Ever clicked on a web link only to be met with a monstrous URL that goes on forever? Yep, we’ve all been there. But don’t worry! That’s where URL shortening comes in to save the day. It’s like magic, transforming those lengthy web addresses into short, sweet, and easy-to-handle links.
In this guide, we’ll show you the steps, whether you’re sharing stuff on social media, trying to boost your online visibility, or just aiming for cleaner, snappier links.
Ready to make your digital life a whole lot simpler? Let’s get started!
Why make a URL shorter?
You might wonder, why bother shortening a URL in the first place? Well, it’s all about convenience and efficiency. Long URLs can be unwieldy and difficult to manage, especially in contexts like social media where character limits matter. Shortening URLs makes them easier to share, type, and remember. Plus, they look cleaner and more professional, which can enhance your online presence.
Additionally, shorter URLs can improve user experience by reducing clutter and making navigation smoother. So, whether you’re tweeting, texting, or optimizing for SEO, making your URLs shorter is a simple yet valuable step in simplifying the digital landscape.
Branded Short Links
Create and track branded short links for your business for better conversions.
Making a long URL shorter with Replug is a breeze! Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: If you haven’t already, sign up for a Replug account. If you’re already a user, log in to your account.
Step 2: Once logged in, you’ll land on your dashboard. Here, you’ll see the options to select your campaign and enter the URL in the “URL to shorten” field.
Step 3: Once done, click the “Create” button and your long URL will be shortened.
Note: Here you can also add “UTM parameters” to your link if you want to track it.
Step 4: Your new shortened URL is ready. If you want to customize it, simply click on the “edit icon” and type in the URL slug you prefer.
Step 5: Copy the shortened URL, click on the “Update” button, and that’s it! You’ve successfully shortened your URL using Replug.
Note: Adding your own domain with Replug can elevate your brand’s visibility and credibility. By using a name you recognize and trust, you make it simpler for users to recognize and trust your links, ultimately strengthening your online presence.
Track your link performance effortlessly with Replug:
Link Tracking with Replug goes beyond simply counting clicks. It allows you to measure the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns, understand audience behavior, and identify areas for improvement. By monitoring metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and geographic distribution of users, you can make informed decisions to optimize your marketing efforts.
Here’s how Replug can help:
Comprehensive analytics:
Replug offers detailed analytics that provides a comprehensive view of your link performance. Track metrics such as clicks, conversions, engagement rate, and more to gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of your campaigns.
Customizable reporting:
Tailor your reports to focus on the metrics that matter most to you. Replug allows you to customize your reports to suit your specific needs, making it easy to track progress and identify trends over time.
Real-time updates:
Stay up-to-date with real-time updates on link performance. Replug provides instant feedback on how your links are performing, allowing you to make quick adjustments to optimize your campaigns on the fly.
Geotargeting insights:
Understand your audience better with geotargeting insights. Replug allows you to see where your clicks are coming from, enabling you to tailor your marketing efforts to specific regions or demographics.
Branded Short Links
Create and track branded short links for your business for better conversions.
Yes, while the specific character limit varies depending on the URL shortening service, most platforms impose a limit to ensure compatibility with different systems and to prevent abuse.
Are shortened URLs permanent?
Shortened URLs may have varying lifespans depending on the service provider. Some may be permanent, while others may expire after a certain period or a specific number of clicks.
Can I customize shortened URLs?
Yes, many URL shortening services offer the option to customize shortened URLs with branded or descriptive slugs. Customization can help increase click-through rates and reinforce brand identity.
Do shortened URLs track clicks?
Yes, most URL shortening services provide analytics to track click-through rates, geographic distribution of clicks, and other performance metrics, offering valuable insights into campaign effectiveness.
Arslan Jadoon
Meet Arslan, a skilled website blog and content writer who combines creativity and expertise to deliver engaging and informative pieces that captivate audiences.
Have you ever shared an interesting post, recommended a funny video, or perhaps even critiqued an article that missed the mark? We’ve all been there. But what you might not realize is that the way you share these online treasures can significantly impact your brand.
If you’ve been using plain, generic short links to share content, it’s time to take a closer look. By doing so, you could inadvertently be promoting other brands instead of your own.
We’re going to cut through the noise and discuss the difference between branded vs. short links. We’ll help you understand the implications of your choice and how it can affect your brand’s online identity. So, let’s get straight to it!
What is a short link?
A short link, also known as a short URL, is a compressed version of a long web address or URL. Short links are created to simplify lengthy URLs, making them easier to share, remember, and use, especially in contexts where character limits are a concern, such as social media or printed materials.
Short links typically redirect users to the original, longer URL when clicked. They are especially useful for sharing links on platforms like Twitter, where character limits for a single tweet are in place. Instead of using a long and cumbersome URL, you can generate a short link that directs users to the intended web page.
What is a branded link?
A branded link, also known as a custom short link or a vanity URL, is a type of shortened URL that includes a brand’s or organization’s name or a custom keyword as part of the link. Unlike generic short links that use a random combination of characters and numbers, branded links are customized to reflect the brand’s identity, making them more recognizable and trustworthy to users.
Branded links are a fantastic choice for businesses and individuals looking to enhance their online branding, improve user engagement, and create a polished and trustworthy online presence.
Short vs. branded links: Which is better?
Branded links can indeed offer several advantages, especially when it comes to strengthening your brand identity and increasing user trust. They are valuable for businesses and individuals looking to create a cohesive online presence and improve user engagement.
The choice between branded links and short links eventually depends on your specific goals and the context in which you plan to use them. Let’s explore the benefits of each:
Branded links:
Strong brand identity: Branded links reinforce your brand identity, incorporating your brand name or a custom keyword. This can boost brand recognition and user trust.
Higher click-through rates: Branded links often have higher click-through rates as they appear more trustworthy and relevant to users.
Enhanced user experience: They offer a user-friendly and memorable link, making it easier to recognize and share.
Consistency: Branded links maintain a consistent brand image across different online platforms.
Conciseness: Short links are compact and ideal for contexts with character limits like social media or text messages.
Space-saving: They save space in printed materials, enhancing aesthetics and usability.
Universal use: Short links are versatile and can be used for various types of content.
The choice depends on your priorities:
Branded Links: If strengthening your brand identity, increasing trust, and improving user recognition are important to you, branded links are an excellent choice. They excel in marketing campaigns and content sharing where branding matters.
Short Links: If brevity and saving space are paramount, short links are suitable, especially in platforms with character constraints. They shine when the focus is on the content rather than the link.
Popular brands are using branded links:
Let’s take a look at how some of the most popular brands use branded links to their advantage:
The New York Times – nyti.ms
The renowned newspaper, The New York Times, simplifies sharing long article URLs on social media and beyond by using the branded link nyti.ms. This branded link not only shortens the URL but also reinforces the brand’s identity with every click.
Nike – swoo.sh
When it comes to sports and lifestyle, Nike is a household name. They utilize the branded link swoo.shto create a memorable link for their products and promotions. This reinforces the Nike brand with every shared link.
Amazon – amzn.to
E-commerce giant Amazon opts for the branded link amzn.to to shorten product URLs. This not only saves space in printed materials but also keeps the focus on their products rather than the URL itself.
Coca-Cola – cokeurl.com
Coca-Cola, a global beverage icon, maintains brand consistency by using branded links like cokeurl.com. This approach ensures that every link shared aligns with their brand image.
Starbucks – sbux.co
Coffee giant Starbucks utilizes branded links with the domain sbux.co to simplify the sharing of promotional content. This reinforces their brand identity and keeps their links looking clean and professional.
Shorten your links, amplify your brand.
Create shareable, trackable and fully customizable branded urls. Get more clicks with absolute link management features such as Bio Links, retargeting, deep Links, CTA’s and more.
Are you ready to start using branded links for your own brand? Replug, a powerful URL shortening and branding tool, simplifies the process of creating custom short branded links. Let’s walk through the steps to create these links and amplify your brand’s reach.
Adding your custom domain
The first step in creating branded links with Replug is to incorporate your custom domain. While Replug provides a default shortener domain (rplg.co), using your custom domain strengthens your brand identity and reputation.
Open your Replug dashboard and navigate to “Settings.”
Select “Custom Domains” from the dropdown menu.
Step 2: Add a new domain
Click on “Add Domain” to begin setting up your custom short URL.
Step 3: Connect the custom domain
On the next screen, provide essential details, including your custom domain and settings like the 404 redirect URL and branded domain.
Click “Connect” to add your custom domain to your Replug account.
Step 4: Manage your custom domain
After successfully connecting your custom domain, you can manage it within your Replug account. Check connectivity status, edit domain settings, or delete domains as needed.
Note: To complete the domain setup, don’t forget to point the CNAME in your domain registrar’s DNS. Depending on your registrar, you might need to use “@” or “www” as the HOST value.
With your custom domain integrated into Replug, you’re now ready to create your custom-branded link. Here’s how:
Step 5: Add a new link
Once logged into your Replug dashboard, select “Select your campaign” to start a new campaign.
You’ll find the custom domain you just created within your campaigns.
Paste the original link you want to shorten in the “URL to shorten” section.
Click “Create” to generate a custom shortened URL.
Enjoy the flexibility to customize your shortened URL. Select an alias or keyword to incorporate into the link, making it memorable and aligned with your brand.
Click “Update” to generate your custom shortened URL.
Step 7: Share and monitor
Utilize your custom-shortened URL in marketing materials, social media posts, emails, or any content where you want to promote your link.
Monitor the performance of your custom shortened URLs using Replug’s comprehensive analytics and tracking features, which provide insights into clicks, user location, referrals, and more.
Branded Short Links
Create and track branded short links for your business for better conversions.
What is the difference between a branded link and a short link?
A branded link includes your brand name or a custom keyword, making it more recognizable and trustworthy. Short links, on the other hand, are simply shortened versions of long URLs, often generated randomly.
Why should I consider using branded links for my brand or business?
Branded links enhance your brand identity, boost user trust, and increase brand recognition. They also offer a more user-friendly and memorable link for sharing.
Are branded links more trustworthy than short links?
Branded links tend to be perceived as more trustworthy by users because they include a recognizable brand name, which can reduce suspicions of spam or phishing.
Can I track the performance of branded links, and how can I do that?
Yes, you can track branded link performance. Most branded link services offer analytics and tracking features to monitor clicks, geographic data, and more.
Arslan Jadoon
Meet Arslan, a skilled website blog and content writer who combines creativity and expertise to deliver engaging and informative pieces that captivate audiences.
Ever felt frustrated by long, complicated website links? Imagine being able to take a long, ugly web address and turn it into a short, easy-to-share link. It’s not just about making it look better—it’s about making it easier to use and more effective.
Link shortening is a digital necessity that can transform the way you communicate online. It saves you precious characters in a tweet and makes your content cleaner and more clickable. It’s a must-have for anyone who wants to be effective online.
So, let’s get started on learning how to shorten a website link for a more streamlined and impactful online experience.
What is link shortening?
Link shortening is the process of converting a long URL into a shorter one. This is often done for convenience, as long URLs can be difficult to type or remember. Link shortening can also be used to track the number of clicks on a link, or to prevent spam.
To use a link-shortening service, simply enter the long URL into the service’s website and it will generate a shorter URL for you. You can then use this shorter URL to share the link with others.
Link shortening can be useful in a number of situations. For example, if you are sharing a link on social media, a shorter URL will take up less space and be easier for people to click on. Additionally, if you are tracking the number of clicks on a link, a shorter URL will make it easier to track the data.
How to shorten a website link using Replug?
Here’s how to shorten a website link using Replug. Follow the steps below!
Step 1: Sign in to Replug or create an account for free.
Step 2: After logging in, go to your Replug dashboard and select a campaign or create a new one if you are a new user.
Note: Creating a campaign in Replug is a simple and straightforward process. Here’s how to create a new campaign.
Step 3: Paste your long website link in the “URL to shorten” section and simply click the “Create” button.
Step 4: Your link will be shortened. You can now customize your shortened URL’s slug to make it more visually appealing and meaningful.
Note: Replug also offers a custom domain feature. This feature not only enhances your online branding but also fosters trust, consistency, and professionalism in your digital presence. Here’s how to create a custom domain using Replug.
Step 4: Once you have customized your website link, click the “Update” button to make it ready to share on any platform.
Step 5: You can also download your link as a QR code, which you can then easily integrate into various marketing materials or physical assets such as business cards and posters. This will ensure that your audience can easily access your online content while also simplifying your offline marketing efforts.
After shortening your website link with Replug, you can:
Share the shortened link on social media, in emails, and on your website.
Monitor click-through rates, geographic locations of your audience, and other important metrics to fine-tune your marketing strategies.
Use Replug’s other features, such as adding call-to-actions, link retargeting, link rotation, tracking conversions, and more.
Branded Short Links
Create and track branded short links for your business for better conversions.
What are the benefits of using Replug to manage your links?
Replug is a comprehensive marketing platform that provides a variety of tools and features to help businesses and individuals maximize their online presence and engagement. Whether you are a marketer, entrepreneur, blogger, or content creator, Replug offers a suite of powerful solutions designed to boost your online marketing efforts.
Here are some reasons why you might want to use Replug:
URL shortening and branding:
Replug allows you to shorten and customize your URLs, making them more visually appealing and brand-friendly. Customized short links not only look professional but also help in building trust with your audience.
Call-to-action (CTA) widgets:
With Replug’s CTA widgets, you can create engaging call-to-action messages and banners to place on your website or content. These widgets can help you drive user actions, such as subscribing, downloading, or purchasing.
Link retargeting:
Replug offers link retargeting capabilities, which enable you to add retargeting pixels to your short links. This means you can capture valuable data about your audience’s behavior and retarget them with specific ads and messages.
Bio links:
With Replug’s Bio Links feature, you can create a single, comprehensive landing page that houses multiple links, making it a powerful tool for showcasing your various online destinations in one place. This feature is ideal for social media profiles, where you can direct your audience to your website, blog, social accounts, and more from a single, user-friendly page.
Deep links:
Replug allows you to create deep links, which direct users to specific pages or content within a mobile app. This feature is essential for app developers and marketers looking to drive engagement within their applications.
Link rotation:
Link rotation is a dynamic feature that enables you to share multiple URLs in a single shortened link. Replug will automatically rotate through the provided links, evenly distributing traffic. It’s a valuable tool for A/B testing, distributing traffic to different offers, or for affiliate marketers looking to optimize their promotions.
White label solution:
For those seeking a seamless and branded experience, Replug offers white-labeling options. With this feature, you can replace Replug’s branding with your own, ensuring that your audience interacts with a cohesive and consistent brand identity throughout their journey.
Link tracking and analytics:
Stay informed about how your links are performing with Replug’s detailed analytics. Monitor click-through rates, geographic locations of your audience, and other important metrics to fine-tune your marketing strategies.
Team collaboration:
Collaborate with team members and manage your marketing campaigns efficiently using Replug’s team collaboration features. Streamline your workflow and stay organized.
Integration:
Replug seamlessly integrates with popular marketing platforms, such as Mailchimp, HubSpot, Google Analytics, and more, to ensure your marketing efforts are cohesive and data-driven.
Affiliate marketing:
If you’re involved in affiliate marketing, Replug can help you manage and track your affiliate links, making it easier to monitor your commissions and optimize your strategies.
Link Management Made Easy
Your go to link management tool for CTAs, branded and bio links, QR Codes, tracking and retargeting.
Link shortening is the process of converting a long, complex URL into a shorter, more manageable link. It makes web addresses easier to share and remember.
Why would I want to shorten a website link?
Shortened links are more user-friendly, take up less space, and are visually cleaner, making them ideal for sharing on social media, in emails, or on printed materials.
Is there a difference between different URL shortening services?
Yes, various services may offer different features such as link customization, analytics, and branding. Choose a service that best fits your needs.
How can I track the performance of my shortened links?
Many URL shortening services offer built-in analytics that tracks the number of clicks, geographic location of users, and other metrics for your shortened links.
Arslan Jadoon
Meet Arslan, a skilled website blog and content writer who combines creativity and expertise to deliver engaging and informative pieces that captivate audiences.
Are long web addresses a pain? Say goodbye to awkward long URLs and hello to short links!
This guide will walk you through the process of creating short URLs step-by-step.
Also, discover the benefits of short links, from improving user experience to boosting your online presence.
What is a short URL link?
A short URL, also known as a shortened URL or a tiny URL, is a compact version of a regular web address (URL). It is created by using a URL shortener tool, which takes a long URL and generates a shorter, more concise version.
Step 2: On the main dashboard click “Select your campaign” to give your short URL campaign a name. You can create a new campaign name in just a few seconds.
Step 3: Enter the long original URL in the “URL to Shorten” section just below “Select your campaign” and hit the “Create” button.
Step 4: Replug usually allows you to customize the shortened URL. You can choose a unique identifier or keyword to make the link more memorable or reflective of your content.
Step 5: Once the short URL is customized, copy and share this link on social media, emails, websites, or any other platform where you want to direct users to the original content.
Step 6: Once done just hit the “Update” button.
Branded Short Links
Create and track branded short links for your business for better conversions.
Replug offers link tracking and analytics features. You can access the dashboard to monitor the performance of your short URLs, including the number of clicks, geographic locations of the users, and more.
Step 7: Go to the main dashboard and click “Replug links” under “Manage” to check your link’s analytics.
Step 8: Here you’ll find all your shortened links. Click on the “3 dots” under the actions tab, then select “view stats” for detailed link analytics.
Why manage your links with Replug?
Managing your links with Replug offers several valuable benefits that can enhance your digital marketing efforts and online presence:
Link Shortening and Customization: Replug allows you to create short and memorable links for your long URLs, making it easier to share them on social media, emails, and other platforms with character limitations. You can also customize the short URLs to reflect your brand or content, increasing brand recognition.
Link Tracking and Analytics: With Replug, you can track the performance of your shortened links. It provides valuable insights into how many clicks your links receive, which geographic locations your audience is coming from, and other relevant data. This information enables you to measure the success of your marketing campaigns and make data-driven decisions.
Call-to-Action (CTA) Overlays: Replug allows you to add call-to-action overlays to the content you share. This feature enables you to engage your audience further, directing them to take specific actions, such as subscribing to a newsletter or downloading a resource.
Link Rotating and Redirects: Replug offers link rotating and redirect capabilities. You can use these features to distribute traffic evenly among multiple destination URLs or switch the destination URL without having to change the shortened link.
Social Media Retargeting: With Replug’s social media retargeting feature, you can add a retargeting pixel to your shortened links. This enables you to build custom audiences on social media platforms for remarketing purposes.
Link Management and Organization: Replug provides a centralized dashboard to manage all your shortened links and campaigns effectively. You can organize your links into different campaigns, making it easier to track their performance and manage multiple marketing initiatives.
UTM Parameter Support: Replug supports UTM parameters, allowing you to add campaign tracking information to your links. This helps you better understand the sources of your traffic and the effectiveness of your marketing efforts.
Branded Short Domains: Replug allows you to use your custom branded domain for link shortening. This adds a professional touch to your shortened links and reinforces your brand identity.
Bio-Link Feature: Replug’s Bio Link feature enables you to create a customizable landing page that houses multiple links in one place. This landing page serves as a hub for your various social media profiles, websites, and other online destinations. Instead of sharing multiple links individually, you can direct your audience to your Bio-Link, where they can find all your important links conveniently in one location.
Link Management Made Easy
Your go to link management tool for CTAs, branded and bio links, QR Codes, tracking and retargeting.
Meet Arslan, a skilled website blog and content writer who combines creativity and expertise to deliver engaging and informative pieces that captivate audiences.
Are you tired of dealing with long and complicated web addresses? Do you wish there was an easier way to share URLs without all the extra baggage? Well, look no further!
In this easy-to-follow guide, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of creating short links. No more fussing with lengthy links that clutter up your messages and confuse your audience.
Say goodbye to the days of overwhelming web addresses, and say hello to the simplicity of short links. Let’s dive in and unlock the power of shortened URLs!
Why do you need a short URL link?
The modern digital world is fast-paced, attention spans are short, and information overload is a constant issue. Having a short link has several advantages. Here are a few reasons why you might need a short link:
Long, complex URLs can be difficult to remember and share. Shortening them makes them more manageable and easier to type or copy/paste, saving time and effort for both you and your audience.
2. Enhance Sharability:
Short links are perfect for social media platforms like Twitter, where character limitations can be restrictive. By using a concise link, you can convey your message effectively while still including the essential information.
3. Improve Aesthetics:
A shorter URL looks cleaner and more visually appealing. It can enhance the overall presentation of your content, whether you’re sharing it in an email, presentation, or any other medium.
Many URL shortening services provide analytics tools that allow you to track and analyze the performance of your links. You can gain valuable insights into the number of clicks, geographical distribution, and even the devices used to access your content.
5. Maintain Brand Consistency:
Short links can incorporate your brand or company name, reinforcing brand recognition and consistency across various online channels.
Ultimately, a short link offers convenience, improved engagement, and a more professional appearance. It’s a simple yet effective tool to optimize your online presence and make the most out of your digital communications.
Click on “Select your Campaign” on the main dashboard page. If you want to create a new campaign go to “Manage” > “Campaigns”.
Give your campaign a name that represents the purpose or content of the URL you want to shorten.
Step 3: Add the Original URL
Once created or selected a campaign paste the long URL you wish to shorten into the “URL to shorten” field and click “Create”.
Step 4: Customize the Short link
Replug allows you to customize the short URL to reflect your brand or campaign. You can add a custom URL slug in this step.
Note: You can also edit the domain or select a custom path to represent your brand and content. This can be accomplished by creating a custom domain campaign. Learn more about setting up a custom domain here.
Step 5: Add extra features to your URL
Replug offers additional features like customizable call-to-action overlays and retargeting pixels, allowing you to optimize your shortened URLs for increased conversions and audience engagement. If you want to track and analyze your shortened URL’s performance, you can add UTM parameters.
Step 6: Copy and Share:
Copy the shortened URL and click the “update” button. Share your URL across your desired platforms, such as social media, emails, or any other communication channels.
Short URLs work by redirecting users from a shorter link to the original, longer URL, making it easier to share and remember.
Can I customize the short link generated by Replug?
Yes, with Replug, you can customize the short URL to reflect your brand or campaign by using your own domain or subdomain.
Can I track the performance of my short URLs?
Yes, Replug provides analytics and tracking features to monitor the performance of your short links, including click-through rates, geographical data, and other valuable insights.
Are short URLs safe to use?
Short URLs are generally safe to use. However, it’s essential to exercise caution and ensure that the shortening service you use is trustworthy and reputable to avoid potential security risks or link spam.
How long do short URLs created with Replug remain active?
Short URLs created with Replug remain active indefinitely unless you choose to deactivate or delete them manually.
Can I use Replug for social media sharing and tracking engagement?
Absolutely! Replug is designed to be compatible with social media platforms, making it easy to share shortened URLs and track engagement metrics across different social media channels.
Meet Arslan, a skilled website blog and content writer who combines creativity and expertise to deliver engaging and informative pieces that captivate audiences.
Link tracking is essential for businesses looking to improve their marketing efforts and understand their audience’s engagement. By monitoring clicks on specific links within a marketing campaign, businesses can gather valuable data and make informed decisions that lead to increased conversions and a better return on investment.
For example, imagine a business has created a landing page, an email marketing campaign, or a newsletter to promote its product or service. These marketing efforts require links that redirect the audience to the offered product or service. To ensure the success of future marketing communications and interactions, the business needs to know which links are being clicked by the audience.
This information is valuable for businesses as it reveals engagement statistics and helps evaluate the marketing campaign’s success. By tracking clicks on specific links, businesses can gather data on the number of clicks, the location of clicks, and the time of clicks, which can then be used to improve future marketing efforts and increase conversions.
A tracking URL is a hyperlink that tracks clicks on a specific link. It usually contains additional parameters and codes used by tracking software to track the clicks’ source, location, and behavior. The information collected through tracking URLs can be used for various purposes, such as website analytics, marketing campaigns, and conversion tracking.
How do tracking links work?
Tracking links work by redirecting clicks from the original link to a tracking link that contains additional parameters. When a user clicks on the tracking link, the tracking software records the information about the click, such as the source, location, and behavior of the user.
The tracking software then sends the user to the original link while keeping a record of the information gathered through the tracking link. This information can then be analyzed to improve marketing strategies, track conversions, and gather insights into user behavior. The tracking process is typically transparent to the user and occurs in the background without affecting the user experience.
Meet Arslan, a skilled website blog and content writer who combines creativity and expertise to deliver engaging and informative pieces that captivate audiences.
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!
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
Wasiq Naeem is a content and digital marketing veteran who is passionate about his writing. Extensive research and producing high-quality content is just another day at the office for him.
Hyperlinks are created by using anchor tags in HTML code. The anchor tag defines the start and end of a hyperlink, and the text between the opening and closing tags is displayed as the link. To change the name of a hyperlink, you need to edit the text between the opening and closing anchor tags.
When you add a hyperlink to a message, the text displayed as the link is usually the URL of the webpage that the link points to.
For example, if you add a link to “https://www.example.com/articles/how-to-change-a-link-name,” the link text may be displayed as “https://www.example.com/articles/how-to-change-a-link-name.”
However, displaying a more descriptive and readable link text is often more user-friendly than the raw URL.
For example, you could change the link text to “How to Change a Link Name: A Comprehensive Guide.” This makes it easier for users to understand the link and encourages them to click on it.
To change the link name that uses a hyperlink, you must edit the text displayed as the link. Here is an example of how to change the name of a link with a hyperlink in a Microsoft Word document:
Open the Word document containing the link that you want to change.
Right-click on the link and select the option to edit the link.
In the Edit Hyperlink window, delete the current text in the “Text to display” field and type in the new name you want to use for the link.
Click the “OK” button to save the changes and close the Edit Hyperlink window.
How to change a link name with a hyperlink in an HTML webpage:
Open the HTML code for the webpage in a text editor. You can do this by right-clicking on the webpage and selecting the option to view the source code or opening the HTML file in a text editor such as Notepad or TextEdit.
Locate the anchor tag that represents the link. It will look something like this: <a href=”http://www.example.com”>Link Name</a> The anchor tag consists of the opening tag <a>, the destination URL “http://www.example.com,” and the closing tag </a>. The text between the opening and closing tags is the link text, currently “Link Name.”
Change the text between the opening and closing anchor tags to the new name you want to use for the link. For example: <a href=”http://www.example.com”>New Link Name</a>
Save the changes to the HTML code by going to the “File” menu and selecting the “Save” option.
Refresh the webpage by pressing the “F5” key or by clicking the “Refresh button”.
How to change a link name using Replug?
Here’s how to change a link name using our URL shortener:
Step 1: Sign in to Replug, or create an account.
Step 2: Choose the desired campaign on the main dashboard or create a new one in a few seconds.
Step 3: Enter the link in the “URL to shorten” section below “Select your campaign” and click create.
Note: Here, you can also add UTM parameters to your link to track the performance of that link. Using UTM parameters can help you better understand which links are driving the most traffic and conversions for your website.
Step 4: Your link will be shortened. Click the edit icon and type the URL slug you want to use in the link.
Step 5: Copy the new link, hit the update button, and you’re done.
Here’s a recap of the above steps:
How to make your links more descriptive and user-friendly with Replug
Using Replug can help you make your links more descriptive and user-friendly in a few different ways:
Customizable link names: With Replug, you can choose the name of your link rather than using the default URL. This allows you to create a more descriptive and readable link that tells users about the link.
Link branding: Replug allows you to customize the appearance of your links by adding your branding. This can establish user trust and credibility and make your links more recognizable.
Link targeting: Replug allows you to redirect traffic to different URLs based on the device or location of the user. This can be useful if you have different webpage versions or want to redirect users to the most relevant version of your website.
Link analytics: Replug provides detailed analytics about the clicks on your links, including the number of clicks, the location of the users, and the devices used. This can help you understand how your links are used and make data-driven decisions about your link strategy.
Branded Short Links
Create and track branded short links for your business for better conversions.
Meet Arslan, a skilled website blog and content writer who combines creativity and expertise to deliver engaging and informative pieces that captivate audiences.
Link disguising is about hiding up a link so it looks like another link. Though the term itself might sound dubious. But it is very useful in the digital world. People generally mask links to shorten them and brand them.
Disguising a link is just like concealing the bad parts or random characters in case of a URL and beautifying them. Whereas, tools like URL shorteners come in handy in turning these random links to something meaningful and useful.
What is a Disguised Link?
A disguised link is also called URL cloaking or URLmasking. When a link is cloaked or disguised, it hides the original URL link while redirecting traffic to the original destination URL. Thus, URL shortener will allow you to disguise a URL by hiding the original URL. While you can create a customized or vanity URL or a branded link that appears to the users when you share with them.
So the real question arises, why do people use disguised links?
Why Disguise a Link?
First impressions matter! A URL is something that people see at first sight when you share a profile, video link or company website etc. So if it seems suspicious, no one is going to click that link. Another reason to disguise a link is to improve eCommerce sales, brand engagement, user experience etc.
URL tracking tools not only allow disguising but also allow tracking performance by creating custom links.
Furthermore, long URLs look nasty, and hence a person can go for a link shortener. All this can be done by URL masking.
Are you looking to increase e-commerce sales and shorten your long nasty URLs, two birds one stone?
Link disguisers are used to hide URLs and customize them. As link disguising is very useful when it comes to affiliate marketing. Using a URL shortener can disguise link and allow you to hide and protect your affiliate ID from malware. On the other hand, you use a custom branded link associated to your product and brand. Thus, increasing brand credibility and trust of the consumer.
A URL shortener is the solution for you to hide and disguise any website link. Moreover, you can also track, analyze and add CTA’s, bio links, retargeting pixels etc.
Step 1: Navigate to create a “Replug Link”. Choose your desired campaign, put the URL you want to disguise, and click on “create” (you can also add UTMs).
Step 2: After taping on create, a new screen will show. Click the edit button where you can initiate customizing your URL into a branded link. Add tags and set the rest of the parameters that you want for your campaign. Now click on update, and your customized link is ready to go live.
Multiple links shortening tools are available in the market, but Replug.io is among the few best link shorteners that offers link disguising, tracking & optimization as well as a catchy call to action. Replug.io is an easy URL shortening and tracking platform that allows you to create eye-catching branded URLs. It also creates social media bio links, URL tracking with custom URL, UTM, tags, and QR code generator. It offers the ability to add retargeting pixels with powerful analytics and branded links.
Replug’s chrome extension makes it easier to create disguise links. You can download the Google Chrome extension and log into your Replug account by putting login credentials. Once completed, you have full control of using Replug features in no time.
Link Analytics
Replug stands higher among all link management tools when it comes to link analytics. You can make a profitable brand’s strategy by keeping an eye on link analytics. Track every engagement on the content you share; below mentioned are some great analytics you can track.
Overview
Conversion Performance
Click performance
Visitor by browser
Visitors by the operating system
Visitor by country
Visitor by source/referrer
Deep Linking
Deep links let users go to the specific application rather than wasting time searching themselves on the browser. Therefore, deep links can increase overall engagement and conversion rate in the case of mobile & PC users.
Traffic Routing
With the help of the traffic routing feature, you can reach your target audience by setting multiple filters such as geography, browser, and device. You can also select the IP address, dates, and time. Hence, traffic routing feature allows you to redirect users and deliver a unique experience on the base of these filters.
A/B Testing
A/B testing features offer you to redirect links to several destinations. Efficiently distribute the weightage and start testing up to 10 customized links simultaneously.
Final Words
Using a URL shortener to disguise a link is not only for the people of the e-commerce world. In fact, URL shorteners are way much more than just a shortening tool.
You can create bio links, test landing pages via A/B testing, add CTA’s for special offers and discounts, route and redirect traffic etc. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Here’s a 14 day free trial link for you to explore different ways to use a URL shortener.
Khadija Anwar
I am Khadija Anwar, B2B Copywriter. I started my career as a freelance writer in 2019 and built a strong portfolio. I have crafted multiple blogs, website content, fashion magazines, news outlets, SEO content, and technical documentation. Last but not least, my favorite cartoon character is Dopey Dwarf, resembling my real-life character- calm, happy, and lively.
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Wasiq Naeem
Khadija Anwar
