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Why Custom URL Shorteners Are Key to Branding Success

Published on: October 19, 2024 | Publisher: Webn Community

Blog Image Alright, let’s talk about something that might not seem super exciting at first, but trust me, it’s a game-changer—custom URL shorteners.

Now, before you zone out thinking this is some nerdy internet thing, let me tell you, if you’ve ever clicked on a link, shared a link, or tried to promote anything online, this is for you.

First Off, What’s a URL Shortener?

You know when you copy a long, messy link, and it looks like a jumbled mess of letters, numbers, and question marks? That’s where URL shorteners come in. They take that ugly link and turn it into something clean and neat, like bit.ly/xyz or tinyurl.com/abc. Super useful, right?

But here’s the thing—those generic short links don’t do anything special for your brand. They get the job done, but they don’t make you stand out. That’s why custom URL shorteners are a total game-changer. Instead of using someone else’s brand (like Bitly), you use your own.

For example, let’s say you own a coffee shop called “Brew Magic.” Instead of sharing a generic short link like bit.ly/2Xz4Hk, you could have something like brewmgc.com/menu. See the difference? It looks professional, it builds trust, and it reminds people of your brand.

Why Should You Care?

Now you might be thinking, “Okay, cool, but does this really matter?” 100% YES. If you’re running a business, building a personal brand, or just want to look professional online, using a custom URL shortener makes a huge difference.

Looks More Professional

Imagine you’re sharing a link to your new product or a cool article you wrote. Which one looks better?

bit.ly/3rTfYt9

yourbrand.com/special-offer

The second one, right? It looks official and makes people more likely to click.

Builds Trust

People are naturally suspicious of weird-looking links. If they don’t recognize the brand in the link, they might think it’s spam or a scam. A custom short link immediately tells them, “Hey, this is from me, and it’s safe.”

Better for Branding

Every time someone sees your short link, they see your brand name. Over time, this builds recognition. If you’re serious about marketing, you want every link you share to reinforce your brand.

More Clicks

Studies show that branded short links get up to 39% more clicks than generic ones. That’s because they look more relevant and trustworthy.

Easy to Remember & Share

A custom link is short and easy to type out. If you’re at an event or on a podcast, telling someone mybrand.com/freeguide is way easier than trying to read out a long, messy link.

How to Get Your Own Custom URL Shortener

Alright, so now that you’re convinced (hopefully), let’s talk about how you actually set this up. Don’t worry—it’s not as hard as it sounds.

Step 1: Get a Custom Domain

You need a short, catchy domain that represents your brand. If your main website is bestcoffeebeans.com, you might want something like bcbeans.co for short links. You can grab a domain from places like GoDaddy or Namecheap.

Step 2: Use a URL Shortening Tool

You don’t need to build this from scratch. There are tools like:

Bitly (you can connect your own domain)

Rebrandly (great for branding)

YOURLS (a free, self-hosted option if you like DIY)

Just sign up, connect your domain, and boom—you’re ready to create custom links.

Step 3: Start Sharing Smartly

Once you have your shortener set up, start using it everywhere! Social media posts, email newsletters, business cards—anywhere you’re sharing links.

Extra Perks of Using a Custom URL Shortener

If you’re into analytics, you’ll love this part. Most URL shorteners come with built-in tracking, so you can see how many people clicked your links, where they’re from, and what device they used. This helps you understand what works and what doesn’t in your marketing.

You can also create UTM parameters (fancy term, but don’t worry—it just means you can track where your traffic is coming from). For example, you can make a link like:

yourbrand.com/sale?utm_source=instagram

This tells you exactly how many clicks came from Instagram. Super useful, right?

Real-Life Examples

Still not convinced? Here are a few real-world examples of brands using custom short links:

Tesla uses ts.la/ for referral links.

Nike has swoo.sh/ for promotions.

The New York Times uses nyti.ms/ to share articles.

Even if you’re not a billion-dollar company, you can use the same strategy for your business.

Quick Recap

Custom URL shorteners make your links look professional and trustworthy.

They help with branding and get more clicks.

They’re easy to set up using a custom domain and a shortening tool.

You can track clicks and improve your marketing strategy.