Google has additional means of collecting data: you can gather a lot of statistics when you own the top browser and search engine! Let’s say the link is www.tech-recipes.com/2017/how-to-shorten-links-on-twitter-easily and it’s then shortened. I also worry that because shorteners are essentially open proxies of HTTP they’ll be exploited by spammers and malware distributors to the point where businesses, anti-phishing, and anti-virus services will be forced to block them. Recently bit.ly announced the addition of a premium service to its URL-tracking system. URL shorteners typically work by redirecting users using a special server response commonly referred to as a "301." This tells the browser that the resource at your short URL has been permenantly moved to the full URL's location.
Requests to the Google URL Shortener API for non-public user data must be authorized by an authenticated user. Because plain-text campaigns don't use hyperlinks to hide MailChimp's tracking information, subscribers who view your plain-text campaigns will see the full tracking URLs. As you shorten your links, Google will display them below with its long URL version, when it was created, its corresponding shortened goo.gl link and how many clicks it has received. In addition to easy link shortening, you can use the service with your own domain, customize the characters at the end of your links, get real-time statistics and even see which countries your clicks are coming from.
All of these things should be clearly stipulated for tags you will be setting up: There are a variety of approaches you can take to naming tags, categories, labels, firing rules, and more. Use alternate extensions "hacks": Many country code extensions can be used to help form your company name by using the characters before and after the dot to form a shortened for similar sounding version of your name. For example: Services Brochure In the above URL we’ve added the parameter “?pdf=Services-Brochure” to the end of the PDF URL link. Failure to predict such problems with URL shorteners and investment in URL shortening companies may reflect a lack of due diligence.[26] Blocking and banning[edit] Some websites prevent short, redirected URLs from being posted. You can also view a world map where your last 50 clicks came from.
You need to be signed in to your bit.ly account before you can enter tracking data for the link. Understanding which external links are most often clicked on your website will help you understand what kind of information users are looking for. Power User Features If you‘re becoming a power user of URLs for say marketing purposes or you just want to monitor the traffic your URLs are getting, Bitly probably offers everything you need.
You can then create tags that wait for the gtm.linkClick event to happen, and perform additional tasks (like the external link tracker tag described below). note: There are a number of tagging strategies. The SEO issue isn’t an issue, according to Google’s Matt Cutts. More meaningful: readers at least know the link goes to your site. Other Features If you hang out in Bitly.com long enough, you’ll discover several other features for further customizing your links and stats page. Also check out our other articles about URL shorteners – 6 Cool URL Shorteners With A Twist Which You Should Try Out 6 Cool URL Shorteners With A Twist Which You Should Try Out 6 Cool URL Shorteners With A Twist Which You Should Try Out URL shorteners are a dime a dozen and don't seem to survive long. If your website has WordPress installed in a directory, your options might look like this, where our blog is installed in the “blog” directory: If your website is your WordPress installation, it might look like this: This works best when you choose a page slug that is short and mindful of keywords. Example: Nissan uses nssn.co Use initials: This tip works for personal or organization URL shorteners. This delay can be made worse if the account is set up close to the weekend because sometimes data aggregation slows and gets pulled in on Monday. Similar Tools: Google Analytics and Clicky Clicky - A Great Alternative To Google Analytics Clicky - A Great Alternative To Google Analytics Read More .Google Analytics provides an overwhelming quantity of information. You can use initials for one or more words or, if it works, all of them. Privacy and security[edit] A short URL obscures the target address and can be used to redirect to an unexpected site.