save the URL.

Step 6: Save the shortened link

The final step is to click on the “Save Shortened Link” button and you’re done!

FAQs

Can I shorten any website links?

You can easily shorten any website link using URL-shortening tools such as Replug. These not only allow you to shorten your link but also let you share it with your audience and track its performance.

Can I edit my domain name?

Your custom domain is a top-level domain you own and use to share your links. Tools like Replug allow you to edit your domain name easily, allowing you to maintain your brand identity and reputation.

Trending Topics

All-in-one link management solution
Branded link management
How to shorten Amazon links?
How To Add an Instagram Link in Bio?

In today’s digital age, where attention spans are short and competition is fierce, standing out from the crowd is crucial. Using branded short links can help you do just that. By incorporating your brand name or a relevant keyword into your links, you can reinforce your brand identity and make it easier for people to remember and recognize your content.

But that’s not all. Branded short links also offer a number of practical benefits, such as improved tracking and analytics, increased click-through rates, and enhanced security. Whether you’re a blogger, social media influencer, or business owner, using branded short links can help you streamline your online presence and achieve your goals.

So, if you’re looking to elevate your online presence and make a lasting impression on your audience, consider incorporating branded links into your digital strategy. In this blog post, we’ll explore the many benefits of using branded short links and provide tips for how to create and implement them effectively. Let’s dive in!

Also Read: How to Strengthen Your Social Media Presence Using Replug and ContentStudio

What are branded short links?

Branded short links, also known as custom short URLs, are shortened URLs that contain a brand name or a custom keyword, making them easily identifiable and memorable. These links can be used to promote your brand, track your marketing efforts, and improve your overall online presence.

A branded short link can be created by using a URL shortener tool like our own Replug, which allows you to create a custom URL that redirects to a longer, more complex URL.

By using a branded link, you can provide your audience with a link that is easy to remember and recognizable, which can lead to increased engagement and click-through rates.

Also Read: How to Shorten a link using a URL shortener?

Tracking links you care about is easy:

Branded short links can also be used to track the performance of your marketing campaigns. By creating a unique short link for each campaign, you can easily track the number of clicks, the geographic location of the clicks, and the time of day the clicks occurred. This information can be used to refine your marketing efforts and improve your overall ROI.

Here’s an example:

Let’s look at an example that will make the amazing technique clearer to you.

For example, you want to shorten a URL as seen below

Damn! That’s an awful URL.!!!

However, the best URL shortener can turn this ugly link into an attractive and exciting one. Now let’s see the magic of a URL shortener in the below image.

Now let’s dive into something even more amazing!

Also Read: Top 5 Paid URL Shorteners Worth Paying For!

5 Game-changing benefits of branded short links

You’re ready to take your online marketing efforts to the next level, aren’t you? 

Utilize these game-changing benefits of branded links to improve the online presence of your brand.

• Increased brand recognition

Branded short links are a great way to promote your brand and increase brand recognition. For example, your brand name is “ABC Clothing”, and by using a branded short link like “abcclothing.link”, you can reinforce your brand name and message every time someone sees your link. 

This can help build brand awareness and customer loyalty over time. In fact, according to a study, branded links can increase brand recognition by up to 39%.

Also Read: How To Build Brand Recognition using Short Links

• Improved click-through rates

Branded short links can also help improve your click-through rates (CTR) by making your links more visually appealing and trustworthy. For example, let’s say you are sending an email marketing campaign promoting a new product. If you use a long, generic link like “https://www.example.com/products/new-product-123”, it might look suspicious to some recipients and deter them from clicking on it. 

However, if you use a branded short link like “yourbrand.link/newproduct”, it looks more professional and trustworthy. This can lead to higher CTRs and more conversions.

• Better tracking and analytics

Branded link services like Replug offer detailed analytics that allows you to track clicks, engagement, and other key metrics. This can help you measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns and make data-driven decisions to improve your ROI. 

For example, if you use a branded short link in a social media post, you can track how many clicks, likes, shares, and comments it received. This can help you identify what content is resonating with your audience and what isn’t.

Also Read: How to Build a Custom Audience through URL Tracking

• Enhanced social media presence

Branded short links can also help enhance your social media presence by making your links more visually appealing and shareable. For example, let’s say you are promoting a blog post on Twitter. If you use a long, generic link like 

“https://www.example.com/blog/why-branded-short-links-are-important”

It takes up valuable character space and looks unprofessional. However, if you use a branded short link like 

“yourbrand.link/brandedlink” 

It looks more concise and visually appealing. This can lead to more engagement and shares, which can help increase your reach and followers.

• Increased security and trust

Branded short links can also help increase security and trust, as they provide protection against spam and phishing.

The way malicious links harm your PC or laptop, for which you may need some ideas to remove malware from your system. Similary, a Uhttp://www.cleanmymac.com/blog/new-mac-slowRL shortener can allow you to redirect 404 links to the right destinations. Thus, adding a layer of security. 

For example, you receive an email from an unknown sender with a link to a website. If the link is long and unbranded, it might look suspicious and deter you from clicking on it. 

However, if the link is short and branded, it looks more trustworthy and legitimate. This can help reduce the risk of clicking on malicious links and protect your personal information.

Also Read: Brand Consistency:  Build Brand Consistency Using Branded Links

Do Link Shorteners Really Hurt SEO? No, They Do Not!

Shortened URLs can allow spammers to insert harmful links. 301 redirects, which can occur for very reasonable reasons, can cause indexing issues. This causes a lot of problems and relays a bad name for link shorteners.

Adding to the above, research by Jin Mun & Li in 2017, revealed that using URL shorteners can make a webpage easy to access for your target audience. Whereas, a long URL that has random characters does not reach the intended audience and cannot engage the user. Secondly, shortening the URL can protect you from phishing attacks as they can detect the original URL source.

Social networking websites usually put a ‘NoFollow’ tag in the links. This is done as a safety precaution. URL shorteners potentially benefit SEO, as the URL shorteners typically ignore no follow attributes. This proves to be a huge bonus for people who use social media as part of their marketing campaigns, or who just use them to share content.

According to several ranking specialists, using URL shorteners doesn’t lead to any negative impact on your SEO. As a matter of fact, Search Engines consider short URLs as any regular 301 redirects and they will thus act upon it.

Also Read: How to Create a SEO Friendly URL: Ultimate Tips

However, there are other positive impacts of URL shorteners on SEO. The key is to utilize the tools effectively.

• You can brand your links with the focus keyword in the URL.
• Secondly, a URL shortener can help in eliminating unnecessary elements such as stop words and punctuation from your links.
• It allows you to keep your URL and page titles consistent which positively impacts SEO.

Also Read: What Does HTTP 302 Code Mean For URL Shorteners?

Link Management With Replug

There are a lot of link-shortening tools available in the market today. However, Replug is one URL shortener that actually offers great value for money.

First and foremost, Replug is a link-shortening & tracking platform that allows you to create eye-catching custom URLs. Replug offers several other features you can also create social media Bio Links, URL tracking through custom URLs, QR Code generator, UTM, Tags, and much more. With Replug you can shorten links, and track and optimize them with catchy call-to-actions. It also provides the ability to add retargeting pixels paired with branded links and powerful analytics. There are several new features added to Replug that are briefly explained below.

Also Read: How to get to the link in the bio on Instagram?

Deep Linking

Deep linking allow users to instantly go to specific applications rather than wasting their time searching for themselves on the webpage. When it comes to mobile users, deep links increase overall engagement and conversion rates.
Also Read: A Quick Guide To Deep Linking & Its Benefits

Traffic Routing

Using the traffic routing feature, you can now target your audience with several filters such as location, device, browser, etc. You can also choose the IP address, time, and dates as well. Thus, allowing you to redirect users from various locations to your link.

Also Read: 5 Top Link Rotators: Convert More With Traffic Routing & A/B Testing

A/B Testing

A/B testing feature allows you to redirect a link to multiple destinations. Easily distribute the weightage and start testing up to 10 branded links at a time.

There are several other features that we have listed that you can learn more about.

If you are looking for a branded URL shortener with great value for money, then Replug is just for you.

Branded Links

With Replug, you can easily create branded links. Just put the brand name in front of the domain and tell the readers what the domain is actually about. Having your own short URL built around your brand identity can help increase conversion rates.

But how to manage these links? Don’t worry, Replug also helps you with that as it has a solution for branded link management.

Related: 9 Ways Brands can use Replug to ascend their Brand Recognition

Branded Link Management

The goal of creating a short branded URL is to engage more users with your brand. Ultimately, converting these users into customers.

But how to analyze these campaigns?

Branded Link Management is a solution that lets users manage their branded links easily with Replug URL shortener.  Whether it’s a social profile or a website, track their performance easily. You can also create campaigns for multiple brands and analyze the progress of each campaign. Thus, making it easy to analyze and retarget ads.

How to Create Branded Short URL Links with Replug?

Creating branded short links using Replug is as simple as it can be. Login to your Replug account or sign up if you do not already have one.

The first thing you need to do is to create a brand. What is a brand you may ask? A brand is a unique identity for your call-to-action widget. To put it in simpler words, let’s say you have 5 websites, they are 5 unique identities for you, so these 5 unique identities are brands in Replug.

Get started by putting your website logo or your profile picture as a brand to convey your message effectively.

Also Read: Brand New Replug UI. Let Us Amaze You!!!

Steps to Follow To Create a Branded URL

Creating and using branded short Links was never this easy. It just takes a few simple and easy steps to create one.

Step 1

Log in to your account and navigate to the dashboard. Select your desired campaign and enter the URL that you want to optimize (you can add any UTM as well). Then click on create.

Step 2

Completed the above step… That’s great!

After clicking on creating a new screen will appear. Click the edit button where you can start customizing the URL link into a branded URL link.

Add tags and set other parameters that you want for your campaign. Now click on update and your branded link is live to share.

Register with Replug and start creating your own short links. Don’t worry! Replug offers a 14-day free trial. You can also schedule a meeting with our representative to learn more.

Now let’s recap again what we have learned.

Other Notable Link Management Tools

• Bitly

With Bitly, you can create a short domain name for custom link shortening and forward it on Twitter or Facebook.

• T.LY

Customize or personalize any link using T.LY. Get statistics on how many times your links have been viewed online by shortening URLs.

• Clkim

Clkim allows you to use your branded domain, retarget on click, and monetize with custom, responsive, full-page interstitial ads.

• Rebrandly

Use your own domain name to create branded, memorable, and pronounceable custom short links.

• Droplr

It is used to share ads and market them on a custom domain name directly from your Mac storage.No need to write long emails anymore. With Dropler you can show complicated, processes using screencasts and transfer files with a customized short link.

• Tinycc

Tinny CC is a URL shortener platform that allows you to plug in your own short domain and then manage your whole brand from social media to product packaging.

• Geniuslink

Genius Link makes localizing, tracking, and managing smart links dead simple so you can earn more without added work.

• Short.io

It allows you to create your own branded short Links on your domain. You can easily manage links and view click statistics. If you need short links for different websites, you can manage many domains in your account. It provides an API for developers and a Google Chrome extension for a better experience.

• T2M

We can use t2M as a URL shortener with  Twitter, Facebook URL Shortener, and YouTube URLs Shortener. You will get a powerful dashboard that will make your work easier.

• Polr

If you have programming skills and have an interest in running your own shortening service. Then get Polr, as you can run your own URL shortening service with this free open-source software.

• Foxly.in

Foxly provides URL-shortening services to marketers, advertisers, and brands. The purpose of Foxly is to help users achieve growth goals on their social websites across all marketing channels. Increase subscribers with short URLs for YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.

• Toinsh

Transform your long URLs into short and concise links with Toinsh. It also allows you to create landing pages with multiple links and gather valuable data insights. Other features of these tools include UTM Generator, Social Audit, and Hashtag analyzer.

• Sniply

Sniply is another URL-shortening tool that allows to the creation of short URLs, CTA, and tracking. Share links using Sniply on your social media channels, articles, newsletters, and much more. When it comes to the price, its price value is a bit high.

• Yourls

Yourls is an acronym for ‘your own URL shortener’. Similarly to Polr, it’s also an open-source link shortener. It allows the creation of links and provides analytics, Bookmarklets, etc.

• Tiny.ie

Tiny.ie is a simple URL shortening tool for link shortening, branded domain, custom short links, real-time analytics, etc. It helps users short ugly URLs into attractive short links.

Also Read: 12 Best Bio Link Tools To Amp Up Your Marketing In 2023

FAQs

Which short link is best?

The best short link really depends on your specific needs and preferences. When choosing a short link service, you should consider factors such as ease of use, reliability, customization options, analytics, and pricing. 

You should also ensure that the service you choose provides adequate security measures to protect your links from being misused or redirected to malicious websites. Some of the most popular short-link services include Replug, Bitly, and Rebrandly.

What is better than Bitly?

We recommend Replug, a tool that lets you create short, branded links with custom domains, track clicks, and conversions, and add call-to-action overlays. This can help increase click-through rates and drive more traffic to your website. 

Additionally, Replug integrates with a variety of popular marketing tools, making it easy to manage and optimize your campaigns.

Do Replug links hurt SEO?

No, Branded Replug links do not directly hurt SEO. Using a URL shortener like Replug does not have a negative impact on your website’s search engine rankings. However, it’s important to keep in mind that if you use a URL shortener to mask spammy or low-quality links, this can negatively impact your SEO. 

It’s always best to use URL shorteners ethically and responsibly and to ensure that the links you are shortening are relevant, high-quality, and add value to your content.

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Link shortener services can create a more memorable and professional-looking URL for your store. A link shortener tool can help shorten the URL of your store’s home page and also help shorten the URLs of individual product pages, making them easier to remember and share.

A link shortener can help create custom URLs with your domain, making them easier to remember and share. They also provide analytics to track your links’ performance and make your store more secure by hiding the link’s true destination.

Here’s how to change the shopify URL, shorten it, share it with the audience, and track its performance using Replug’s link shortener tool.

How to change Shopify URL using a URL shortener 

Step 1: Sign in to your Replug account or create a new one if you don’t have one.

Step 2: Choose a campaign from your dashboard, or create a new one.

Note: For help creating a new campaign, visit this guide: “Create a campaign in seconds.” 

Step 3: Enter your Shopify URL as the destination URL in the “URL to shorten” section below “Select your campaign.”

Step 4: Simply click the create button to create a shortened URL for your Shopify store.

 

Step 5: Now you have your new URL, which will look like the one below in the picture. You can customize this URL by clicking on the edit icon.

Step 6: Enter the new URL you want to use, and your custom Shopify Store URL is ready for sharing on social media. Click on the update button to save the new URL. 

FAQs

Can I change my Shopify store name? 

Yes, you can. You must be the store owner to change your Shopify store name. Log in to your Shopify store, go to the Settings page, and click Store Details. You can enter a new store name into the ”Store name” field.

How do I find a Shopify URL? 

Follow these steps to find any Shopify URL.

Log in to your Shopify store admin. The URL will be in the browser address bar. 

Go to Online Store > Domains in the leading left menu. This will give you an overview of your store domains.

 

Popular Reads:

Why Your Business Needs a Custom URL Shortener?

Instagram URL Shortener Tools To Elevate Your Marketing

Bio Links From Replug: Create a Stronger Marketing Impact while Social Sharing

YouTube URL Shortener-A Must Have For Every YouTuber

Now and then we get to see URLs that are either too long or carries random characters. However, URL shorteners is the magical way to not only shorten a long URL but also to change the URL name and to use the URL as a powerful marketing tool.

Link shorteners do way more than disguising a link, as times have changed, and so does product marketing. Long URL shortener is a reliable tool to change URL length, edit characters, add a call to action, and much more. We can also track and analyze how links perform across all social channels. 

For example, global businesses are now thoroughly based on online marketing and URL sharing. However, with a nasty URL, it is hard to describe what it is about. Unknown and random characters in the URL are suspicious enough not to stray away the receiver from clicking on it.

Hence, custom URL shorteners come in to play. 

Long URL shortener: Use cases and examples 

A good URL shortener will help in two main objectives, simplifying the link with fewer characters and measuring analytics for it. Anyone with internet availability can use a link shortener, from product marketers to small business owners, from Tiktokers to individuals. Everyone can use it anywhere!

Here are some reasons why a link shortener should be an important part of your marketing aspect.

#1:Tesla Incorporating Branded Links

Any URL with your brand name will assure the link reader that it will lead to your page. Link shortening tools make URLs visually appealing and legitimate. 

It has been reported that branded links increase CTR so the companies that go with the changing trends and technologies are adapting.

Elon Musk’s multinational automotive company, Tesla, incorporates branded links when they run social media campaigns. 

Look at the example below.

#2: Fail Army promoting video content

Youtubers are also realizing the power of bio links. 

Fail Army is a popular Youtube channel known for curating funny videos. They also have a massive Instagram following. Their strategy is to use bio links to promote their latest content. These links directly take the user to their promoted content.

#3: Pewdiepie’s merchandize marketing

Here’s an example of how Youtubers are utilizing bio links to promote other content on their socials.

Famous Youtuber Pewdiepie, has a massive social following on Youtube and Instagram. He has monetized his Instagram following by promoting its merchandize store through Instagram bio links.

When any one clicks the bio link it takes them to his online store.  He also share pictures of himself wearing his latest clothing to promote on Instagram.

Related: How To Add Instagram Link In Bio?

#4: G Fuel’s bio link strategy

Gfuel is a famous energy drink and often collaborates with Ninja and Pewdiepie. It is also the official drink of Esports. If you visit their Instagram, they have multiple pictures of their products. Every product description says, “link in the bio.” 

Here is the bio link of Gfuel. 

If you click the link, you will go to the landing page showing exact pictures as on Instagram. You further tap on your target product picture and land on the purchase page. 

This is an easy way of capturing leads to the product page and changing them into conversions.  

#5: Digital branding and marketing

Branded links increase trust and credibility of the URL. 

Below is an example of an unreliable link.

There are ways to make the links more appealing. Create short URLs, in return that can also bring more conversions. 

Instead, this is what you should do.

Editing random and untrustworthy links through shortening tools becomes more genuine and authentic. It is important to edit messy links, especially if you are running digital and social media marketing campaigns.

Related: Bio Links From Replug: Create a Stronger Marketing Impact while Social Sharing:

#6: Podcast marketing

Above image is an example of Jack Paxton’s account. He mentions his bio link, which will be redirected to a page filled with all podcast links. 

Like this: 

Bio links are the best strategy to take your Instagram audience to the podcast library. This is also helpful in collecting emails by adding the “email me” button. 

Use case #7: Amplify your music following

Another feature of the URL shortening tool is a deep link. Deep links redirect you from the URL to the specified screen page of a particular app.  

Spotify is a well-known audio streaming and media provider company. They recently tweeted about a new album and shared a customized link. If you click the link, you will directly go to wizkhalifa’s new album on Spotify.

Related:How to Build a Custom Audience through URL Tracking

#8: Myfix Cycles retargeting strategy to reduce cart abandonment 

Retargeting is a great feature that can bring back visitors that have bounced from your websites. Along with other great features, Replug also gives you the control to retarget visitors through retargeting pixels.

Retargeting has proved to be a great source of converting potential buyers to customers. Link retargeting allows users to target the people who have already visited your social or website.

Most of the eCommerce companies face cart abandonment issues where users leave without completing the purchase. With retargeting, users can remind customers through ads or emails to complete their purchase. Retargeting has proven to be a far more successful strategy to increase conversions.

Myfix Cycles uses retargeting smartly and resells their product that didn’t make the purchase the product the first time around. Below is the image of their retargeting.

Related: How To Utilize Replug for Facebook Retargeting Ads?

#9: A/B test your marketing campaigns

Link analytics plays a very important role when it comes to creating tracking URLs. One of the exclusive features of link shortening tools is A/B testing.

Imagine you are running a specific sales campaign and creating two or more special offer web pages to test which content performs well. 

A/B testing allows you to split traffic and compare performance of each URL on the base of weightages that you set. Finally, choose the page that performs well or optimize the content that underperforms. 

This feature is very handful for designers to test their designs, for content creators to evaluate their content and for every marketer as a whole package. 

Related: Conversion Rate Optimization Tips – 8 Easy Ways to Boost Sales

#10: Deep linking example of text marketing to increase conversion

Deep links in SMS marketing motivate users to install the app. Take the example of a shopping app. Use a deep link with a bonus point which will be rewarded after users install the application. Once the user clicks the deep link, it will launch the app on the relevant system. If it is not installed, a relevant store will be opened. When the user initiates the app, the product page and offer will appear. Without deep linking, these steps require manual processing.

Let’s say you are making an online shop and promoting a certain item; deep links help you direct visitors to relevant content. In case the app is not installed it will take you relevant play store

Deep links are very helpful when it comes to online user experience. Suppose, you are a seller on Amazon, Shopify or any other ecommerce platform and you want to direct the user to specific products rather than search the product on the app or web. With deep linking, no unnecessary steps will be required and you will directly land on the relevant content as shown in the below image.

You don’t need to advertise the app as a whole. Only the relevant content that you want to target and the user that clicks that link will reach the appropriate location without any hurdles. This not only increases the rate of conversions but also improves the overall experience.

Related: How to Use Short Links for SMS & SMS Marketing

#11: Short links are best for Tweets

You have only 280 character limits for tweets to express opinions, use captions, add captions, call out a person, and much more. You can do anything under Twitter’s specified character limit. Brands use URLs while announcing any update, sale, or mega deal. 

Generally, links are overly long, and they tend to cover all Twitter character space. Therefore, people tend to use URL shortening tools to change messy long URLs into branded URLs. 

Here are some brands that have used short & customized links in their tweets. 

Example#Disney

Disney is also making a new series announcement with a customized link in their tweet. 

https://twitter.com/DisneyD23/status/1554150408695586816?s=20&t=mnN3JZJn8pBTfZofu8q7Yw

Here is Disney’s example of using a short & customized links in their tweets. 

Disney is also making a new series announcement with a customized link in their tweet. 

Disney’s customized link is not short only but has the brand’s slogan in it. There are higher chances for the audience to visit links, check new promos, and subscribe to a streaming platform if they haven’t already.

#12: Turning USP realizes the power of bio links for brands

Link shortening tool can change a single link into a beautiful, mobile-friendly, flexible landing page. You can offer the services you want. Pre-designed layouts are available to create a landing page. 

Moreover, you can add videos, images, text etc. to showcase your brand. Drag and drop editor can make everything easy and efficient. 

Here is an example of Turing USP that mentioned their bio link in the Instagram bio. 

#13: Engage more QR code marketing

QR codes are new scannable marketing sources. You can generate a new smart QR code with every branded link you customize with a link shortening platform. 

Download it and use it in your every visual content, such as visiting cards, flyers, or discount codes, as a marketing opportunity to build brand authority. QR codes are a powerful way of amplifying your brand’s slogan.

QR codes promote engagement and interaction. This type of business strategy enables businesses to share information with users.

The calamities like the pandemic and global warming initiatives have pushed us more towards creating a contactless and paperless green environment. While QR Codes are playing a vital and supportive role towards it yet they are also proving to be a great tool for marketing.

From banking payments to promotion or any information and material, it is proving a useful tool for analytics aswell as to improve user experience. 

Here are some ways how you can maximize QR codes to monitor the performance of your marketing campaigns properly. 

• Lands customers directly on the website
• Dial your business number
• Send message/ email
• View business locations
• Download app
• Direct customers to social media pages

#14: Make your social links count!

Similarly length is important for all your social links. A domain name adds more plus points. They provide a clean look. 

Any URL with your brand name will assure the link reader that it will lead to your page. Link management tools make URLs visually appealing and legitimate. 

Look at Gary Vee’s bio link

He uses the bio link to drive users towards his Apple podcast.

Similarly, you can share your favorite content with friends without the installation of a particular app. Let’s say if somebody shared a TikTok video link with you, and you don’t have a TikTok account, you can click the URL and still watch it without installing TikTok. This is the power of deep links. 

You can share your favorite content with friends without the installation of a particular app. Let’s say if somebody shared a TikTok video link with you, and you don’t have a TikTok account, you can click the URL and still watch it without installing TikTok. This is the power of deep links. 

Related: How To Get More TikTok Views?

#15 Perfect Call to Action buttons

Every Marketer’s end goal is to earn high revenue. It gets possible when your product reaches the right audience. It improves your impression and ad rank. 

High CTR means more people seeing, clicking, and engaging with your services. It is all possible with link shortening URL platforms. You can create, edit, and advertise links that have a custom domain name or brand’s slogan. They will be considered authentic and genuine and will attract the right customer. 

#16 Example of media companies using Vanity URLs

Several major media companies and publications use vanity URLs when sharing links:

• Netflix = movi.es
• Time = ti.me
• TechCrunch = tcrn.ch
• Engadget = engt.co
• Huffington Post = huffp.st
• Economist= econ.st
• New York Times = nyti.ms

Related: What is a Vanity URL and How to Track it?

#17: Track, analyze & convert

URL shortening tools empower to make informed decisions by providing vital data points. You can track what content is working best for you and what needs to improvise. 

URLs are trackable and give insights about clicks and engagements. You can also retarget your prospected clients who have already shown interest in your content. 

Campaign analytics help you optimize your marketing efforts. It helps you understand your audience better. You can observe which social media channels drive maximum traffic and design strategies accordingly.

How do I shorten a URL length?

It is a pretty simple process to shorten your links using a URL shortener.

Step 1
Login to your Replug account

Step 2
Navigate to “create quick Replug link”. Enter the campaign and the long URL to shorten. 

1. Now click “Create”

Step 3
In the next step, you can edit the link or change the slug. You can add or remove existing tags. Click the update button and you are done.

FAQs

What is a long URL?

A long URL is a long and nasty address to a particular document or file. They are difficult to remember. Sometimes they are long enough that after copying them on social channels, you don’t have any space left to write details. 

Here is an example: 

All the above URLs have one thing in common, they are long, messy, and have random characters. Therefore, they may look suspicious to some people when forwarded in DM, which makes them avoid clicking it. 

What is too long for a URL?

A URL is considered too long if it has above 100 characters. An overly long URL causes search engine and usability issues. It may also lead to lower CTR (click-through rate). 

Long URL doesn’t display better on the web. An extra-long URL might have symbols and characters. Google doesn’t support an overly long URL with random characters. 

Is it okay to have a long URL?

It doesn’t matter how long the URL length is.  However, with respect to marketing and SEO, the leading brands try to keep them shorter than 100 characters. It makes monitoring easy.
For example:

This URL is 118 characters long, and Twitter has 280 characters limit. So the above link is long enough in itself that it doesn’t leave any space to say anything about it. Furthermore, such link are unappealing and unattractive to share.

Long URL Problems Solved
Shortening long URLs is pretty simple and easy. Brands and celebrities have realized the powerful features that come along with URL shorteners. The use cases and examples have highlighted just. If you are still not convinced, I recommend taking time for an online meeting just might change your thoughts towards URL shorteners. One thing is for sure. a long URL just sucks and drains your online marketing!

Are you seeking to strengthen your branding efforts? Building brand authority using vanity URLs for brand awareness is the best way to do it. Having a vanity URL makes your brand unique, trustworthy, and easy to interact with the digital community. However, if you want to boost engagement and create more awareness for your brand, complex URLs are not the way to go. 

Online users are less likely to engage with URLs that look suspicious. Hence, your branding efforts can go in vain. 86% of online users take brand authenticity as a significant factor in choosing a brand. 

However, a vanity URL for brand awareness can be your savior as it allows you to create short branded links that bring trustworthiness and credibility.

What is a URL Address?

URL refers to a universal resource locator and is a unique address for your website. The URL structure of a website includes several components, i.e.

• The protocol e.g. (HTTP and HTTPS)
• The domain name
• Top-level domain
• The path.

What is the Purpose of a Vanity URL?

The prime purpose of using a vanity URL is branding and marketing as it is easy to remember, use and share. 

Besides improving user experiences and engagement, intelligent marketers use vanity URLs to share content and track them. It allows users to evaluate performance as people engage with them. Custom URLs can track the actions of a visitor, which is quite handy when you need to determine the performance of your ads as they are brilliant in data gathering.

Reasons to Use Vanity URLs

Now that we have understood the concept, here are a few noteworthy advantages of using them in our social accounts.

Easy to Use and Share

Nowadays, there is an increase in the usage of vanity URLs. They are shorter, easier to remember, and more trustworthy. They comprise proper and meaningful words rather than random numbers shared even verbally. The image above is a perfect example of how easily comprehendible the URL is.

The ease of sharing comes in handy on a platform that limits the number of words you can share, e.g., Twitter. Of course, it would be best if you edited longer and more cumbersome URLs. However, people are not reluctant to share short URLs.

Easier to Remember

Consider the scenario where someone tells you a website and you do not note it down, and later when you need it, you can’t seem to remember it. Similarly, sometimes we are lost for words to type into search engines to find things of interest. Easy to remember web addresses, it is highly probable to leave a long-lasting impression.

Vanity URLs are also easy on the eyes. Twisted or scrambled web addresses that make little sense are ugly to look at, not to mention difficult as hell to remember.

The other thing you can do is create open-source social networks.

Builds User Trust

The other great thing about branded shortened links is that they increase brand recognition. Sharing engaging and relevant content with your branded domain associated with it will increase brand visibility and improve brand recognition.

A branded link instills trust, which in return increases your CTR. In addition, being willing to share your brand name with your link guarantees you are leading them to the destination suggested in your link.

Related: 9 Ways Brands can use Replug to ascend their Brand Recognition

How Do I Create Vanity URL?

Creating a vanity URL is easy. You need a high-level domain, along with a branded domain name, webpage relevant keyword and SSL certificate for that domain. Using URL Shorteners like “Replug” it’s easy to create custom Vanity URLs.

For example, if data shows that your sales page is the most visited page on your entire website, you can create a vanity URL for brand awareness and share it across your social media platforms.

Three simple steps to create a vanity URL for brand awareness are elaborated below.

Branded Domain Name:

The first step is to incorporate your business name into the domain. The domain name should be incoherence with your business to reflect your brand identity. Include the exact name of your business in the domain for brand recognition.

High-Level Domain:

The next step is to choose the high-level domain type. So it could be an educational site, a news page or a blog. etc using the suffix to domain name (such as .link, .click, .lol, .news, .blog, and so on).

Keyword:

The keyword or phrase used after backslash signifies the nature of the landing page. This brings clarity to the visitor’s mind about the type of page.

Here is another example of converting complex irregular URLs to simple and beautiful branded ones that are much easier to remember.

Do not confuse Vanity URL with a vanity domain as vanity domains are named after the owner’s name. e.g., https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/ or https://neilpatel.com/

Guidelines for Using Vanity URLs for Brand Awareness

Brand Awareness is the familiarity of consumers with a brand to such an extent that the brand name becomes the household name. Every brand owner dreams of their brand name becoming a real word; this concept is called proprietary eponym.

Vanity URLs are a perfect way to achieve brand awareness and marketing goals. But they have to be used in a certain way to extract their maximum potential. Here are a few recommendations on using them in the best way.

Vanity URLs are a great way to promote your brand. Each link you share is an opportunity to market your brand. Using a branded link enough times makes your audience get used to it and teaches brand awareness. Below are guidelines for using vanity URLs for brand awareness.

1. Create Branded URLs

Brand clarity means nothing else than that your brand works. Every aspect of your brand, from your design to your strategy to your brand experience, should be aligned. Unfortunately, nowhere does this concept truly apply while creating vanity URLs.

It is imperative to display your brand’s name in full words. The redirection should also be in the URL to which the visitor will land once they click on it. The keyword used after the backslash can achieve this. There are a few words to play with, so you have to be clear and concise.

2. Avoid Creating Unnecessary Vanity Links

The purpose is to create branded links, but it’s unnecessary to stuff them everywhere. For example, if a link you want to share is already compact and delivers the message, there is no need to create a vanity URL in this case.

However, if you use a link shortener like Replug for analytics or link management, it’s better to edit the link.

3. Create SEO-Friendly URLs

Are Vanity URLs bad for SEO?

Short answer, No. There’s a common misconception that redirecting a link in this way can hurt your SEO. Vanity URLs are used for sharing a clean, tidy and branded link that brings visitors to a less appealing URL. According to several ranking specialists, using URL shorteners doesn’t negatively impact your SEO. Search engines consider vanity URLs as regular 301 redirections.

When searching for a particular brand on Google, the search results often include the social media channels of that brand, coincidence? Not really. By having SEO-friendly URLs to your brand on multiple web properties, you should be able to dominate your SERP with your marketing message. There is a strong connection between SEO and URLs as a short and optimized with relevant keywords in the URL positively impacts user experience and SEO.

Here’s an example of a URL that is not optimized for better understanding.

Now have a look at a vanity URL in the image below.

4. Run Social Media Brand Awareness Campaigns

Social media is a great platform to boost your brand awareness efforts. Many social media websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter offer users and brands the option to customize their profile URLs. Below are some examples of using vanity URLs to instill brand trust in their visitors.

Instagram

Instagram has emerged as a heavyweight social media network reaching 1 billion subscribers. So it is no surprise that it has attracted so many marketers. Vanity URLs are ideal for making a place with so many eyes to see the content you share.

Instagram demands clean and clear posting as images and links. Using link shortening services such as with Replug, you can create neat custom short links, infuse your brand name in it and share with your audience. Replug also gives you the option to create Instagram bio links.

Here’s an example of Instagram vanity URLs.

Related: 30 Hacks Boost Your Instagram Engagement

LinkedIn

For the B2B community, marketers should capitalize on the LinkedIn market, which has most business and corporate professionals. Grow your brand by keeping your audience engaged with unique LinkedIn post ideas as it’s rated as the most trustable social media platform.

Twitter

Similar to Instagram, Twitter is another popular platform that can spur your brand awareness goals. Majority (59%) of the social media users rely on Twitter to get news. It’s well known that Twitter gives you a few characters to post a tweet. Therefore, when posting a tweet along with a URL, ensure you use a branded short URL. Otherwise, you are wasting characters and you might not deliver your message in the right way.

Here’s an example of Amazon’s campaign using vanity URL on Twitter.

TikTok

 TikTok is another emerging platform that is becoming more popular day by day. As of January 2022, TikTok has 1 billion active users and is increasing. Latching on to the new trends and trending platforms effectively accomplishes your brand awareness objectives.

5. Boost Conversion from Social Media

Social media marketing and ads revenue have skyrocketed in the past seven years and it is here to stay. The crucial thing about social media ads is knowing your audience to create customized ads for each group. Likewise, some social networks offer demographically based ads displaying which helps the cause. But, you might think, where do all these branded URLs fit in?

If you use vanity URLs for social media ads, you can track every click and where it came from. The control of the appearance and text flow is a great reason to use, but analytics (link tracking, sources, etc.) is the most valuable reason to use vanity URLs and shortened links. The image above is one example of using Replug to track, monitor, and convert visitors.

Related: How to Quickly Increase Social Media Conversions in 2022?

6. Integrate Link Retargeting and UTM Tools

Can you track a vanity URL?

The great thing about vanity URLs is that you can track performance. This means gaining data such as clicks, unique clicks, conversion, etc. This allows you to evaluate the links you share and then tweak them to enhance performance. The second part of this activity is to add the people who clicked on the vanity URL in the retargeting list. So even if the link was redirecting to a third-party website, someone was still interested in it to click on it. This technique has proven to increase top-funnel traffic considerably.

Add UTM to URL links you share as they help in tracking, attributing, and accounting for your marketing efforts. Build intelligent UTM parameters and add them to the links you share. Further, boost your LinkedIn retargeting, Facebook retargeting strategies and more with Replug retargeting pixels.

7. Promote Special Campaigns

Some apps let you create specialized campaigns for each type of promotion using vanity URLs for brand awareness. Replug campaigns enable you to segregate ads and associated data in a separate folder.

Amplify your online marketing strategies by creating various campaigns using Replug features such as deep links, traffic routing, A/B testing and much more. For example, let’s say your company wants to promote a new product and is starting a paid social media ad campaign for it. You can create custom URLs specifically for this product and monitor its performance separate from other links you share.

8. Printed Marketing Promotional Materials

Anywhere your brand or website could show up, you create a call-to-action to get people engaged in your social media efforts. So it is time to think out of the box. Many companies distribute merchandise on marketing and promotional events to visitors and potential clients to help them remember the brand. The more people you can create talking, interacting, and sharing your brand, the greater are the chances of your word getting out.

If you have vanity URLs for your brand, you can have them printed on the merchandise and utilize this medium for marketing. The lack of space makes them ideal for printing.

QR code marketing is another way to improve your brand awareness efforts. You can also use your brand’s imprinted QR codes on products to sell like cups, cards, clothing, etc. Here’s an example of imprinted QR codes on disposable cups. Customers can scan the QR code and redirect to a vanity URL.

9. Create Vanity Links that You can Share Verbally

Electronic media such as TV and radio are still the preferred choice of marketers. But, imagine you get air time and the host asks you to describe what you do. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could verbally convey your social channels right there and then?
Many singers, DJ’s, and RJ’s have their social accounts with vanity URLs. This helps them to convey the web address of their official channels verbally. It would be otherwise impossible to say the irregular web address.

The presentation of your brand to the audience should be as frictionless as possible. People are more inclined towards engaging if there is less clutter to what they see. After all, many customers would have converted not through your website but social media.

10. Engage in Comments and Email

People love you and share their opinion on viral videos and news. The comment section is filled with informative and sometimes hilarious comments. This is where most of the community comes to interact. Marketers can take advantage of this congregation and present their cases in a well-formatted way.

Share vanity URLs in the comment section of relevant posts, well-presented to attract potential clients. Branded URLs are a great candidate for this type of promotion as they are short, organized, and contain the brand name to encourage people to click on them.

The same concept applies to email marketing. Email marketing is a tricky business where first you have to establish trust for people to recognize you. Then, they have to be confident enough to click on the promotional link you send in the email. You can achieve this using vanity links.

Start Channelling Your Brand to Masses Using Vanity Links

Vanity URLs have the multipurpose functionality of pleasing the eye and creating brand trust. In addition, you can use it for social media branding, email marketing and link tracking.
Try using them today so that your business keeps appearing in the right place at the right time.