How to Create Custom Short URLs for Your WordPress Blog

By WP Saviour •  Updated: 02/28/21 •  15 min read

You are excited to reach additional readers on social media amongst totally different places. Nonetheless prolonged URLs are making points onerous for you since they aren’t user-friendly and even pretty the least bit. A {{custom}} fast URLs, alternatively, are easy to share on social media and totally different exhibits akin to print adverts or enterprise enjoying playing cards.

Think about Amazon affiliate hyperlinks as an illustration

https://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wi-fi-Learning-Present-Globally/dp/B003FSUDM4/ref=amb_link_353259562_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIK X0DER&pf_rd_s=center-10&pf_rd_r=11EYKTN682A79T370AM3&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1270985982&pf_rd_i=B002Y27P3M

How is such a hyperlink share-friendly? You need shorter URLs that are shareable, memorable and – if need be – good at masking your affiliate hyperlinks. Your weblog put up URLs may moreover use just a bit swagging out. If you’re going to get a branded fast URL to associate with that, you are golden.

Study on to review how one can create {{custom}} fast URLs to your WordPress weblog with out breaking a sweat.

Why Shorten URLs?

First points first, what are some nice advantages of shortening your hyperlinks?

Good examples of {{custom}} fast URLs by trendy mannequin names embody youtu.be, wp.me, nyti.ms, es.pn and fb.me amongst others. All these are good examples of branded fast URLs. I wager you gained’t have a troublesome time recalling these URLs or telling which producers they signify.

That out of one of the best ways, permit us to create {{custom}} fast URLs to your site beginning with the very best course of. On this half, you may uncover methods to create fast URLs in Four strategies:

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You can shorten and cloak your hyperlinks correct this minute using a WordPress plugin akin to Pretty Hyperlinks. Using the plugin, I can shorten an affiliate hyperlink akin to https://themeforest.web/merchandise/total-responsive-multipurpose-wordpress-theme/6339019/?ref=wpthemeraves to http://wpthemeraves.com/full/.

Whereas my space determine continues to be prolonged, the second URL is means shorter and easier to remember/share than the first. That, plus the second URL doesn’t look like an affiliate hyperlink the least bit. Correctly, almost.

On excessive of that, I can merely see the amount of folks that click on on on the hyperlink by the use of the Pretty Hyperlinks admin dashboard. After which some.

Placing in and organising Pretty Hyperlinks is pretty straightforward a course of, I wouldn’t depend on you to run into any problem. Nonetheless in case you need us to hold your hand, proper right here is how.

Placing in Pretty Hyperlinks

Navigate to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin menu as we current you inside the image beneath.

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Clicking the Add New merchandise leads you to the primary WordPress Add Plugins internet web page. Proper right here, you can each add the Pretty Hyperlinks Skilled plugin out of your laptop computer or arrange the free mannequin from the official WordPress plugin repository. Since we’re angling for the freebie, we’ll associate with the second alternative.

On the Add Plugins internet web page, enter “Pretty Hyperlinks” inside the Search plugins (1) search area. Wait out the Ajax search efficiency to ship you the plugin. Subsequent hit the Arrange Now (2) button, and in the end, the Activate button that comes after placing in.

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Subsequent, hit the Pretty Hyperlinks merchandise in your WordPress admin menu as we current beneath.

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Welcome to your Pretty Hyperlinks admin panel, nevertheless since you don’t have any hyperlinks, it is empty. Aren’t you excited to create your first fast URL in your space? Observe alongside.

Creating Pretty Hyperlinks Transient URLs

Throughout the Pretty Hyperlinks admin panel, click on on the Add Pretty Hyperlink button as we highlight inside the image beneath.

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On the next show display screen, add your purpose URL, pretty hyperlink, title, and notes. If I’ve been you, I’d go away the Redirection drop-down menu alone till I do know what I’m doing.

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See the Superior Selections hyperlink inside the image above? Correctly, click on on on that to open a couple of nifty decisions akin to hyperlink grouping, together with the no-follow tag, parameter forwarding, and hyperlink monitoring.

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After you’re achieved deciding on your settings, hit the Create button as we current inside the image above. Enable us to see what we now have proper right here.

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Now my prolonged affiliate hyperlink (https://themeforest.web/merchandise/total-responsive-multipurpose-wordpress-theme/6339019/?ref=wpthemeraves) is http://design.vistamedia.xyz/full. Significantly means shorter than the distinctive hyperlink, even once I’m using a sub-domain on this second occasion ?

Consequently, I can share my shorter hyperlink wherever I like or add it on any web property merely. When of us hit the hyperlink, Pretty Hyperlinks information each little factor in a monitoring report that seems one factor like this:

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When the need arises, you can view your hyperlink statistics by navigating to Pretty Hyperlinks > Clicks in your WordPress admin menu. Probably the greatest half is you can customise and acquire the experiences. On excessive of that, you can see the shopper’s IP sort out if that helps.

Pretty Hyperlinks Skilled ships with additional choices along with the pliability to redirect hyperlinks primarily based totally on shopper location, shorten all hyperlinks in your site mechanically, A/B testing and additional redirection types amongst totally different points.

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Sooner than we’re achieved with plugins, are you aware you can create WP.me shortlinks using Jetpack? The one downfall? WP.me shortlinks don’t provide you with monitoring info.

First arrange and activate Jetpack once you don’t have the plugin already. Then stage your browser to occasion.com/wp-admin/admin.php?internet web page=jetpack_modules, and substitute occasion.com alongside along with your exact space determine. If you happen to’re having problem, you can research additional about accessing all Jetpack modules on one internet web page.

That aside, you’re within the appropriate place once you see the following internet web page.

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Scroll down, and activate the WP.me Shortlinks module as you can see inside the image beneath.

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Now what? At any time when a reader makes use of the Jetpack sharing buttons, your site will mechanically create WP.me fast URLs such as a result of the one confirmed beneath.

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Furthermore, activating WP.me Shortlinks supplies the Get Shortlink button inside the conventional editor as seen beneath.

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By any means, be at liberty to repeat your WP.me shortlinks and share them wherever you want. It is merely sad you can’t monitor these hyperlinks, or can you? Inform us inside the comment half.

If you happen to occur to don’t fancy taking the plugin route, you can on a regular basis leverage Third-party hyperlink shortening firms akin to Bitly or TinyURL. Usually, these firms are easy to utilize and most cases, you don’t even wish to be a part of an account.

3. Go to TinyURL to Generate Transient URLs

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TinyURL is our first non-plugin contender in the meanwhile, and for good trigger. The URL shortener serves over a billion redirects per thirty days, which implies you’re in good agency. And similar to Bitly, you can create fast URLs anonymously with out creating an account.

The one distinction? You may’t create an account at TinyURL. So, how do you keep monitor of your hyperlinks? Correctly, you can’t, which leaves us with merely Bitly. Nonetheless as a hyperlink shortening service, TinyURL carries its weight. After all, you merely wish to stick your prolonged URL and hit one button.

All of the similar, you can customise the slug that comes after TinyURL.com. For instance, instead of getting https://tinyurl.com/yby5eax2, you can customise the slug to look like https://tinyurl.com/woo-marketing, provided the slug is on the market.

Create TinyURL Transient Hyperlinks

Crucial draw again of using third-party URL shorteners is you end up sacrificing your mannequin. As a substitute of your space determine displaying in your fast hyperlinks, the hyperlink encompasses a third-party space e.g., TinyURL.com/short-url, Tiny.cc/short-url and bit.ly/short-url.

To not worry though, we’re capable of overcome this drawback using our last method; shopping for a branded fast URL and configuring it to your WordPress site.

4. Use Bitly for Custom-made Transient URLs

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Bitly is no doubt one of many hottest and oldest URL shorteners on the net. The service means that you may create fast URLs anonymously. Merely paste your prolonged hyperlink inside the space we mark with merchandise no. 2 inside the image above.

Nonetheless, we’ll create an account, so hit the Sign Up hyperlink inside the menu as confirmed above. Then fill out the registration form or be a part of with Google, Fb or Twitter as we highlight inside the image beneath.

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Hit the Create Account button on the bottom and choose the best way you’d wish to make use of Bitly on the next show display screen as confirmed beneath.

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This half is optionally out there, click on on away from the popup to close it ?

Sooner than you do something, log into your e-mail account, and ensure your e-mail sort out.

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Now your Bitly account is ready.

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Pretty neat, correct? Creating fast URLs from this stage is a matter of stage and click on on. To create a model new fast URL all through the Bitly dashboard, merely hit the Create button on the excessive (see image above).

Subsequent, paste your prolonged URL inside the slide-in half as we outline inside the image beneath.

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After that, customise your hyperlink as you deem match on the next half as confirmed beneath.

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Further, you can be a part of your Twitter and Fb accounts to facilitate easier sharing of fast hyperlinks. On excessive of that, you can arrange the Bitly browser extension so you can create fast URLs of any web internet web page instantly.

Furthermore, Bitly ships with an intuitive monitoring chart that displays you the complete number of clicks, excessive referer (e-mail, SMS or direct), and excessive location amongst totally different points. If need be, you can enhance to the Enterprise bundle for additional choices.

Create Bitly Transient URLs

Placing in & Configuring WP Bitly Plugin

Want to use Bitly out of your WordPress dashboard? You can! Arrange and activate WP Bitly similar to we did with the Pretty Hyperlinks plugin steps above. Subsequent, navigate to Settings > Writing in your WordPress admin menu. Then scroll down until you see WP Bitly Shortlinks as we highlight beneath.

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Subsequent, it is important click on on the Authorize button as confirmed inside the image above. On the next internet web page, click on on the Allow button as confirmed beneath (you ought to be logged in to Bitly).

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If all goes correctly, it’s good to see the net web page beneath.

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At this juncture, you are ready to start out out creating branded fast URLs to your WordPress weblog. Merely open the article inside the put up editor, and click on on the Shortlink button on the very best WordPress admin menu as confirmed beneath.

wp-bitly-post-editor-8140652

In addition to, you can see how your hyperlinks are performing correct from all through the put up editor as confirmed inside the image above.

5. Purchase & Configure A Branded Transient URL

The other methods on this put up will present assist to to create fast URLs in a jiffy and with out spending a dime. Nonetheless, there are some downsides to using these methods, which we’re capable of overcome on this half.

For instance, the Pretty Hyperlinks plugin doesn’t do one thing to shorten your space determine, and sadly, most of us have prolonged domains. A hyperlink akin to wpthemeraves.com/full/ nonetheless preserves the mannequin determine, nevertheless we’re capable of make it shorter by springing for a branded fast URL.

And we’ve already talked about that using WP.me and third-party URL shorteners sacrifices your mannequin determine.

So, instead of wpthemeraves.com/full/, we would go for wprav.es/full/ for instance. A quick branded URL carries your mannequin and improves shareability tenfold as compared with differing types of fast URLs.

For starters, assume up your hottest fast URL space or use an internet site determine generator to find a acceptable branded fast URL. Be creative and uncover alternative routes of shortening your mannequin space.

Shopping for A Branded Transient URL

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You can purchase a branded fast URL out of your space registrar, the similar means to procure your present space. For that cause, we gained’t go into the details. Nonetheless, once you’re out there available in the market for an unimaginable space registrar, I buy all my domains at Namecheap.

With a branded fast URL in hand, it’s time to configure a couple of points, so that your new fast space can serve fast hyperlinks to your site.

Configuring Branded Custom-made Transient URLs

For this half, you uncover methods to hyperlink your branded fast URL with Bitly, allowing you to leverage Bitly to create fast URLs in your branded URL. So, instead of using bit.ly/short-url, your fast hyperlinks will look like wprav.es/short-url, for instance.

Login to your Bitly account and click on in your username as confirmed inside the image beneath.

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On the next show display screen, hit the Deal with hyperlink:

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Subsequent, click on on Branded Transient Domains after which the Add Branded Transient Space button as we illustrate inside the image beneath.

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On the next slide-in half, you can add your branded fast URL and see the DNS settings it is important hyperlink Bitly to your fast space.

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Sooner than you hit the Affirm Space button as confirmed inside the image above, it’s good to log into your space registrar and guarantee your branded fast space elements to Bitly.

Say to procure your branded fast space by the use of Namecheap, you merely must log into your Namecheap Dashboard and navigate to the Space Itemizing tab as we current beneath. Subsequent, hit the Deal with button subsequent to your branded fast space:

domain-list-in-namecheap-admin-panel-1428156

Subsequent, uncover the Nameservers half, choose Custom-made DNS and add the DNS information Bitly supplies. Consider to keep away from losing your modifications. Bear in mind that DNS modifications may take as a lot as 72 hours to propagate, so be affected individual. Completely different cases, the modifications replicate immediately.

As quickly as your branded fast URL elements to Bitly, enter the realm into Bitly and be at liberty to hit the Affirm Space button as confirmed beneath.

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With this out of one of the best ways, you merely wish to put within the WP Bitly plugin, so you can deal with your fast URLs correct from inside your WordPress admin dashboard.

Final Phrases on Custom-made Transient URLs

It goes with out saying that fast URLs have additional advantages than prolonged URLs inside the digital world we keep in. Whether or not or not be it shareability, extending mannequin attain or simply offering your prospects a better experience, fast URLs carry the day.

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WP Saviour

I am a WordPress specialist. My mission is to help you create beautiful websites with ease!