URL shortening is a quick and easy way to shrink down cumbersome long links to more compact and shareable shortened links. While generic shortened URLs from bit.ly, linksgpt, TinyURL, or ow.ly get the job done, using a custom domain provides immense benefits for brands, businesses, and publishers looking to create professional, memorable links.
This article will explore what custom short domains are, their advantages, and tips for implementing them effectively.
What Are Custom Short Domains?
Custom short domains allow you to shorten links using your own domain name rather than a generic domain provided by URL shorteners. For example, instead of shortening links to bit.ly/abcdefg, you could shorten them to acme.com/abcdefg.
By using your own domain for short links, you retain control over the domain and link aesthetics. This allows you to match shortened URLs to your brand name for consistency.
Top Benefits of Custom Short Domains
Here are some of the key reasons to invest in a custom domain for short links:
- Branding and trust. Custom domains include your business name, establishing brand familiarity and trust. Generic URLs do not.
- Link aesthetics. You can match link styling to your brand guidelines for seamless UX.
- Memorable URLs. Branded, relevant domains are far easier for audiences to remember.
- Advanced analytics. Custom options provide deeper analytics like traffic sources.
- Link management. Manage all short links in one branded domain space.
- Security. Your domain ensures phishing risks associated with generic URLs are avoided.
- Flexibility. Add or remove new links effortlessly within your domain.
Implementing a Custom Short Domain
There are a few ways to create a custom short domain:
- URL shortener customization. Many shorteners like Bitly allow you to create custom URLs with your domain for a fee.
- Own short domain. Buy a dedicated short domain like brand.ly and create your links.
- Subdomain. A subdomain like sh.yourbrand.com can act as your short domain.
- Server redirects. Use .htaccess files on your server to redirect short URLs.
- Link management plugins. WordPress plugins like Pretty Links can shorten URLs with your domain.
No matter the method, the shortened link should seamlessly redirect to the full URL while displaying your custom domain. Do extensive testing to ensure redirects function properly before publishing links.
Designing User-Friendly Short URLs
With a custom domain, you have full creative liberty over your shortened URLs. Well-designed short links follow best practices like:
- Simple, short, memorable URLs. Avoid overly complex shortened URLs.
- Descriptive keywords. Use keywords describing the content within the URL.
- Logical structure. Maintain structure with prefixes, subfolders, or tags.
- Consistent branding. Match brand style guides for font, tone, and formatting.
- Easy sharing. Optimize URLs to easily share via email, social media, and messaging.
- Vanity URLs. Consider memorable vanity names like brand.com/freeshipping.
Monitor Link Performance
The advanced analytics available via custom short domains provide crucial competitive intelligence. You gain visibility into:
- Clicks and click rates to see your popular links.
- Traffic sources pinpointing social shares, websites, emails, etc.
- Location information revealing your global audience.
- Timestamps tracking when users click.
- Link discounts revealing broken or redirected links.
Use these insights to identify well-performing content to produce more of, spot potential website issues, understand user behavior, and optimize link-sharing strategies.
Short, Simple, Branded Shortcuts
In summary, custom short domains are a worthwhile investment for creating professional, trackable, and branded shortened links. The memorable and trustworthy experience leads to more engagement, while powerful analytics provide critical business intelligence. For organizations that regularly share links online or in marketing, developing a custom short domain is an easy way to level up your strategy.
