Clickable links, or hyperlinks, are essential for online interactivity. They enable users to easily navigate to websites, download documents, or access applications. Whether you’re managing a blog, building a website, drafting a document, or sending an email, understanding how to make a link clickable is a crucial skill.
Creating hyperlinks or shortening links is straightforward and widely applicable. You can add clickable links across various platforms, such as:
Content management systems (CMS)
Website builders
Word processors
Email clients
In this easy-to-follow guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about creating clickable links, tracking click analytics and everything that makes your content more interactive.
So, let’s get started!
What is a hyperlink?
A hyperlink, often simply called a link, is a reference in a digital document that directs users to another location when they click on it. This destination can be a different section of the same document, another document, a webpage, a downloadable file, or any other online resource.
Hyperlinks are fundamental to the web’s structure, enabling easy navigation and connectivity between various pieces of information. They can be displayed as text, images, or other elements. Text hyperlinks are usually underlined and colored differently from the surrounding text to indicate they are clickable.
Boost ROI with branded URLs!
Enhance your marketing campaigns by creating shareable, trackable, and fully multi-purpose
customizable branded URLs.
Anchor text: The visible text that users click on. It’s often underlined in blue (e.g., “Click here”).
URL (uniform resource locator): The web address or location where the link directs. This could be a webpage, email address, file, or another resource.
HTML tag: The code that defines the hyperlink in a web document. The <a> (anchor) tag is used in HTML, with the href attribute specifying the URL.
For example, in HTML, a hyperlink might look like this:
In this case, “Visit Example” is the anchor text, and
is the URL the link points to.
Hyperlinks are crucial for creating an interconnected web, making it easy for users to navigate, find information, and access different resources quickly and efficiently.
How to create a clickable link in WordPress?
To add a hyperlink using the WordPress visual editor, follow these steps:
Step 1: Select the text you want to turn into a link.
Step 2: Click the “Add Link” icon in the text editing bar. This will open a field where you can enter the URL.
Step 3: Type or paste the complete address (including HTTPS) of the destination you want to link to, then press Enter.
Ready to take your links further by transforming them into powerful tools for engagement and analytics? This is where Replug comes in.
Replug is an all-in-one link management platform designed to supercharge your links by adding branded short URLs, custom call-to-actions, retargeting pixels, and in-depth analytics. It’s perfect for marketers, bloggers, and businesses looking to maximize their links’ impact.
Shorten your links with your own domain to reinforce your brand identity. For example, instead of a long, unwieldy URL, you can use a concise, branded link like
Integrate retargeting pixels from platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter into your links. This lets you track and retarget users who click on your links, enhancing your marketing efforts.
4. Bio links
Create a personalized bio link page that consolidates all your important links in one place. Perfect for social media profiles, this feature lets you direct your audience to multiple destinations from a single, easy-to-remember link.
5. In-depth analytics
Gain valuable insights into your link performance with detailed analytics. Track clicks, geographic data, device information, and more to understand your audience better and refine your strategies.
Boost ROI with branded URLs!
Enhance your marketing campaigns by creating shareable, trackable, and fully multi-purpose
customizable branded URLs.
A clickable link, or hyperlink, is a reference in a digital document that directs users to another location or resource when clicked. This can be a webpage, a file, an email address, or another type of online content.
How do I insert a clickable link in a PDF?
To insert a clickable link in a PDF, use a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat. Select the text or object, choose the linking tool, enter the URL, and save the PDF.
Can I add a clickable link to a social media bio?
Yes, you can add a clickable link to your social media bio. Most platforms allow you to edit your profile and include a URL in the bio section. Use our bio link feature to add multiple links to your social media bio.
How do I track clicks on my hyperlinks?
You can use link-tracking tools like Replug to monitor and analyze the performance of your hyperlinks. These tools provide detailed analytics on clicks, geographic data, and more.
Have you ever felt stuck hunting for a reliable tool since Google shut down its URL shortener? If that’s the case, don’t worry, you’re not alone!
Many of us get confused, or even irritated at times, when links break, or we can’t remember how to shorten a link securely. That frustration grows even more when you test dozens of tools online, only to find they’re clumsy, unreliable, or expensive.
The bright side: It doesn’t have to be that way anymore!
In this blog post, you’ll find 10 top-tier Google URL shortener alternatives that combine ease, brilliant features, and dependability.
Ready to leave behind broken goo.gl links? Let’s check out the amazing alternative tools to Google URL shortener next.
Top 10 URL Shortener Alternatives to Goo.gl
Since Google shut down its Goo.gl service in 2019, many users have been searching for solid and trustworthy alternatives. Fortunately, there are numerous paid URL shorteners available, each with its own unique set of attributes and benefits.
Let’s kick things off with probably the most excellent and well-known option, i.e., Replug.
Replug.io – Best custom URL shortener tool online overall
If you’re looking for a smart way to shorten a link without just relying on a generic service, Replug might be your go-to tool. It’s not just a URL shortener; it transforms ordinary links into branded, trackable assets that carry your identity.
Since Goo.gl is long gone, Replug stands out as a strong alternative for anyone who wants more than just a short link. With this top-notch tool, you get brand recognition, link analytics, and campaign-level insights all in one place.
Key features
Branded link creation: Convert any long URL into a short, custom version under your domain with this reliable link shortener tool.
Deep link routing & A/B testing: Segment visitors by device, region, or date, and test multiple link versions to see which works best.
Full analytics & campaign tracking:Monitor clicks, conversions, custom domains, and workspaces, all from one single dashboard.
White-label solution for agencies: Manage workspaces for multiple teams and clients, with personalized domains and branding.
Pricing plans
Free: $0/month
Essentials: $19/month
Scale: $39/month
Agency: $99/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros
Cons
Lets you build branded short links within seconds to boost recognition.
The interface can feel overpowering when you’re just starting out.
Enables advanced features like retargeting and A/B testing.
Agencies get nice features like client workspaces and white-labeling.
In short: If you’re way too serious about your links, branding them, tracking them, turning them into marketing tools rather than just short URLs, Replug hits the mark. Yes, it might take a little time to get familiar with all the features, but once you do, you’ll likely find that your link-sharing and campaign tracking become much smarter. For anyone looking beyond basic shortening and aiming for full-scale link management, Replug is a very solid choice.
Bitly – Best for general use & analytics
If you’re the one in search of a solid all-around solution to get shortened links in no time, Bitly has you covered. It’s been around for years, evolving from a simple link shortener into a full link-management system that easily replaces the old Goo.gl.
With Bitly, you can create shortened, branded links that feel trustworthy, track how they perform, and redirect links when you need. All of this makes it a smart alternative to Google’s bygone service.
Key features
Create branded short links with Bitly using top-level domains, so your links carry your brand identity.
Monitor click stats, locations, devices, and campaign performance in real time from one dashboard.
Change link destinations later on (redirect) so you’re not stuck with a dead link.
Shorten multiple links in one go to save time when you’ve got many links to manage.
QR code and landing-page features are included, making it more than just a shortener. It’s more of a link-campaign hub.
Pricing plans
Free: $0/month
Core: Annual plan only
Growth: $35/month
Premium: $300/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros
Cons
Very strong campaign tracking and analytics, making it easy to compare different links and channels.
The free version is very limited. It may not be enough if you need custom domains or many links.
A trusted, established platform used by businesses of all sizes. Great for long-term stability.
Some advanced features (e.g., deep link analytics, full brand control) are locked behind higher tiers.
Supports branded domains, QR codes, and bulk operations. Versatile for personal & enterprise use.
Can become fairly expensive as your link volume or team size grows.
In short: If you’re after a reliable, user-friendly tool to shorten links and track how they perform, Bitly is a standout choice. It balances ease of use with powerful features, so you can do more than just shorten a URL. You can turn it into a smart marketing asset. It isn’t the cheapest for all features, but the value is there if you’re serious about tracking and managing links. For general use or growing teams who want analytics and brand control, Bitly hits a strong sweet spot.
TinyURL – Best for simplicity & speed
Elegant in its ease of use, TinyURL is one of the longest-running tools for shortening URLs. It remains a top choice when you just need to shorten a link without fuss.
Before the days of complex dashboards and enterprise workflows, TinyURL let users paste a long address and get back a short, shareable link. With the retirement of Google’s URL shortening tool, TinyURL stands out as a lightweight, fast alternative when you don’t require a full-fledged link-management system.
Key features
Instant short-link creation: No signup required; paste a URL and get a short version in seconds.
Basic analytics: Track clicks, referrers, and geography (on paid plans) to get insight into link performance.
Bulk shortening: Create numerous links at once when you have a batch of URLs to manage, hassle-free.
Persistent links: Shortened URLs generally don’t expire, so you don’t have to worry about links vanishing.
Pricing plans
Free: $0.00/month
Pro: $12.99/month
Bulk 100K: $129.00/month
Enterprise: Custom
Pros
Cons
Super fast and simple to use. Great for quick link shortening without setup hell.
Free users get very limited analytics and customization.
No mandatory signup for basic use. Just paste a URL and go.
Less suited for advanced campaign tracking compared to full-fledged tools.
Links can remain active for a long time (with no forced expiration), so you’re not chasing dead links.
The interface and workflows can feel basic if you’re used to more polished platforms.
In short: For anyone who cares more about speed and simplicity than deep analytics or agency-level workflows, TinyURL is a preferred choice. It lets you shorten a link in seconds, share it, and move on. Of course, if you’re managing heavy-duty campaigns or need detailed insights, you might eventually shift to a tool with more layers. But for everyday link-sharing, on-the-fly shortening, or minimal-setup use, TinyURL just works, and works easily.
Rebrandly – Best for generating branded & personalized links
Here’s the deal: when you want to share a link that actually looks like your brand and not some random shortener domain, Rebrandly comes through. It helps you turn long or messy URLs into branded, customized short links using your own custom domain name.
After Google announced the shutdown of its tool, Rebrandly stepped in as a top-tier alternative for anyone who cares about their brand identity in every link.
Key features
Use your own custom domain (e.g., yourbrand.co) with Rebrandly, so links reflect your identity and build trust.
Advanced analytics and tracking for clicks, geography, devices, and campaign performance.
Easily change where the link points even after it’s live (handy for redirecting or fixing errors).
Bulk link creation & management tools for scaling across campaigns, teams, and clients.
Hassle-free integration with workspaces, team collaboration, and API access for automation.
Pricing plans
Free: $0/month
Essentials: $14/month
Professional: $39/month
Growth: $119/month
Enterprise: Get a quote
Pros
Cons
Let’s you build fully branded short links. Great for identity and trust.
For small users, the free plan’s limits may feel tight.
Strong team & domain management features. Works well for agencies or multi-brand.
The interface has many features, which may feel confusing for basic users.
Reliable integrations and API support for automating link workflows.
Reports of slower support response or domain setup issues.
In short: If your goal is to share links that look professional, match your brand, and provide you insight into how they perform, then Rebrandly ticks all the right boxes. It might be more than what a casual user needs, but for marketers, agencies, or businesses that care about every link, it’s a worthwhile pick. If you’re just looking to shorten a link now and then without any trouble, you might prefer something simpler. However, when branding and control matter, Rebrandly surely stands out.
Short.io – Best for enterprise use & custom branding
Here’s another tool worth knowing at present. Short.io helps you create short links that don’t just shrink URLs, they carry your brand, your domain, and your story.
With the old Goo.gl no longer available, Short.io takes the center stage by offering advanced capabilities (custom domains, detailed analytics, team workflows) that go beyond basic shortening and make it worthy of enterprise-level use.
Key features
Branded & multiple custom domains: Shorten links using your own domains (and many of them) for consistent brand identity.
Real-time detailed analytics: See click streams, referrers, devices, geolocation, and more.
Team & enterprise workflows: Roles, access controls, bulk operations, API integration, deep links, geo-targeting, from one single place.
Affordable rates: Generous free tier and strong value-pricing for scaling teams.
Pricing plans
Free: $0/month
Hobby: $5/month
Pro: $18/month
Team: $48/month
Enterprise: $148/month
Pros
Cons
Offers strong custom-domain support and link-branding at enterprise scale.
The dashboard and feature set can feel intimidating for first-time users.
Strong analytics and targeting features that suit businesses.
Some users note that data export or UI could be improved.
Good value for companies needing custom domains, bulk operations, and API access.
Onboarding custom domains may require technical setup that non-technical users may find tricky.
In short: Short.io is a brilliant choice for businesses, agencies, or teams that need branding, control, analytics, and scale. If your goal is to build branded links across multiple domains, track campaigns in detail, collaborate with a team, and lean on automation, Short.io hits the mark. For simpler needs, it might feel overdesigned, but for professional or enterprise use, it’s very much worth a look.
Dub.co – Best for modern features & automation
Dub.co is a fresh option worth your time. It is a modern link-management platform that not only helps you shorten a link, but does so with advanced automation, rich analytics, and even open-source underpinnings.
Dub.co arrives as a compelling Google URL shortener alternative for anyone who needs more than just a simple short link. Whether you’re tracking funnels, automating redirects, or managing branded domains, this innovative tool won’t disappoint.
Key features
Custom domain support + free .link domain promotion so that you can create branded short links with your own identity.
Device & geo-targeting, link expiration, password protection, link cloaking, and UTM builder—all built into the link creation workflow.
Real-time analytics with device, browser, and location details.
Longer retention on paid plans, ideal for funnel and campaign tracking.
Open-source option + API/SDK access. You can self-host if you prefer, or integrate deeply with your existing tech stack.
Pricing plans
Free: $0 (free forever)
Pro: $30/month
Business: $90/month
Advanced: $300/month
Enterprise: Custom
Pros
Cons
The design and user experience are very modern. Link creation and analytics feel intuitive and up to date.
The pricing has changed significantly in recent times. Free tiers or older plans were quite cheaper.
Excellent for automation and integration: APIs, SDKs, device/geo targeting make it strong for advanced use.
Some enterprise-grade features (e.g., self-hosting or ultra-large volume) require more setup or technical know-how.
Good value for custom domains + branded short links + analytics in one place.
Visibility into long-term system reliability is still somewhat limited (e.g., fewer historical incident reports).
In short: If your needs go beyond simply shrinking a URL, and you’re looking at links as part of a marketing funnel, or brand identity, then Dub.co is seriously worth considering. It strikes a good balance between power and usability. You get strong analytics, custom domains, and automation features — all under one roof.
BL.INK – Best for businesses of all sizes
The tool formerly known just as a URL shortener has grown up, and that’s exactly the story of BL.INK. It’s designed to help you shorten long URLs into crisp, branded links and manage them seamlessly. You can also track clicks, integrate it with your tools, and scale as your business grows.
In the post Goo.gl era, BL.INK steps in as a full-fledged alternative. You get the simplicity of link-shortening with the power marketers need for campaign control, analytics, and brand consistency.
Key features
Branded links & custom domains: You can create links that reflect your brand identity, making them look professional and trustworthy.
Editable link destinations & unlimited redirects: Change where a link points even after it’s live, without losing historical performance data.
Real-time tracking & click data: Track clicks by using different metrics, helping you understand how your links perform under various scenarios.
Rich integrations & security: Works with many enterprise tools, supports custom domains, and offers strong data protection and compliance.
Pricing plans
Expert+: $48/month
SMB: $99/month
Team: $299/month
Business: $599/month
Enterprise: Custom
Pros
Cons
Strong branding and trust-building features at hand.
Some users may find the minimum paid tier higher than simpler alternatives.
Enterprise-grade link management: Offers auditing, governance, link-editability, and complete user control.
Because of its scale, the interface may feel more complex to beginners.
Excellent integrations: Works well with marketing tools, QR codes, custom domains, and link-campaign systems.
Some features (e.g., full API access, advanced domains) may only unlock at higher tiers.
In short: Whether you’re a startup, a growing business, or a large enterprise, BL.INK offers the kind of link-shortening plus link-management you’d want when your links carry your brand and support your campaigns. If you’re treating links as touchpoints and not just as URLs, then this platform makes good sense. For casual or one-off link shortening, you might not need all its depth, but if you’re serious about branding, analytics, and scale, BL.INK is a very sensible option.
T2M – Best for large-scale management
Here’s a strategic tool if your team deals with hundreds or thousands of links every day. T2M URL shortener is built to handle serious link volume, bulk operations, and branded short links with analytics, making it a strong alternative now that Goo.gl is out of the picture.
It helps you shorten long URLs, track every click, brand your domains, and coordinate link workflows across a team or enterprise with ease.
Key features
Branded/custom short URLs and custom domains for full brand consistency.
Bulk link creation, CSV import/export, and high-volume redirects to streamline large campaigns.
Detailed analytics (geo, device, campaign tags), UTM builder, link expiration, password protection, and QR code support.
API access, team seats, SSO, and enterprise-grade features for management across users and brands.
Pricing plans
Basic: $5/lifetime (for individuals)
Standard: $9.99/month (for individuals)
Pro: $29.99/month (for individuals)
Essentials: $45/month (for business)
Premium: $89.99/month (for individuals)
Teams: $165/month (for business)
Enterprise: $395/month (for business)
Dedicated: $$$/month (for business)
Pros
Cons
Exceptional value for teams needing branded links + analytics + bulk workflows.
Some of the highest-end features may only be cost-justified for very high-volume use.
Highly scalable: Good for firms managing thousands of links, domains, or campaigns.
The interface can feel a bit rampant if you only need basic shortening.
Excellent support and reliability according to user reviews.
In short: For businesses that treat links as more than just shareable URLs, and instead as branded assets, campaign tools, and analytics drivers, T2M is a very reliable choice. It handles scale, customization, and tracking much better than simple free URL shorteners. When you’re managing large-scale link operations, or multiple brands or domains, T2M steps up for you like a star.
If you’re someone who is looking to turn every shared link into a chance to engage your audience, Sniply might just be your best friend. At its core, it is just a URL shortener (yes, like many others), but with a plot twist. It allows you to embed a custom call-to-action (CTA) inside every link you share.
So instead of simply redirecting someone from a link to a destination, you can overlay a message, button, or form that drives your own conversion goals. Because of that, it works as a strong alternative to the classic Google URL shortener-style tools. With this tool, you’re not just shortening links, you’re turning each link into a branded opportunity, not just a redirect.
Key features
Custom URL shortener with your own domain or branded shortlinks.
Overlay a CTA (button, form, image, hidden message) on any link you share, even third-party content.
Track clicks, conversions, time on page, device data, etc.
A/B testing of CTAs to optimize performance over time.
Works well with known tools like Buffer, Hootsuite, Zapier, etc.
Retargeting pixel support so you can build audiences from who clicked your links.
Pricing plans
Basic: $9/month
Pro: $29/month
Business: $59/month
Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros
Cons
Lets you monetize or capture value from links you share (not just shorten them).
Pricing is higher compared to other simple URL-shorteners available online.
Strong branding control (custom domains, CTA design).
Some advanced features may have a learning curve for beginners.
Deep analytics + conversion tracking gives insight beyond “just clicks”.
In short: Sniply is a clever tool if you regularly share links, and want to do more than just redirect someone. It’s not just a “make it shorter” tool; it’s a “make it work for you” tool. Every link becomes a mini conversion funnel. If you’re building an audience, sharing often, and care about capturing value from each click, then Sniply is absolutely worth a look. It is friendly, powerful, and a bit more marketing-focused than the standard link shorteners.
Hopp.co – Best for monetization
Hopp by Wix is a modern “link in bio” tool that lets creators, influencers, and small businesses turn a single profile link into a mini-hub of content. You can shorten URLs, brand them, embed multiple links, track performance, and even monetize traffic with features like pre-rolls and tip jars.
Because it gives you more control than many of the finest URL shorteners (such as the now-retired Google URL shortener), it can act as a viable alternative. You’re not just shortening links, you’re managing them, monetizing them, and building a branded destination.
Key features
Link shortening & custom aliases: Convert long URLs into shorter, more memorable ones and align them with your brand.
Searchable link hub: Each link you add is indexed in your Hopp page, so followers can type keywords and find precisely what they need.
Monetization tools: From tip jars, paid DMs, paid requests, to pre-rolls that display before a click. Hopp turns your traffic into revenue.
Landing page / Instant page builder: Create mobile-friendly landing pages tied to a link-in-bio hub, for campaigns or product launches.
Analytics & tracking: Understand clicks, visitor behavior, and traffic sources all within the tool.
Seamless brand integration: Built by Wix, you can integrate with custom domains, Wix CRM, embed blocks (videos, forms), and keep everything on-brand.
Pricing plans
Light: $17/month
Core: $29/month
Business: $39/month
Business Elite: $159/month
Pros
Cons
You can monetize your links directly. A step beyond most standard URL shorteners.
The UI and workflow might take a few minutes to get used to if you’re only familiar with basic link shorteners.
The searchable link-hub gives your audience more efficient access to specific content (rather than a long list of links).
Seamless integration with your brand: custom domain, design, embed blocks, and ties in with Wix ecosystem if you use it.
In short: If you’re serious about turning clicks into something meaningful, say affiliate revenue, product sales, engagement, or building a micro-destination for your followers, then Hopp by Wix is a wise choice. It offers the URL shortening you need, plus monetization, analytics, branding, and landing-page features that most simple shorteners leave out.
Some other URL shorteners you can try
Here are some additional URL shorteners you can explore, each with its own specialty and use case:
URL shortener by Zapier: Best for automation & workflow integration
This built-in tool in Zapier lets you automatically shorten links as part of your “Zap” workflows, so long URLs can be trimmed and sent on without manual intervention.
Firebase Dynamic Links: Best for app deep‐linking & mobile campaigns
Originally the successor to Google’s shortener, Firebase Dynamic Links are ideal when you want links that behave differently on mobile apps vs the web.
Ow.ly: Best for social media posts via Hootsuite
Integrated within Hootsuite, Ow.ly creates short links directly while you schedule or publish social posts. Quite handy if you already use that platform.
Cuttly: Best for branded links + analytics for creators
Cuttly offers custom domains, detailed click stats, QR codes, and even “link in bio” pages. Good for creators, small businesses, or anyone who wants more visual/tracking power.
Tiny.cc: Best for fast & straightforward link shortening
If you just need to shorten a URL quickly without many extras, Tiny.cc offers a streamlined option (though you’ll want to check current analytics/branding support).
Linkly: Best for marketing & retargeting use cases
Linkly supports custom domains, retargeting pixels, device/geo-redirects, and link tracking. Well-suited tool for marketers who want to tie links into ad/retarget flows.
GoLinks: Best for internal team/organization use
GoLinks are geared toward companies that share internal tools/resources with short, memorable links within a domain. Less about public marketing, more about internal workflows.
is.gd: Best for ultra-simple, no-frills shortening
A minimal option when you just want to shorten a link fast and move on, without needing tracking dashboards, branding, or integrations.
With the original Goo.gl links now unsuitable, picking a link shortener that fits how you use links is the key. No matter if you’re posting on social, tracking campaigns, branding links, or managing internally. Each of the tools above offers a different focus, so you can pick one (or more) that match your workflow and budget.
Selection criteria for URL shorteners
Before stepping into the many tools out there, it’s worth thinking through what really matters when picking a URL shortener. Below are some key factors you should evaluate so you choose a tool that fits your workflow, not just one that “works.”
Core functionality: At the most basic level, the shortener must reliably convert long links into shorter ones with proper redirects (ideally 301 redirects) and minimal downtime.
Additional standout features: Beyond basic shortening, look for custom branded domains, deep linking, mobile targeting, UTM tracking, and analytics. These features uplift a link shortener from “just short links” to a marketing tool.
Usability: A clean, intuitive interface matters. If you spend more time figuring out how to shorten links than actually sharing them, your chosen tool will slow you down, not help you.
Onboarding: What’s it like to get started? The best tools offer easy setup (domain linking, link creation) and precise documentation. If you’re stuck in configuration for hours, that’s a negative.
Customer support: When something goes wrong, e.g., links stop redirecting or analytics disappear, then you’ll want responsive support. Good tool providers offer live chat, email help, and documentation to guide you.
Value for money: Check how many links, domains, clicks, and features you get for your budget. A “cheap” shortener might cost less, but if it lacks features or caps your usage harshly, it’s not a good choice. You could end up paying more in lost time or upgrading sooner than expected.
Customer reviews: Look beyond the marketing. Read user reviews and case studies to see how the tool performs in real life. Do people complain about downtime, confusing UI, or hidden costs? That’s just as important as the specification sheet.
Why should you use a link shortening tool?
Using a link-shortening tool isn’t just about making long URLs look nicer; it’s about smarter sharing, stronger branding, and better data. Short links are cleaner, easier to remember, and more reliable when pasted into chats, printed on materials, or squeezed into social posts.
Additionally, these tools give you built-in analytics (clicks, location, device), UTM support, and even custom domains, so every link becomes a measurable and brandable asset rather than just a bare URL.
All in all, if you share lots of links, care about how they appear, or want to see how they perform, investing in a good URL shortener is a smart move.
Summing Up
Selecting the right URL shortener really comes down to what you need most: simplicity, branding, analytics, or scalability. Each tool we discussed has its own strengths, but the goal remains the same: making your links look cleaner, perform better, and drive real results.
No matter if you’re a marketer, creator, or business owner, a solid link shortener tool can easily level up your online presence. And hey, if you want an all-in-one solution with branded links, analytics, and retargeting, give Replug a must-try. It’s easily the best Google URL shortener alternative out there!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is link shortening or URL shortening?
Link shortening (or URL shortening) is a technique that converts a long web address into a shorter version that still redirects to the same destination. It’s especially helpful for making links easier to share, remember, and track without changing where they land.
What is the best alternative for Google URL shortener?
Since Google URL Shortener (goo.gl) no longer accepts new links, modern tools like Replug with strong branding, analytics, and reliability are widely recommended as the best alternative.
Is Google URL shortener no longer available?
Yes, Google stopped accepting new goo.gl links in April 2018 and officially discontinued the service for new users in 2019. Existing links also stopped working for most users after August 25, 2025.
What is the most trusted URL shortener?
Replug is regarded by many in 2025 as the most trusted URL shortener. Thanks to its long history, enterprise-grade infrastructure and reliable service.
Which one is the best free URL shortener?
For free link-shortening without needing an account, Replug and TinyURL stand out as simple, no-fuss best URL shortener options that have been around for years and are trustworthy.
It’s no surprise that marketers, influencers, and bloggers use all sorts of tools, software, and plugins that improve their content reach, engagement, and conversion.
One such essential tool is a URL shortener that trims down long URLs into shorter, more manageable links. Undoubtedly, short URLs have become a crucial part of the modern-day digital marketing ecosystem.
The purpose of a URL shortener is to shorten the link, thus making it much easier for users to share, publish, and analyze the URL. However, if you’re curious about how URL shorteners work, then this blog is going to reveal the process for you.
The technology behind URL shorteners
Before moving onto the step-by-step process, it’s essential to understand both the URL structure and the underlying system that makes this link shortening possible.
Technical architecture of a link shortener
Link shortening is the process of converting a long, complex URL into a shorter, more concise version without altering its destination.
A link shortener relies on a streamlined architecture comprising four main components that work together to create, store, and redirect URLs.
At a glance:
User interface (UI): The front end where users paste long URLs and receive short links.
Backend server: Validates input, generates short codes, stores mappings, and manages redirects.
Database: Stores long-to-short URL mappings and ensures fast retrieval. Often built with scalable systems like MySQL or MongoDB.
Integration: Ensures smooth communication between UI, backend, and database for quick link creation and reliable redirection.
How does a URL shortener work: Replug’s process defined
Behind the scenes, URL shortening follows a simple workflow:
1. Entering the URL: You start by submitting a long link into a URL shortener, either through its website or application.
2. Creating a Short Code: The tool then generates a unique, shortened code or identifier, usually a mix of letters and numbers, like replug.link/15a6b0ad.
Note: The first part of the short URL (e.g., replug.link) serves as the default short domain. Brands can also configure a custom short domain for branding purposes.
3. Saving the Mapping: This short code is saved in the service’s database, where it’s linked to the full, original URL you entered.
4. Handling Click Requests: When someone clicks on the shortened link, the server recognizes the short code and processes the request.
5. Redirecting to the Original Page: The system looks up the original URL associated with the short code and issues an HTTP redirect, guiding the user’s browser to the intended destination.
Replug – the best URL shortener in 2025
Replug is more than a URL shortener; it’s a complete link management tool. It helps brands create branded short links, track performance, and retarget audiences for higher engagement.
Here are some reasons to consider this top-notch platform.
Branded link customization
Replug provides rich customization options. You can use your custom domain to create branded short links that match your brand’s identity. This adds a professional touch to your links and enhances brand recognition.
Centralized link management
Categorize, tag, and search links to ensure nothing gets lost in the clutter. Add expiry dates, link previews, and password-protect your links.
Advanced link analytics
Replug doesn’t just shorten links; it gives you actionable insights. Its analytics let you track the number of clicks, user locations, devices, and referral sources. With this data, marketers can measure performance, identify top-performing campaigns, and fine-tune strategies for better ROI.
Campaign tracking with UTM parameters
For advanced campaign tracking, Replug allows you to add UTM parameters directly to your links. Whether it’s email, social media, or paid ads, these tags help you analyze traffic correctly and understand which channels deliver the best results.
QR code generator for easy sharing
Replug automatically generates QR codes for your short links, bridging the gap between the offline and online worlds. Businesses can add QR codes to posters, brochures, packaging, or event materials, making it effortless for customers to scan and access digital content instantly.
Smart dynamic link rotation
Replug supports intelligent link rotation, enabling a single link to direct users to different landing pages based on conditions such as location, device, or time. This is especially useful for A/B testing, regional campaigns, or time-sensitive offers, helping marketers maximize conversions.
Retargeting with every click
Replug takes short links to the next level with retargeting. Easily integrate retargeting pixel codes directly in your links to track clicks & conversions from the Replug dashboard.
Privacy and security
Replug prioritizes data safety. With strong privacy controls and secure link handling, you can confidently manage campaigns without worrying about unauthorized access or data leaks.
On top of these features, Replug offers flexible pricing plans that cater to individuals, small businesses, and large enterprises, making it a scalable choice for anyone serious about link management.
Additional: Using a website link checker can help verify the safety of shortened URLs before clicking.
Common use cases of URL shortening
URL shorteners have moved far beyond just making links look tidy. Today, they play a vital role in marketing, web development, and content distribution.
Here are some of the most common use cases where shortened links add real value:
Implementing URL shortening in web development
This is considered one of the most common yet practical technical aspects of URL shorteners. Implementing URL shortening in your well-built web application can enhance user experience, improve click-through rates, and provide valuable analytics.
Using shortened links in advertising campaigns
In paid advertising, every character counts, and messy links can discourage clicks. Shortened URLs keep ad copy clear and attractive while maximizing space in search ads, display banners, and sponsored posts.
More importantly, advertisers can attach tracking parameters to short links, enabling them to monitor impressions, clicks, and conversions associated with specific campaigns. This allows for better performance measurement and smarter budget allocation, making shortened URLs a must-have for digital advertising.
Shortened URLs for SMS and email campaigns
SMS messages have strict character limits, and long links can look disorganized or even break in transmission.
Similarly, in email campaigns, shorter links look more professional and trustworthy. Marketers use URL shorteners to make links more compact while tracking engagement metrics like open rates and click-through rates.
Blog post short links for sharing
For bloggers, short links make content easier to distribute across multiple platforms. Instead of relying on long, cluttered URLs, they can generate short links for each new post, either manually or through automation when publishing.
Readers can then share these links seamlessly on social media or messaging platforms. Shortened blog links also enable bloggers to track engagement, providing them with valuable insights into which posts resonate most with their audience.
Link cloaking for affiliate links
Affiliate marketers often use link cloaking to make long and complex affiliate URLs look cleaner and more trustworthy. Cloaking replaces the messy affiliate link with a short, branded URL that encourages more clicks while reducing the risk of link hijacking.
It also helps maintain consistency in marketing campaigns and provides accurate tracking for conversions and commissions.
Short URL integration in social media scheduling tools
Social media scheduling tools often integrate URL shorteners to simplify the posting process. When marketers schedule posts, the tool automatically shortens long links, keeping the captions clean and concise.
Beyond aesthetics, this integration offers built-in tracking, allowing users to measure clicks and engagement across various platforms. This automation saves time and ensures that every link shared is both manageable and trackable, without requiring any extra manual effort.
Summing Up
URL shorteners have become essential tools for digital marketers, providing cleaner links, enhanced tracking, and a better user experience. By understanding how they work and the technology behind them, marketers can make more intelligent choices for their campaigns.
Whether you’re sharing links on social media, in emails, or through ads, using a reliable link shortening platform ensures professionalism, performance, and measurable results.
Start optimizing your links today with a trusted solution like Replug!
Frequently asked questions
How do you shorten a URL?
Follow these steps:
1. Choose a URL shortener – Start by selecting a reliable tool like Replug. 2. Paste your long URL – Copy the link you want to shorten and paste it into the input field on the tool’s website. 3. Click the ‘Shorten’ button – The tool will process your link. 4. Copy your short URL – Once generated, copy the new, shorter link and use it wherever you need.
Which URL shortener is popular?
Some of the most popular URL shorteners right now are:
Replug — widely used, good analytics, custom/vanity links. TinyURL — one of the oldest tools; simple and reliable. Rebrandly — great for branded URLs and business/team use.
Do URL shorteners affect SEO?
URL shorteners do not negatively affect SEO as long as they use 301 redirects, which pass most of the link equity to the destination URL. Search engines treat these shortened links like regular links when properly implemented.
Does Google prefer short URLs?
Yes, Google generally prefers short, clean URLs because they are easier to read, understand, and share. While URL length is not a major ranking factor, shorter URLs often perform better in terms of user experience and click-through rates, which can indirectly benefit SEO.
Ever wished for shorter, catchier, and on-brand links? Look no further. Branded Short Domains do just that. They take your long website links and turn them into compact, branded short links that pack a punch.
In this guide, we’ll reveal the secrets behind branded domains – what they are, why they matter, and how you can effortlessly get started. Let’s dive in and revolutionize your online presence, one link at a time.
What is a branded short domain?
A branded short domain is a customized and concise web address created from your domain name, designed to strengthen your brand’s identity in online communications.
In short, a branded domain is a way to transform long URLs into branded, memorable, and impactful short links that resonate with your audience.
Branded short link vs. branded short domain: What’s the difference?
Both branded short links and branded short domains provide more customized and memorable URLs compared to long, generic ones, the main distinction lies in whether you’re customizing the link portion only (branded short link) or also customizing the domain part (branded domain) to align with your brand’s identity.
Branded short domains offer a higher level of branding and control, but they require additional setup and configuration compared to branded short links.
Maximize marketing ROI
by transforming ordinary URLs into branded short links that convert.
Try Replug for free
How to set up a branded short domain?
With Replug, you can now transform your URLs into branded short domains, seamlessly integrating your brand identity into every interaction. Say goodbye to generic links and hello to a more memorable and trustworthy online presence with this top-notch, all-in-one link optimization platform.
Let’s dive in and take your brand to the next level of link engagement with this reliable link shortener.
Set up the branded short domain using Replug:
Step no 01: Access the Replug Home, navigate to “Settings,” and select “Custom Domains” from the dropdown menu.
Step no 02: Click on “Add Domain” to add your custom domain for creating branded links.
Step no 03: Enter your Domain URL, set up Custom 404 redirection, and define the Branded Domain. Click “Connect” to proceed.
Domain URL: Your branded or custom domain.
404 Redirect URL: Where users land on 404 pages.
Branded Domain: Redirects users to the specified URL when they visit the root address of your brand’s domain.
Step no 04: To finalize the setup, you need to configure DNS records in your domain registrar’s settings. You have two options:
CNAME (Canonical Name) Record: Point it to “rplg.co” and set HOST as “@” or “www.”
A (Address) Record: Use the IP address “35.238.70.19” to point your root URL to the URL shortener.
For subdomains, such as “links.yourdomain.com” or “track.yourdomain.com,” use CNAME and A records accordingly.
Step no 05: After connecting your domain, Replug shows its status. You can also edit or delete custom domains as needed.
For detailed DNS setup instructions, Replug provides links to various domain registrars’ documentation, including Amazon Web Services, Namecheap, Cloudflare, cPanel, and HostGator.
Feel free to reach out to Replug’s support team if you have any questions or need assistance.
A complete link management solution
for marketing professionals & agencies.
Try Replug for free
Why do you need to use a branded short domain?
Using a branded short domain offers several valuable benefits for individuals and businesses alike:
Enhanced brand identity: Branded domains allow you to incorporate your brand name or a related keyword directly into your shortened links. This reinforces your brand identity with every link you share, making your content more recognizable and memorable to your audience.
Consistent branding: Branded domains maintain a consistent brand presence across all online interactions. Whether it’s in social media posts, emails, or marketing campaigns, your audience sees your brand name prominently displayed in the links you share.
Improved click-through rates: Branded short domains are more visually appealing and professional-looking. This can lead to higher click-through rates as users are more likely to click on links that appear trustworthy and associated with a familiar brand.
Analytics and insights: Many branded short-domain services provide detailed analytics about link performance. You can gain insights into click rates, geographic locations of clicks, devices used, and more. This data helps you optimize your link-sharing strategies.
Flexibility and control: With a branded domain, you have the flexibility to customize your links based on different campaigns, promotions, or content types. You can also easily update or change the destination URLs without affecting the branding.
SEO benefits: Branded short domains may contribute to boosting overall domain authority. As these links are associated with your main domain, they can potentially provide a small SEO advantage.
Professionalism: Branded domains create a more professional image for your brand. Instead of using generic shortening services, you present your audience with tailored, branded links that reflect your commitment to quality.
FAQs on branded short domain
Why should I use a branded short domain?
Using a branded short domain reinforces your brand identity, increases link trustworthiness, and maintains consistent branding in your online communications. It also improves click-through rates and provides analytics insights.
Do I need technical skills to set up a branded domain?
While some technical knowledge might be helpful, many branded short-domain services offer user-friendly setup processes. They typically provide instructions for configuring DNS records to link your domain with the shortening service.
Can I still use a short domain if I don’t have a website?
Yes, you can still use a branded short domain even if you don’t have a website. You can set up a subdomain for this purpose, such as “links.yourdomain.com,” and link it to the shortening service.
Can I track the performance of branded short links?
Yes, most branded short-domain services offer analytics and tracking features. You can monitor click rates, locations of clicks, devices used, and more to assess the effectiveness of your links.
Are there any SEO benefits to using a branded domain?
While the direct impact is limited, using branded short domains can potentially contribute to boosting your domain authority. The links are associated with your main domain, which could have a small positive effect on SEO.
Get ready for an exciting showdown as we compare two of the top link management tools: Replug vs. Pretty Links!
At first glance, you might assume these are two entirely different types of software.
Replug excels across various platforms—supporting websites, blogs, social media, email marketing, advertising networks, and more. On the other hand, Pretty Links is primarily tailored for WordPress users.
However, both tools share a wealth of features, including link cloaking, split testing for URLs, custom slugs, and affiliate link analytics.
Each tool offers unique strengths to cater to diverse user needs and preferences. So, get ready to discover why Replug is the best Pretty Links alternative.
In this article, we’ll dissect the strengths and weaknesses of both tools, ultimately determining which one deserves the title of best link management solution!
What is Replug? Replug.io is an all-star link management tool packed with top features such as branded link shortening, bio links, link analytics, traffic routing, QR codes, retargeting pixels, deep linking, and much more.
What is Pretty Links? Pretty Links is a WordPress plugin, mainly designed for affiliate marketers allowing them to create clean, branded URLs.
Don’t have time for a detailed comparsion? Don’t worry here’s a quick run-down just for you!
Feature
Replug
Pretty Links
User interface & ease of use
Modern, intuitive, clean dashboard, drag-and-drop features
Integrates with various platforms (email, social, CRM)
Limited to WordPress ecosystem and plugins
Pricing
Basic: $19/mo Professional: $49/mo Agency: $79/mo (20% off on annual plans)
Beginner: $99.50/year; Marketer: $149.60/year; Super Affiliate: $199.60/year
Free plan
No
No
Pros
Limited to WordPress Can be costly for small or mid-tier businesses
Adapts to various needs offers diverse integrations, provides value for money
Cons
No free plan (yet!)
SEO-friendly, Mainly for WordPress users
Reviews
Handy Link Management Tool with URL shortener and more.
Limited to WordPress, Can be costly for small or mid-tier businesses.
Quick verdict: Replug offers extensive features for marketers and businesses, ideal for those seeking detailed link tracking, advanced routing, and customizable CTAs.
Detailed feature comparison: Replug vs. Pretty Links
Regarding managing and optimizing URLs for marketing, both Replug and Pretty Links are popular tools offering various features. We’ll do a one-on-one comparison so you can choose the one that suits your needs.
1. User interface & ease of use
Replug:
Design: Replug offers a modern and intuitive interface. The dashboard (Called Home) is clean, with easy navigation and a clear overview of all your campaigns.
User experience: The platform’s straightforward design and helpful tutorials make it quickly learnable for new users. The quick actions functionality enhances ease of use, particularly when creating campaigns.
Pretty Links:
Design: Pretty Links has a functional but slightly less modern interface. It integrates into the WordPress dashboard, which may be familiar to WordPress users but can be overwhelming for beginners.
User experience: While it provides extensive functionalities, the learning curve may be steeper for those who need to get used to WordPress plugins. Users often appreciate the vast options available but may find navigation less intuitive.
Winner Replug stands out as the winner due to its modern, intuitive interface and ease of use, making it accessible for beginners and efficient for managing campaigns.
Boost ROI with branded URLs!
Enhance your marketing campaigns by creating shareable, trackable, and fully multi-purpose
customizable branded URLs.
Shortening: Replug allows users to create short, branded links effortlessly with its innovative link shortener. Users can customize the link endings, making them memorable and relevant.
Features: Offers bulk URL shortening, link previews, CSV reports, password protection, link expiry, customize favicon, and the ability to set up auto-shortening for shared links.
Pretty Links:
Shortening: Pretty Links excels in URL shortening directly from the WordPress dashboard. It allows users to create clean, custom links easily.
Features: Offers detailed options for link customization, including tracking for each shortened link, which is ideal for WordPress users.
Winner While Pretty Links performs well within the WordPress ecosystem, Replug’s advanced customization options and functionalities make it a more comprehensive solution for URL shortening.
3. Affiliate cloaking
Replug:
Cloaking features: The platform supports link masking, which enhances aesthetics and improves click-through rates by making links appear more legitimate.
Pretty Links:
Cloaking features: Pretty Links is particularly strong in affiliate link cloaking, allowing users to create clean, branded links that hide the original affiliate URLs. This helps in preventing link hijacking and makes links more user-friendly and trustworthy.
Boost ROI with branded URLs!
Enhance your marketing campaigns by creating shareable, trackable, and fully multi-purpose
customizable branded URLs.
Winner Pretty Links, if creating dedicated affiliate links is your primary goal. As Replug offers a broad range of features alongside just affiliate link decloaking.
4. Link tracking
Replug:
Analytics dashboard: Provides comprehensive link analytics, including unique clicks, geographic data, and device information. Users can view real-time stats and historical performance data.
Link performance: This feature allows customers to filter the analytics by campaigns, links, and time to know which links perform best, helping users refine their marketing strategies.
Pretty Links:
Analytics dashboard: Offers just basic tracking features, showing analytics for pixel redirects. However, for advance analytics, one needs to integrate the tools with Google Analytics.
Winner Clearly Replug wins with its built-in, comprehensive analytics and real-time tracking.
5. Traffic routing
Replug:
Routing features: Replug allows users to route traffic based on specific criteria, such as geographic location or device type, enabling targeted marketing strategies.
Custom redirects: Users can set up custom redirects that enhance user experience by directing traffic to the most relevant pages.
Pretty Links:
Routing features: While Pretty Links primarily focuses on tracking and shortening, it also offers basic redirect capabilities but lacks advanced traffic routing features found in Replug.
Custom redirects: Offers options for permanent 301, temporary 302, and 307 redirects. However, the overall traffic routing is less sophisticated than that of Replug.
Winner Replug is the winner with its advanced traffic routing capabilities based on geographic location and device type, offering more precise targeting, whereas Pretty Links provides basic redirect options without the same level of customization.
Customization: Users can customize the foreground background colors and QR codes, which enhances brand visibility. You can also save the code in the format you require.
Track QR scans: QR Scans track how often users scan QR codes linked to specific URLs. Besides that, you can also monitor graphs in Analytics such as: “Clicks vs Unique Clicks vs QR Scans” for shortened links and “Views vs Unique Views vs Clicks” for bio-links.
Pretty Links:
QR code generation: The platform allows you to create QR codes for your links, but unlike Replug, you can neither customize the QR code nor save it in your required format.
Winner Replug takes the crown with its customizable QR codes, advanced tracking, and the option to save in any format.
7. Split testing
Replug:
A/B testing features: Replug offers top-notch A/B testing capabilities, allowing users to test different links or landing pages to optimize conversions.
Performance insights: Users can easily analyze the results of their tests through detailed reports and adjust strategies accordingly.
Pretty Links:
A/B testing features: Pretty Links lets you add up to 20 alternate URLs, and you can assign a “weight” to each one. However, a 50-50 split typically yields the best results.
Winner Pretty Links, if split testing links is your primary goal. Replug offers the split-testing feature as part of its broader functionality.
8. Customized CTAs
Replug:
CTA customization: Replug allows users to create customized calls-to-action (CTAs) that can be embedded within links or as standalone features. This helps in engaging users effectively and guiding them toward desired actions.
Flexibility: Users can create banners, exit-intent pop-ups, bridge pages, and scroll box CTAs to fit different marketing campaigns or target specific audiences, enhancing conversion rates.
Pretty Links:
CTA customization: With Pretty Links, you can enhance your affiliate links by adding Product Displays. This feature lets you showcase products and embed displays anywhere on your site.
Winner It’s challenging to declare a clear winner here, as both tools have their strengths. Replug shines with advanced CTA generation, including banners, pop-ups, and bridge pages, while Pretty Links focuses on product displays linked to URLs. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs.
9. Integration with other tools
Replug:
Integrations: Replug integrates seamlessly with various platforms, including email marketing tools, social media platforms, CRM systems, and advertising networks, enhancing its usability in diverse marketing strategies.
API Access: Offers API access for advanced users looking to integrate Replug with custom applications.
Pretty Links:
Integrations: Pretty Links primarily integrates within the WordPress ecosystem as a WordPress plugin. It works well with popular plugins and themes but may not offer as many external integrations as Replug.
Limited API: While it has some API capabilities, they are not as extensive as Replug’s.
10. Pricing plans
Replug provides three affordable pricing plans along with a 14-day free trial, making it ideal for affiliate marketers, agencies, and other marketers. In contrast, Pretty Links features tiered pricing that ranges from a basic plan for freelancers to more advanced options designed for agencies, depending on the features required.
Pretty Links
Beginner
Marketer
Super Affiliate
$99.60 / YEAR
$149.60 / YEAR
$199.60 / YEAR
Replug
Basic
Professional
Agency
$15 /mo Save 20 on yearly plans
$39 /mo Save 20 on yearly plans
$63 /mo Save 20 on yearly plans
A complete link management solution
for marketing professionals & agencies.
Try Replug for free
Some other points to look at
Free trial option
Security and scalability
Customization options
Customer support
Cost-effectiveness
Mobile app availability
Reviews and ratings
Our verdict
Both Pretty Links and Replug offer valuable features for managing and optimizing your links, but they cater to different needs.
Pretty Links is a fantastic option for those looking for a straightforward Link disguiser, while Replug – a top pretty links alternative is better suited for marketers and businesses that require more advanced features.
Your choice ultimately depends on your specific needs, budget, and level of expertise.
FAQs on Replug vs. Pretty Links
What are the key differences between Replug and Pretty Links?
Replug offers more advanced features like retargeting and CTA overlays, while Pretty Links focuses on simplicity and ease of use within the WordPress ecosystem.
Can I use both Replug and Pretty Links together?
Yes, you can use both tools together, especially if you want to leverage the strengths of each for different purposes.
Which tool is more cost-effective for small businesses?
Pretty Links is generally more cost-effective for small businesses.
Who wins the SEO battle?
Pretty Links can significantly enhance your SEO efforts by enabling you to efficiently manage and monitor your links. Climbing affiliate links and creating branded URLs can also improve your site’s credibility and click-through rates.
Replug’s advanced features, like retargeting and detailed analytics, can help you better understand your audience and optimize your SEO strategies. However, its complexity may be overkill for those just looking for basic SEO improvements.
Affiliate decloaking isn’t just a fancy term; it’s the key to building trust with your audience. Picture this: you’re browsing the web and stumble upon an intriguing link. But wait, where does it lead? That’s where decloaking comes in.
By lifting the veil on those affiliate links, you’re showing your audience you have nothing to hide. It’s about being upfront, honest, and, ultimately, more persuasive.
This guide will explore why affiliate decloaking matters and how it can supercharge your marketing efforts. So, let’s dive in!
All you should know about affiliate cloaking and decloaking
To understand the concept of decloaking in affiliate marketing, it’s crucial to first know its counterpart: affiliate cloaking. Both techniques revolve around manipulating URLs, but they have distinct purposes and outcomes.
What is affiliate cloaking?
Affiliate cloaking is when a marketer disguises or hides the actual destination URL of an affiliate link. Because affiliate links are created by sales commission tools, their destinations might seem weird. So, affiliate cloaking is like putting a mask on the link to make it look different from where it leads. People often do this to make links appear cleaner or to track clicks without revealing the true destination.
What is affiliate decloaking?
On the flip side, affiliate decloaking is the process of removing the disguise from a cloaked affiliate link to reveal its true destination URL. It’s all about transparency and honesty. Decloaking shows your audience exactly where they’ll end up if they click the link.
What’s the difference between the two?
Here’s a quick table to show you some major differences between cloaking and decloaking.
Aspect
Cloaking
Decloaking
Purpose
Hides the destination URL
Reveals the destination URL
Use
Aesthetic purposes, tracking, redirects
Transparency, building trust
Outcome
Link looks cleaner but conceals its target
Audience knows exactly where they’ll go
Impact on trust
May reduce trust if discovered
Increases trust and credibility
Understanding cloaking and decloaking in affiliate marketing
As we have stated before, Cloaking refers to hiding the true destination of an affiliate link from users. Marketers use this technique to conceal where a link leads by altering the URL or redirecting.
SEO/PPC affiliates might cloak links to hide non-compliant content from brands and avoid penalties. While cloaking may boost short-term results, it risks severe consequences like affiliate bans or legal issues if discovered.
Legal implications: Cloaking can have legal consequences, mainly if it violates regulations like the FTC’s affiliate disclosure rules. If cloaking is used to deceive consumers or hide affiliate relationships, marketers could face fines or other penalties.
Decloaking reverses cloaking to enhance link transparency and improve affiliate performance. Tools like BluePear’s decloaking service simulate real traffic from multiple IPs and countries, fully exposing landing pages, which builds trust and transparency in affiliate marketing.
A complete link management solution
for marketing professionals & agencies.
Try Replug for free
How does affiliate decloaking work?
Here’s how it typically works:
Identifying cloaked links:
First, you need to identify the cloaked affiliate links you want to decloak. These links often appear shortened or obfuscated, making it difficult to determine their true destination.
Extracting the destination URL:
Once you’ve identified a cloaked link, you’ll need to extract the destination URL hidden within it. This might involve using online tools or browser extensions designed to reveal the underlying URL of shortened or cloaked links.
Displaying the destination URL:
Once you’ve extracted the destination URL, you can then display it to your audience. This could be done by simply replacing the cloaked link with the revealed destination URL in your content or by providing additional information alongside the link to ensure transparency.
Ensuring transparency:
The key to effective affiliate decloaking is transparency. By revealing the true destination URL to your audience, you’re providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions about whether to click on the link.
Maintaining compliance:
It’s important to ensure that your decloaking practices comply with any relevant laws or regulations, as well as the terms of service of the affiliate programs you’re participating in. This may include obtaining consent from users before redirecting them to affiliate links and providing clear disclosures about your affiliate relationships.
A complete link management solution
for marketing professionals & agencies.
Try Replug for free
Why should affiliates decloak links?
Affiliates should decloak links for several important reasons:
Transparency and trust: Decloaking links promotes transparency by revealing the true destination URL to users. This honesty builds trust with the audience, as they know exactly where they’ll be directed when clicking on the link.
Credibility: Decloaking links enhance the credibility of the affiliate marketer. It demonstrates integrity and accountability, showing that the marketer is not trying to deceive or manipulate their audience.
Compliance: Decloaking ensures compliance with regulations and affiliate program terms. Some programs require affiliates to disclose their affiliate status and provide clear information about linked destinations.
User experience: Decloaking improves the user experience by providing clarity and reducing confusion. Users appreciate knowing where a link leads before clicking, which can lead to higher engagement and conversions.
Long-term success: Building trust and credibility through decloaking contributes to long-term success in affiliate marketing. It fosters positive relationships with the audience and encourages repeat visits and referrals.
A complete link management solution
for marketing professionals & agencies.
Try Replug for free
A practical examples of cloaking and decloaking in affiliate marketing
A fitness blogger named Sarah promotes a protein powder through her affiliate link. To make the link cleaner and more visually appealing, she cloaks it using a custom URL shortener, so instead of showing
it appears as
This is cloaking—it hides the original affiliate URL, making it look more professional while also allowing Sarah to track clicks.
Replug affiliate program: Unlock passive income opportunities
Are you ready to take your affiliate marketing efforts to the next level? Consider joining the Replug’s Affiliate Program to unlock passive income opportunities while promoting a powerful link management tool to your network.
Why Replug?
Replug offers a comprehensive link management solution designed to streamline your affiliate marketing efforts and maximize your conversions. With features like branded links, call-to-action overlays, and detailed analytics, Replug empowers marketers to optimize their links and drive more traffic to their affiliate offers.
Earn 30% recurring commissions
As a Replug affiliate partner, you’ll earn an impressive 30% recurring commission for every new customer you refer to Replug. This means you’ll continue to earn commissions for the lifetime of each customer you bring on board, providing you with a steady stream of passive income.
Easy sign-up and promotion
Getting started with the Replug Affiliate Program is quick and easy. Simply sign up for the program, receive your unique referral link, and start promoting Replug to your audience through various channels such as social media, email marketing, or your website. Monitor your progress and success directly from your affiliate dashboard.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to earn passive income while promoting a valuable tool to your audience. Join the Replug Affiliate Program today and start monetizing your affiliate marketing efforts like never before.
A complete link management solution
for marketing professionals & agencies.
Try Replug for free
FAQs on affiliate decloaking
Is affiliate cloaking legal?
While affiliate cloaking itself is not illegal, its ethical implications depend on how it’s used. Cloaking with the intent to deceive or manipulate users can violate laws and regulations, as well as the terms of service of affiliate programs.
What are the risks of using cloaked affiliate links?
Risks associated with cloaked affiliate links include reduced trust and credibility with your audience, potential violations of affiliate program terms, and penalties from search engines if detected.
How can I decloak affiliate links?
Various methods exist to decloak affiliate links, including using online tools or browser extensions designed to reveal the underlying URL of shortened or cloaked links.
Do I need to decloak all my affiliate links?
While it’s not mandatory, decloaking all your affiliate links can help establish transparency and trust with your audience. Consider decloaking links where transparency is crucial or required by regulations or affiliate program terms.
Steam is a digital distribution service developed by Valve. It was launched in September 2003 as a way for Valve to provide automatic updates for its games and quickly expanded to include other games and software. Steam has become the most prominent digital distribution platform for PC games, with over 100 million active users.
In addition to its huge game library, Steam provides features like community forums, game reviews, and in-game purchases. But with the growing need to share content, URL shortening is key for promoting game links, trailers, and community posts on social media.
For example, if you’re sharing a lengthy Steam game URL on social media, using a smart link hub like Replug.io can make the link more presentable and manageable. Shortened URLs are ideal for platforms like Twitter (X), where character count matters.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Steam URLs and how to effortlessly share them on social media. Let’s dive in!
Steam offers a variety of features, including:
A library of over 50,000 games
Automatic updates for games
The ability to chat with friends and other players
The ability to create and join communities
The ability to purchase games and other software
The ability to stream games
Steam is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
What is my steam profile URL?
A Steam URL is a unique identifier for a Steam user or game. It is a string of letters and numbers used to access the user’s profile or the game’s store page on the Steam website.
How to find Steam URL?
To find your Steam URL, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Steam client.
Step 2: Click on your profile name in the top right corner.
Step 3: Select “View profile” from the drop-down menu.
Step 4: Your Steam URL will be displayed in the URL bar at the top of the page.
Your Steam URL is a unique identifier that can be used to find your profile on Steam. It is also used to create links to your profile, such as when you want to share it with friends.
Your Steam ID is a unique number that is assigned to your account. It can be found in the “Account Details” section of your profile.
Shortening your Steam URL for social sharing means making long web addresses shorter, making them easier to share on social media. This simplifies sharing, looks better, and often comes with tracking features. It increases click-through rates, works offline too, and can even subtly promote your brand.
How to shorten your Steam URL?
Step no 01: Begin by signing in to your Replug account, or if you’re new, create a free account.
Step no 02: In the “Shorten your link” bar at the upper left corner, paste your Steam URL.
Step no 03: Once redirected, you can add a link preview, set an expiry date, and customize the link settings to your liking.
Step no 04: On this page, locate the top bar where you can edit the link slug to match your preference.
Step no 05: Press the tick button, scroll down, and save your newly shortened link. You’re all set!
Replug offers robust link tracking and analytics features. You can monitor the performance of your shortened links in real time. You can gain insights into the number of clicks, geographic locations of users, referring sources, and more.
This data empowers you to refine your strategies, tailor your content to your audience, and make informed decisions to optimize your link management efforts.
Maximize marketing ROI
by transforming ordinary URLs into branded short links that convert.
Try Replug for free
To create a Steam account, visit the official Steam website and click on the “Join Steam” or “Install Steam” button. Follow the prompts to set up your account.
Can I play games on Steam without purchasing them?
While many games on Steam are paid, the platform also offers free-to-play games that you can enjoy without any purchase.
How do I buy games on Steam?
You can buy games on Steam by adding them to your cart and proceeding to the checkout. Payment options include credit cards, PayPal, and other digital payment methods.
Can I share my Steam games with friends?
Steam offers a feature called “Family Library Sharing,” allowing you to share your game library with friends or family members on different devices. There are some restrictions and guidelines for this feature.
How do I shorten a Steam URL?
You can use online URL-shortening services or tools provided by platforms like Replug. Simply paste the original URL into the tool, and it will create short link version for you to use seamleassly.
Can I track the performance of a shortened Steam URL?
Yes, some URL shortening services, including Replug, offer tracking features. You can monitor clicks, locations, and referral sources to assess the impact of your shared links.
Have you ever encountered a brand or social media profile where the bio section fails to provide the information you need?That’s where bio links come into play, simplifying the process and making everything you want to share just a click away.
Whether it’s a YouTube video, social media post, blog post, or your latest product line, finding the right link sometimes feels like a treasure hunt. But no one has time to hop from page to page trying to find what they need.
The good news: we’re not stuck in the 19th century anymore. Phew! Thanks to some clever tech minds and a few social media revolutions, bio links were born.
From being an influencer to having a brand. From creating content to being an Agency—bio links let you gather all your important links, whether to your website, social profiles, or affiliate deals, into one easy-to-use spot. This one link does it all, making everything you want to share just a click away!
Curious about the full benefits of bio links and how they can enhance your online presence? Let’s get started.
What are bio links?
Remember when Instagram didn’t let you add links to your posts? That’s when bio links or “link in bio” became a thing—a clever way to share a single link in your profile. Fast forward to now, and it’s not just an Instagram hack. You’ll find link in bio features everywhere, from TikTok to Pinterest and X (formerly Twitter).
But here’s where it gets even better—bio link tools have evolved. Today, they don’t just let you share one link; they allow you to create a mini landing page where you can link all your content, from product pages and online stores, to your latest blog posts or videos. It’s like having one convenient space that showcases everything your audience needs to see.
Bio links are loaded with powerful benefits! Here’s our list of the top 7 benefits of bio links to make your online presence stand out:
Benefit #1: You can create one link for all platforms
Done with the hassle of jumping across platforms to locate your links? Bio links are your go-to solution! They bring all your important stuff together in one easy spot, so your audience can find everything in a snap. No more searching – just one link to rule them all!
Let’s say you’re a music artist with a new EP. You want fans to listen on Spotify, Apple Music, SoundCloud, Deezer, iTunes Store, Amazon Music, and Tidal. Instead of placing one link into your social bio, you can use a bio link to create a single page with clickable options for each platform. It’s a simple and stylish way to share your music without the mess.
Here’s how the famous pop music artist Bruno Mars is using a custom bio link to promote his hit single featuring Lady Gaga:
Whether you’re showcasing a blog post, a YouTube video, or a product launch, the benefits of bio links are countless. Bio links feature organizes everything beautifully in one place. You can create a customized landing page that brings all your latest updates together, making it super easy for your followers to find and engage with everything you’re sharing.
Looking to boost those sales numbers? With bio links, your audience can skip the link chaos and go straight to your website or app, making it super easy to shop, ultimately benefiting your business.
Let’s say you’re launching a fresh line of eco-friendly skincare. Instead of cramming your bios with a million links, use a bio link to whip up a cool, all-in-one page. Show off direct links to buy your must-haves, like a refreshing face mist or a hydrating serum, and throw in a “Buy One, Get One 50% Off” deal on moisturizers. Your followers just click once and boom—they’re straight to your site. Easy shopping and more sales? Yes, please!
Here’s an example of the popular eco-friendly skincare brand “cocokind” and how they’re reaping the benefits of bio links to drive sales:
The bio link that “cocokind” is using on Instagram leads the audience straight to either the website or their featured product page for their new advanced retinol gel. It’s a win-win!
One of the many cool benefits of bio links is that you can retarget your audience with them! With Replug, you can turn visitors into customers using cross-channel retargeting to those who interact with your bio links. This means you can keep your audience hooked by keeping them up to date with your latest offers or exciting promotions, all through that one handy link.
Retargeting pixels are a powerful tool to track interactions with your bio links and place personalized ads that keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.
Okay, so here’s the thing—the benefits of bio links aren’t just limited to organizing your content. They’re also amazing for helping you understand if your marketing is resonating with your audience.
For example, if your post is getting all the clicks and sign-ups, you know you’re onto something. The best part? No more guessing games—the data’s right there, literally telling you what you should do next. Just start tracking and watch those results glow up!
But hold up, it gets even better. You’ll get the catch on what’s working—track clicks, conversions, and which posts are vibing with your audience. With the bio link analytics feature, you can also track exactly how many of your followers are clicking that link. Pretty cool, right?
Benefit #5: They help create branded landing pages
Looking for a highly converting landing page that captures your brand’s unique vibe? With your favourite colours, fonts, and all the little details that make your brand pop? One of the endless benefits of bio links is that you don’t have to sit through endless design sessions or drop a ton of cash just to end up with something that doesn’t quite hit the mark!
Replug is better than ordinary bio-link tools like Linktree when it comes to creating branded landing pages. You can easily create a microsite that reflects your style and keeps your audience engaged. Let us show you an example of a landing page created through Replug:
This is just an example we cooked up in 2 minutes. Imagine the magic you can create in more time than that with Replug’s amazing bio link feature! This feature lets you craft a landing page that looks exactly how you imagined—all on your own and in no time. The cherry on top? You can even add a verified badge!
Okay, this one’s super lit and unique. Link management tools let you set up an RSS feed through its bio link feature so your audience stays updated without doing a thing. Instead of scrolling through your profile or searching for that new blog post, everything hits their feed the second you publish.
Here’s one of the coolest coolest benefits of bio links for RSS feeds. They’re not just for blogs—they work for podcasts, videos, whatever! You can keep your followers loyal without constantly pushing updates. Talk about a time saver.
Examples? Check out the RSS feeds of Microsoft, CNBC, or Gartner to stay on top of the latest trends and news:
So, checking out what’s trending or hunting for the latest in health care? RSS feeds have you covered with fresh updates straight to your feed—no extra effort!
Slay.
Benefit #7: You can boost your SEO game
Let’s talk about the relationship between SEO and bio links. Link management tools allow you to create optimized landing pages, making your content easier to find and also giving your search rankings a major boost.
Let’s say that your killer blog just dropped, packed with all the latest tips and tricks. By using a bio link to direct followers to your best posts, you’re leveraging the benefits of bio links. Search engines see all that traffic and engagement, which is like giving Google a high-five and saying: “Hey, this content is awesome!”
So, make your SEO shine with smart bio links and watch your content climb those search rankings. It’s a simple way to make sure your best stuff gets the attention it truly deserves.
Who can use bio links?
1. Agencies and marketers
Bio links are like a personal toolkit for marketers and agencies. Whether it’s managing campaigns, lead magnets, or case studies, you can neatly combine everything into one link. Think of it as a well-organized closet—everything you need is in one place, easily accessible, and ready to go.
Some other smart ways marketers and agencies can use bio links include:
Event sign-ups
Client testimonials
Portfolio highlights
Product demos
Content hubs for campaigns
We absolutely love how Adobe uses a bio link to promote its portfolio:
Here’s how the popular marketing agency Dentsu is creatively using bio links to lead users straight to its YouTube page:
Using bio links to redirect users to your website or your social media pages can boost traffic, and followers, and even get people to subscribe to your YouTube channel. How cool is that?
FYI, more YouTube subscribers can mean extra cash in your pocket. So, why not use bio links to boost your numbers and maybe get a little richer while you’re at it?
For influencers and creators, bio links are ideal for showcasing promotions and affiliate codes. Think of them as a secret doorway to exclusive deals, and adding a dash of creativity along with catchy flair can make them irresistible clicks for your followers. These hidden gems feel exclusive, making your followers feel like they’re getting a special treat just for them.
Some other cool uses of bio links for influencers and creators include:
Newsletters and subscriptions
Event registrations
Promoting new content
Portfolio Showcase
Merchandise sales
Morgan Yates, a popular lifestyle YouTuber uses bio links for promotions on her European travel offer:
Here’s how Natalie Franke uses bio links in her Instagram bio newsletter subscriptions:
Another great example is Charli D’Amelio, the renowned influencer and American media personality. She effectively uses bio links on her TikTok to direct her followers straight to her merchandise landing page. One of the benefits of bio links for influencers like Charli is the ability to guide large audiences to a single, customized destination:
You can also creatively offer freebies through bio links just like Shannon LeBlanc does. Her mini website is to die for!
Having a bio link for e-commerce, from our research, is non-negotiable. Almost every other e-commerce store you see, whether it’s on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, or wherever, is using bio links. For e-commerce stores, you can use bio links to guide your customers to different product categories, special deals, and fresh arrivals.
Some other great uses for bio links in e-commerce include:
Showcase new products and best-sellers
Featuring customer reviews
Leading users to an FAQ page
Linking to loyalty programs
Providing easy access to customer support
Here’s how True Botanicals is using branded bio links to lead its followers to its “True Beauties Rewards” FAQ landing page:
Another example that we absolutely love is Target:
Think of bio links as your fastest ticket to getting clients. For freelancers and entrepreneurs, bio links are like a digital business card, but way cooler. If you’re a part of this clan, bio links should be your go-to tool for showcasing your portfolio, services, and contact information. This way, your clients won’t have to open thousands of messy links just to see your amazing work.
Some other great uses for bio links for freelancers and entrepreneurs include:
Highlighting case studies
Sharing client testimonials
Featuring downloadable resources
Linking to booking calendars
Showcasing pricing packages
Promoting newsletters
Here’s how the famous entrepreneur Tony Robbins is using a link in bio to lead his followers to his LinkedIn newsletter:
Bio links are a total hack for bloggers and content writers. With one link, you can send your readers straight to your hottest posts, must-read articles, or even a newsletter sign-up. They make it easy for your audience to stay connected and binge your content.
More fun ways to use bio links in blogging:
Dropping your latest viral posts
Pushing eBooks or resources
Showcasing guest articles
Sharing writing resources
Giving VIP access to exclusive reads
We absolutely adore how the Lifestyle & Home Decor Blogger Michelle Hsu is using bio links on her Instagram. Her microsite is beautiful, simple, and clean:
6. Podcasters and YouTubers
Bio links are a must-have for podcasters and YouTubers. With this one tiny yet powerful link, you can guide your audience directly to your newest episodes or videos. It’s like giving your followers special access to your latest content, making sure they are not behind on your latest content.
Simple ways to use bio links for podcasts and YouTube:
Linking to your latest episodes
Promoting upcoming content
Sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes clips
Featuring guest appearances
Directing to merch or fan pages
Here’s how Jay Shetty, the infamous podcaster is using a bio link on Instagram:
The bio link guides his fans to links to his podcasts on Spotify and Apple, and other relevant pages. He didn’t have to clutter his bio with multiple links, saving him from the mess and his fans from the confusion.
Long story short…
Bio links aren’t just some fancy URL hack—they’re basically your online sidekick, making sure your followers can find everything you’ve got going on without doing the digital scavenger hunt.
Whether you’re trying to boost sales, flex your SEO game, or just keep your content organized, bio links do the heavy lifting.
So, if you’re not using bio links yet… uh, what are you even doing? It’s time to give your audience a one-stop shop for all your good stuff. Because believe you me, your future self will thank youwhen those clicks start rolling in.
Ready to level up your online presence? Check out Replug’s advanced bio link feature to create stunning landing pages, and stop playing hide-and-seek with your links. And while you’re at it, try our URL shortener free tool to track and optimize every click effortlessly.
Frequently asked questions
What are bio links and how do they work?
Bio links are single URLs in social media bios that lead to multiple resources. One of the key benefits of bio links is simplifying user access, allowing followers to find everything they need with one click.
How can bio links boost my sales?
Bio links direct users to product pages or promotions with ease, which is one of the main benefits of bio links. This streamlined access can increase conversion rates and ultimately boost sales.
What is the best free tool to generate Instagram bio?
Replug is amongst of the most user-friendly and best tools to generate an Instagram bio. You just have to describe yourself and set the tone of your bio and tada! You’re done.
Can bio links help with measuring marketing performance?
Absolutely! One of the benefits of bio links is that they provide valuable analytics on clicks and conversions, allowing you to optimize your marketing strategies based on user interactions.
How do bio links enhance branding opportunities?
Bio links allow for customized landing pages that reflect your brand identity. This is one of the significant benefits of bio links, as it enhances brand recognition and creates a consistent user experience.
In what ways can bio links improve my SEO?
Bio links consolidate traffic to optimized pages, which is one of the benefits of bio links. This can signal to search engines that your content is valuable, improving your search rankings and increasing visibility.
Most marketers prioritize email, social, and ads when designing their digital marketing campaigns. They highly underestimate SMS marketing probably due to the advent of apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, Kik, BOTIM, and others.
However, the reality is that SMS marketing hasn’t become irrelevant at all. In fact, a study shows that 65% of global mobile subscribers communicate via text messages.
A core reason why SMS marketing, especially for text invitations, can turn things around for any brand or individual is the effective use of SMS link previews.
Find out what an SMS link preview is before your competitors take the edge over you.
Understanding SMS link previews
An SMS link preview is a preview snippet that pops up in the text message and showcases the featured image and topic of the article or web page right in the SMS, making it more appealing and clickable.
Simply put, it’s the enhanced version of a link sent in a text message that displays the link’s title, image, and (sometimes) the image.
It’s called SMS link preview because it provides a preview to the receiver before this person opens the link. Not only does it provide a sneak peek into the content, but it also adds curiosity to the receiver’s mind.
Boost ROI with branded URLs!
Enhance your marketing campaigns by creating shareable, trackable, and fully multi-purpose
customizable branded URLs.
SMS links are widely used in SMS marketing campaigns, but most marketers still take them for granted.
So, here are some benefits of using SMS link previews as a reminder to make the most of your SMS marketing campaigns:
1. Helps drive website traffic through text messages
One reason brands and marketers send out links in text messages is to drive website traffic to their sales pages, blog posts, or other URLs. SMS link previews can entice SMS receivers to click through and visit the website.
SMS marketing has become an integral part of digital marketing. Therefore, SMS links are crucial for the success of any SMS marketing campaign. SMS link previews make links more noticeable and clickable, enabling SMS marketing campaigns to achieve better results.
3. Gives a sneak peek into the content
A little peek into the content makes it easier for the receiver to check it out. Optimizing the website pages and blog posts to showcase SMS link previews makes a huge difference.
Let’s be honest: a hyperlink with text in an SMS looks quite shady, even if a family member or friend sends it. One of the benefits of having SMS link previews is that the SMS links appear cleaner and less-spammy. Above all, the receivers can open them with some confidence.
Indeed, sometimes short URLs don’t look trustworthy, especially if an unknown person sends them. Most marketers use short links in SMS and email marketing to track clickability, open rate, and reach. However, when an SMS link preview pops up, it adds credibility to the message.
A complete link management solution
for marketing professionals & agencies.
Try Replug for free
Can you curate the SMS link preview image and text?
When sharing links via SMS, having an eye-catching preview image and compelling text can significantly enhance engagement.
To make it happen, one needs to utilize a link preview tool such as Replug. This all-in-one link management platform makes it easy to customize these previews, ensuring your messages stand out.
Here’s how you can create an effective SMS link preview using Replug.
Maximize marketing ROI
by transforming ordinary URLs into branded short links that convert.
Try Replug for free
Step no 01
Go to Replug Home and locate the “Quickly shorten your link” bar. Paste the URL you want to share and press Enter.
Step no 02
You’ll be redirected to a page where you can customize your SMS link preview. Here, you can password-protect your links, add expiry dates to them, add traffic routing rules to them, and much more.
Step no 03
Once you input the link, Replug will automatically fetch the meta details, such as title, description, and thumbnail image. But if you want to customize the details even more, you can:
Title: You can customize the title of your SMS link preview by simply typing in your preferred text in the “Title” field.
Description: Adjust the description by writing a more engaging or relevant summary of your link in the “Description” field.
Image: Upload a custom image to change the thumbnail. Make sure it’s eye-catching and relevant to your content.
Replug automatically generates a shortened URL, making it SMS-friendly. Short links are easier to share and fit better in text messages.
Step no 05
Use the preview feature to see how your link will appear when shared via SMS. Ensure the image and text are displaying correctly.
It’s a good idea to send yourself a test SMS to see how the link appears on different devices.
Step no 06
Once you are satisfied with the preview, click “Save.” Then, share the link through your preferred SMS platform. The enhanced preview will engage your audience and drive more clicks.
Best practices when creating SMS link previews
Before you hop on your favorite link converter for generating short URLs or optimizing your website URLs for SMS link previews, read the following best practices for using SMS link previews:
1. Keep it concise
SMS messages have character limits, so keep your link previews brief and to the point. Use clear, compelling language to entice users to click without overwhelming them with information.
2. Test across devices
Link previews can look different on various devices and messaging apps. Test how your previews appear on other platforms to ensure they maintain visual appeal and functionality, and adjust your metadata if necessary for optimal display.
3. Use high-quality, beautiful images in the content
Using colorful, high-resolution images in SMS link previews is essential for quickly capturing readers’ attention and creating a visually appealing experience. Choose images that convey the essence of your message, enticing recipients to click on the link.
An attractive, eye-catching image can significantly enhance engagement, making the preview more inviting and transforming the URL snippet in the SMS into an irresistible opportunity for the recipient.
A complete link management solution
for marketing professionals & agencies.
Try Replug for free
4. Keep the optimal image sizes in mind when creating images
It’s essential to create images that are readable by the devices. The optimal image sizes should be considered when creating images for blog posts or landing pages.
Not only does it allow images to display correctly across various devices and platforms, but it also impacts the SMS marketing campaign. Properly sized images help maintain the visual integrity of the link preview.
Difference Between Link Previews and OG Tags
When sharing links across social media, messaging apps, or websites, you may notice that certain details like images, titles, and descriptions automatically appear. These elements come together in what we call link previews.
However, what many may not realize is that the content displayed in these previews is controlled behind the scenes by something called OG tags (Open Graph tags).
Understanding the difference between link previews and OG tags can help website owners and marketers optimize how their content is shared online. Let’s break down these two concepts.
Feature
Link Previews
OG Tags (Open Graph Tags)
Definition
A visual snippet displayed when a URL is shared on social platforms or messaging apps.
HTML meta tags that control what content appears in the link preview.
Purpose
To give users a quick overview of the content and entice them to click the link.
To control and customize how content appears when shared on social media.
Visibility
Visible to users on social media and messaging platforms.
Hidden in the website’s HTML code; only visible to social platforms.
Customiz-ation
Generated automatically based on webpage content. Limited customization without OG tags.
Provides full control over title, image, description, and URL in the preview.
Control
Platforms decide what content appears in the preview based on available metadata.
Website owners can define exactly what content appears in the preview.
Common elements
Title, description, image (if available), URL.
Title, description, image, URL — all customizable via OG tags.
Role in SEO
Indirect impact, as well-crafted previews can increase click-through rates (CTR).
Can indirectly boost SEO by making links more appealing and clickable.
Impleme-ntation
Automatic; platforms extract information from the webpage.
Requires adding specific OG meta tags to the HTML of the webpage.
Use case
When sharing URLs on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.
Best for ensuring consistent branding and accurate display of content across platforms.
Leveraging open graph (OG) tags
OG tags are essential tools for controlling how the content is displayed when sent in a text message or shared on social media platforms.
The idea is to strategically implement these tags to ensure that the links turn out to be visually appealing and attractive to the recipient. Moreover, these effects can significantly improve click-through rates and engagement.
Let’s decode open graph tags and learn more about them:
The basic OG tags:
og:title
It specifies the title of the content.
og:url
It showcases the canonical URL of the page
og:image
It defines the image that will appear with the shared link
og:type
It clarifies the type of object being shared, such as website, article, etc.
og:description
It provides a brief description of the page
How to leverage OG tags?
Digital marketers and conversion optimization experts strive to discover new ways to increase engagement, drive website traffic, improve click-through rates, and make more money.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a new trick to get new eyeballs around your content on social media or make your SMS preview links look more attractive.
Here are three ways to leverage OG tags:
1. Enhancing social media optimization
Social media content is vital to modern-day digital marketing. To maximize the impact of your OG tags on social media content performance, tailor them specifically for the social media platforms where your audience is most active.
Facebook, Twitter (X) and LinkedIn are the major social media platforms that rely on OG tags for link previews. Influencers and experts pay attention to OG tags to ensure that their article links generate previews when shared across social media.
By optimizing the OG tags for these platforms, social media users make sure that the content is presented in the best manner possible, which increases the chance of attracting more shares, comments, and likes.
Have you ever heard of Google Discover? It’s a content discovery platform from Google that displays top news across multiple categories and is available to Android users. It’s accessed through the Chrome browser on the Android phones. Google Discovers picks up the content from the websites that are schema-optimized and publishes high-quality content.
Similarly, OG tags not only improve the visual appeal of your shared links but also contribute to better SEO performance. Search engines keep an eye out on the websites that are wildly popular on social media, and often end up rewarding them through SEO rankings.
It’s safe to assume that attractive and well-optimized previews are more likely to be clicked and shared, leading to increased traffic and visibility for your website.
3. Fine-tuning the SMS link previews
Last but not least, it’s the effect on the SMS link previews. One of the best ways to leverage OG tags is to carve out a strategy for fine-tuning your SMS link preview.
Open Graph Protocol massively impacts the SMS link previews of the websites and blog URLs if implemented correctly. SMS is still a powerful communication medium despite the popularity of various chat apps like WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, Kik, and others.
Optimizing your SMS link previews can trigger new opportunities no matter what industry you belong to. So, don’t shy away from putting together a solid strategy for optimizing your websites or blogs for SMS link previews.
So, these are three ways to leverage OG tags. The purpose of this strategy is to ensure that website titles, headlines, descriptions, and URLs pop up when shared across multiple devices and platforms.
Final thoughts
SMS link previews may not be the talk of the digital marketing world, but they’re still relevant to online marketing.
Since it directly impacts click-through rate, conversion, and engagement of text messages, the concept is gaining popularity day by day.
We tried to keep it simple yet meaningful for social media influencers, brands, bloggers, entrepreneurs, and publishers who haven’t had a chance to find out about the SMS link previews before.
The next time you send or receive a URL in the SMS, you’ll notice whether or not it generated the link preview – if you do, then all the effort that went into writing, editing, and publishing this piece of content is worth it.
FAQs about SMS link previews
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about SMS link previews:
What is an SMS short link?
An SMS short link refers to the shortened URL that is used in text messages to avoid cluttering and spammy looks. Moreover, users can track clickability on the short, branded URLs. Check out this URL shortener for more information.
Can SMS have links?
SMS messages can include links within their body. However, it is important to ensure that URLs contain “http://” or “https://” along with a valid domain extension, such as .com or .net, to function properly. Additionally, in some cases, placing the links at the beginning or end of the text message can enhance clickability.
What is a text link?
A text link is a hyperlinked text that is used to drive website visitors from one section/page to another. The text links are also used as the replacement for the image call-to-actions. However, in the SEO world, a text link can either be a backlink (pointing to another website) or an internal link (pointing to another page of the same website).
What are link previews in text messages?
The link previews are the link snippets that appear on social media platforms and messaging apps when a blog post link or a website URL is shared with the public or a friend in private. It mostly contains the image, title, description, and URL of the page.
How to create a link preview in your SMS message?
To create a link in your SMS message, one be sharing the website that has already been optimized for link previews. On the other hand, the receiver of the text message must be using any of the recently released phones. To make it work on older Android phones, the user must have a Google Message app installed that can create link previews. Moreover, iOS users must have iOS 10 or later versions to be able to enjoy the link previews.
Ever wished you could control how your links appear on Facebook? With Replug, you can! This powerful link shortener tool allows you to customize the link preview of your links, making them more visually appealing and engaging.
To get you started, we’ve put together this helpful guide. Let’s read.
How to customize the Facebook link preview using Replug?
Customizing the Facebook link preview using Replug is straightforward. Start by logging in to your Replug account.
If you haven’t already, sign up. Replug offers a 14-day free trial—no credit card is required to try it out.
Once you’ve logged into your Replug account, set up your workspace.
Then copy your URL from Facebook;
Step no 01:
Go to Replug Home and locate the “Quickly shorten your link” bar. Paste the URL you want to share and press Enter.
Boost ROI with branded URLs!
Enhance your marketing campaigns by creating shareable, trackable, and fully multi-purpose
customizable branded URLs.
You’ll be redirected to a page where you can customize your Facebook URL. Here, you can password-protect your links, add expiry dates to them, add traffic routing rules to them, and much more.
Step no 03:
Once you input the link, Replug will automatically fetch the meta details, such as title, description, and thumbnail image. But if you want to customize the details even more, you can:
Title: You can customize the title of your Facebook link preview by simply typing in your preferred text in the “Title” field.
Description: Adjust the description by writing a more engaging or relevant summary of your link in the “Description” field.
Image: Change the thumbnail by uploading a custom image. Make sure it’s eye-catching and relevant to your content.
Step no 04:
After customizing, click “Save.” You can now share the customized Replug URL on Facebook. It will display your customized preview instead of the default one when posted.
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06 unique benefits of custom link previews on Facebook
Custom link previews offer your Facebook audience a more engaging and informative experience. Here are five unique benefits:
1. Enhanced click-through rates (CTRs)
A visually appealing and informative link preview can encourage users to click through to your content. Customizing the image and title can create a more compelling call to action.
If your posts with custom link previews receive more engagement (likes, shares, comments), it can serve as social proof, encouraging others to click through and interact.
3. A/B testing
A/B testing different links for the same content allows you to analyze which version drives more clicks and leads, helping refine your messaging.
4. Increased engagement
Custom link previews can lead to more likes, comments, and shares. A visually engaging post is more likely to capture attention and spark conversation.
5. Referral sources
Another great benefit is the ability to track links, for example, referral sources help you understand where clicks are coming from and can help identify which channels or campaigns are most effective in generating leads.
6. Better SEO
While not a direct benefit, custom link previews can indirectly improve your SEO. Your website’s ranking may improve if your posts are shared more frequently and receive more engagement.
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Conclusion
Customizing link previews on Facebook and using Replug is a straightforward way to enhance the visual appeal and effectiveness of your shared content.
Tailoring titles, descriptions, and images can create more engaging previews that capture attention and encourage clicks. Whether you’re looking to boost your brand’s presence or make your links more attractive, Replug is a top-notch link optimization platform offering the tools to make your social media posts stand out.
FAQs on custom link previews
Do I need a Replug account to customize link previews?
Yes, you need a Replug account to customize link previews. You can sign up for a free trial if you’re new to the platform.
Can I use Replug to customize link previews for other social media platforms?
You can use Replug to customize link previews for other social platforms supporting link previews.
Will my customizations appear immediately after sharing the link?
Sometimes, social media platforms cache link previews. If your customizations don’t appear immediately, you might need to use tools like Facebook’s Sharing Debugger to refresh the cache.
Can I edit the link preview after sharing it?
Yes, you can update the link preview by editing the link in Replug and saving the changes. However, the updated preview may not immediately appear on social media due to caching.
