Are short URLs killing your business?

If you’re using shortened URLs in your marketing, pay close attention as this newsletter may help you avoid losing a ton of money on lost marketing results.

What’s a Shortened URL?

A URL shortener is an online application that converts a regular URL (the web address that starts with http://) into its condensed format. The user only has to copy the full URL of a website and paste it into the URL shortening tool to come up with an abbreviated version that is around 10 to 20 characters long.

Shortened URL Services/Sites

There are a number of URL shortening services/sites. Some of the most popular are:

  • bit.ly (Bitly)
  • goo.gl (Google)
  • ow.ly (Hootsuite)
  • t.co (Twitter)
  • TinyURL (Gilby)
  • Tr.im (Gravity4)

A number of URL tracking services also provide shortened URLs of their own.

Why Use a Shortened URL

If your URL is long and wordy, it’s easier to recite a shortened URL instead of a long one.

If you want to track and compile click data, then a shortened URL may help you with that sort of data.

The Problem With Shortened URLs

There are a couple problems with using a URL shortening service with your lead capture page URL. They include:

  • Slow or unresponsive redirect – The shortening service may take too long to redirect.
  • Disabled link – The shortened URL service may disable your URL at any time.

When your shortened URL link is slow to respond or disabled, your prospects end up looking at a blank screen.. or they’re directed to a page that tells them the link is no longer available. Either way, your prospect is NOT directed to your lead capture page. Hence your advertising dollar is wasted.

Why Shortened URLs Become Disabled

Most shortened URLs become disabled for spam complaints. So if you’ve used your shortened URL in any sort of email marketing… then prospects hit the “Spam” button to mark it spam email, then it’s likely that your link will eventually become disabled.

Monitor Your Links

If you’re using shortened URLs in your marketing, then please continuously monitor your links. Last thing you want to do is use a dead link in your marketing.

You should also monitor your email delivery when using the shortened URL in your emails.

Shortened Links Not Required for MyAutoPilot Traffic

We recommend that you NOT use shortened links with your MyAutoPilot Traffic click traffic order. Not only can the link be disabled by the shortening URL service, but they can add delay in redirects if the service is unresponsive.

We recommend that you give us the bare URL of your lead capture page. Use analytics in the page itself to track your marketing. That’s a more efficient way of tracking your marketing.

In summary, continuously monitor your shortened URLs to ensure they’re still live and working in your marketing. Don’t worry about using a shortened URL with your MyAutoPilot Traffic click traffic order. Just give us the bare lead capture page URL without any redirects.

Thanks for reading.

To your success,