3 Ways to Shorten a URL Link - Business Insider

1. Copy the URL you want to shorten. ; 2. Open Bitly in your web browser. ; 3. Paste the URL into the "Shorten your link" field and click Shorten. 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Streaming Software&Apps SmartHome Smartphones SocialMedia Computers&Tablets Gaming Gadgets MoreButtonIcon Circlewiththreehorizontaldots.Itindicatesawaytoseemorenavmenuitemsinsidethesitemenubytriggeringthesidemenutoopenandclose. Streaming Software&Apps SmartHome Smartphones SocialMedia Computers&Tablets Gaming Gadgets Chevronicon Itindicatesanexpandablesectionormenu,orsometimesprevious/nextnavigationoptions. HOMEPAGE Subscribe Subscribe Home Chevronicon Itindicatesanexpandablesectionormenu,orsometimesprevious/nextnavigationoptions. Tech 3simplewaystoshortenaURLlinkandmakeiteasilyshareableonsocialmediaandotherwebsites DaveJohnson Updated 2022-04-08T14:29:39Z SaveArticleIcon Abookmark Emailicon Anenvelope.Itindicatestheabilitytosendanemail. FacebookIcon TheletterF. Twittericon Astylizedbirdwithanopenmouth,tweeting. Twitter LinkedInicon Theword"in". LinkedIn Fliboardicon AstylizedletterF. Flipboard Linkicon Animageofachainlink.Itsymobilizesawebsitelinkurl. CopyLink Downloadtheapp ThereareanumberoffreeURLshortenersavailableonline. Altayb/GettyImages YoucanshortenaURLbyusinganURLshortenerwebsite,whichwillshrinkyourURLforfree. PopularlinkshortenersontheinternetincludeBitly,TinyURL,andRebrandly. You'llneedapremiumaccountonthesesitestounlockthefullrangeoflinkcustomizationoptions. VisitInsider'sTechReferencelibraryformorestories. URLscangetlongandunwieldy.Theaveragewebaddressistoocomplicatedtotypebyhand,andURLstendtolookterriblewhentypedoutinfull.Andifyou'retryingtoincludeanURLinaTwitterpost,you'regoingtouseupmostofyourcharacterlimit.That'swhyURLshortenersaresocommon;theyletyoutakealongandcumbersomeURLandconvertitintoacompactwebaddresswithjustafewclicks.WhenyouuseaURLshortener,theserviceautomaticallyredirectsyourshortenedURLtothecorrect,full-lengthwebaddress.ThepersonclickingtheshortURLdoesn'tneedtoknowanythingaboutthefactthatithasbeenshortened;itjusthappensautomatically.Here'showtoshortenaURLusingthreeofthemostcommonwebshorteners.   HowtoshortenaURLusingBitlyYoucancreateshortenedURLsforfreeusingBitly,orsubscribetoBitly'spremiumservicestartingat$29permonth.TheadvantageofapaidBitlyaccountisthatyoucancreatepersonalizedshortURLsthatresemblethenameofyourcompany.Thisisgreatforbranding.Evenifyoudon'tneedthebenefitsofapaidaccount,youcancreateafreeBitlyaccountthatgivesyouaccesstoadashboardthattracksallyourshortenedURLs,andhowoftenthey'vebeenclicked.It'sconvenientformanagingshortURLsyoucreate. Bitly'sdashboardisavailableforfreeandkeepstrackofalltheURLsyoucreate. StefanIonescu/Insider Here'showtoshortenaURL.1.CopytheURLyouwanttoshorten.2.OpenBitlyinyourwebbrowser.3. PastetheURLintothe"Shortenyourlink"fieldandclickShorten. JustpasteyourURLinthefieldandyou'rereadytoshortenit. StefanIonescu/Insider 4. ClickCopytograbthenewURL. CreatingashortenedURLinBitlyisassimpleascopyingandpasting. StefanIonescu/Insider HowtoshortenaURLusingTinyURLTinyURLisanothercommonURLshortener.JustlikeBitly,ithaspremiumplansstartingfrom$9.99amonththatoffergreatercustomizationforbrandedlinksandadashboardtotrackandedittheURLsyou'veshortened.However,youcanstillsignupforafreeaccountanditcanmorethanserveyourneeds. TinyURLissimpletouseifyoujustwanttoquicklygenerateshorterlinks.Andit'sthissimplicitythatmakesitafavoriteforalotofpeople.Here'showtouseTinyURL:1.CopytheURLyouwanttoshorten.2.OpenTinyURLinyourwebbrowser.3.PastetheURLintothefieldunder"EnteralongURLtomakeaTinyURL". PastetheURLyouwanttoshorteninthefirstfieldonTinyURL'slinkshorteningform. StefanIonescu/Insider 4.IfyouwouldlikeyourshortenedURLtoincludeaspecificphrase,enterthatinthefieldunder"Customizeyourlink."OryoucanleavethefieldblankandletTinyurlcreatearandomwebaddressforyou. Youcanedityourlinktopersonalizeitforyourbrand. StefanIonescu/Insider Quicktip:EverycustomURLhastobeunique,soyoumighthavetotryafewvariationsbeforeyoufindonethatworks.4.ClickMakeTinyURL!5.TinyURLwillthengenerateanew,shortenedlinkforyou,andyoucanshareorcopyitbyclickingontheShareorCopybutton,respectively.Quicktip:Toviewyourmostrecently-createdURLs,clickMyURLsonthetop-rightmenu.Youdon'tevenneedtocreateanaccounttoviewthem. HowtoshortenaURLusingRebrandlyWhenbuildingabrand,youneedyourtargetmarkettorememberyournameateveryturn.ThatistrueevenwhenitcomestoyourURLs,andthatiswhatRebrandlyisallabout.ThisURLshortenerallowsyoutoeasilycreatememorablelinksthatyouraudiencecanrememberandpronouncetohelppromoteyourbrand.WhileyoucanstartusingRebrandlyforfree,itdoeshavepremiumtiersstartingfrom$29permonth.Paidperksincludeincreasedlimitsonfeaturessuchasgeneratinglinks,trackingbrandedlinks,andcreatingcustomdomains.TouseRebrandly:1.CopytheURLyouwanttoshorten.2.OpenRebrandlyinyourwebbrowser.3.PastetheURLintothe"Makeyourlinksshorter"fieldandclickShortenURL. JustpastetheURLandclickthe"ShortenURL." StefanIonescu/Insider Quicktip:Tocustomize,track,andedityourRebrandlylinks,you'llhavetocreateanaccount.4.Rebrandlywillgenerateashortenedlinkbelowthefieldmentionedabove,andtocopyitclickCopy. DaveJohnson FreelanceWriter DaveJohnsonisatechnologyjournalistwhowritesaboutconsumertechandhowtheindustryistransformingthespeculativeworldofsciencefictionintomodern-dayreallife.DavegrewupinNewJerseybeforeenteringtheAirForcetooperatesatellites,teachspaceoperations,anddospacelaunchplanning.HethenspenteightyearsasacontentleadontheWindowsteamatMicrosoft.Asaphotographer,Davehasphotographedwolvesintheirnaturalenvironment;he'salsoascubainstructorandco-hostofseveralpodcasts.DaveistheauthorofmorethantwodozenbooksandhascontributedtomanysitesandpublicationsincludingCNET,Forbes,PCWorld,HowToGeek,andInsider. 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