Ever since Google URL Shortener shut down in March 2019, the internet has been searching for the next best option. There’s no single correct answer, as the right service for you ultimately depends on your needs and expectations. There are simple and fast free shorteners for use in a hurry, shorteners with comprehensive dashboards and tracking tools for brands, and even URL shorteners you can host on your own website.
Table of Contents
What Is A URL Shortener?
A URL shortener is an online tool that takes a long, hefty URL and provides a shortened URL that sends the user to the exact same spot. Some URL shorteners can also help you track and manipulate those links, with features like click analytics, UTM parameter support, and retargeting.
URL shorteners help you create shorter, more aesthetic URLs, as well as benefit from those tracking and retargeting features.
What Are The Benefits Of A URL Shortener?
Using a URL shortener can also help users to feel more comfortable clicking. Sometimes links can be spam, but with shorteners, your users will be familiar with your brand. With shortened links, you may even get more clicks. There are many reasons why everyone should use a URL shortener when sharing a link back to their website:
- A good URL shortener will turn your excessively long and confusing looking URL (full of jumbled letters and numbers) into a nice and tidy link that’s easy to click on.
- You can create custom-branded URLs with the right link shortener.
- Shorter URLs are easier to read, type, and memorize.
- Users typically trust branded URLs over the long and possibly spam-filled URLs.
- You can track engagement with your links using a URL shortener and make improvements to your marketing campaigns.
As you can see, there’s more to shorten a long link using a URL shortener.
1.) TinyURL:
Free URL shortener TinyURL has been in the game since 2002, and for good reason. It’s a useful tool for when you’re in a hurry and need to create a short link that will never expire. TinyURL can suggest a shorter URL for you, or you can customize the result. TinyURL also offers a bookmarklet, a small piece of javascript you add to your web browser’s toolbar that generates a short link from a webpage with the click of a button. It then leads you back to TinyURL where you retrieve the link. Although TinyURL is entirely free and anonymous to use, it doesn’t contain any reports or information about your links and their popularity.
2.) Bitly:
Bitly is one of the most popular URL shorteners around. And one of the reasons for this is because it doesn’t require an account to use. Plus, you can create as many short links as you want. With Bitly, you can monitor link clicks, click locations, and even top referrers. This is great for fine-tuning your campaign efforts and sharing your content where it’s most likely to be seen and interacted with. And if you want to streamline your marketing efforts further, you can integrate Bitly with Zapier and automate other tools that support Zapier. Each link you create with Bitly is encrypted with HTTPS to safeguard against third-party tampering. In other words, your target audience will never have to worry that your short links have been hijacked and will lead them elsewhere. And if you want to, you can create QR codes, utilize mobile deep links to drive the right people to the right content at the right time, and replace the ‘bit.ly’ portion with your very own brand.
3.) Cutt.ly:
Cutt.ly is a user-friendly URL shortener & link management platform with branded URLs. It allows you to generate a QR codes for each short link. You will also get a feature of preview mode and user protection to prevent suspicious links. It offers a sortable list of shortened URLs.
4.) Soo.gd:
Soo.gd is a short link generator. To use this tool, you just need to add your long URL and suffix, and just press the shorten button. You can also shorten multiple URLs with the help of this tool.
5.) Shorturl:
ShortURL allows to reduces long links from Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, and other popular sites on the Internet. All you need to do is just to paste the long URL and click the short URL button. You can also check the number of clicks that your shortened URL revived. This soft is also compatible with smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. It uses the HTTPS protocol and data encryption.
Last Words:
No matter how long your URL is, you can quickly get it shortened for the benefit of your users. There really isn’t much to this site, which isn’t a bad thing. It is perfect for someone who is looking to just have a few links shortened. There is no data available to users, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be helpful. If you are not looking for that and want to try a URL shortener out for the first time, moourl.com may be the place for you.
Be the first to write a comment.