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Why shorten links, and how to choose a safe service
Long links full of parameters look messy, are hard to share and cannot be measured. Short links fix all three, but there are things to watch for.
Benefits of short links
- Readable and easy to share: good for posts, captions, print ads and QR codes.
- Measurable: see how many clicks, from which channel, at what time.
- Editable destination (for member links) without changing links you have already handed out.
- Controlled lifetime: set an expiry or a click limit for short promotions.
Risks to know about
A short link hides the real destination, so bad actors use it to hide scam sites. A good service should have safeguards.
Checklist before choosing a service
- Enforces https for destinations of no-sign-up links.
- Keeps a banned-domain list and lets you inspect it.
- No chained shorteners (links that point to another shortener).
- Has a status page that shows the destination domain before you click.
- Explains expired links clearly instead of landing on a blank page.
- Transparent data policy about what it collects from visitors (see Shortraffe link analytics).
Checking a short link before you click
If you doubt a Shortraffe link, open its status page to see the destination domain without following the link, and never enter passwords or card details on a page you are unsure about.