Avoid Common URL Shortening Mistakes (That Could Cost You Clicks!)

The Problem:

You're using the same generic shortener (like bit.ly or tinyurl) for all your business links.

Why It's Bad:

Generic short links look unprofessional and don't build brand recognition. When someone sees "bit.ly/x7g2k9", they have no idea it's coming from your company. Worse yet, people are getting more suspicious of generic short links because spammers use them all the time.

The Fix:

Use a custom domain for your short links. Instead of "bit.ly/abc123", create something like "yourcompany.ly/abc123" or even better, use your own domain like "mntz.xyz/promo". This builds trust and keeps your brand visible.

Pro Tip:

Many URL shorteners let you customize the ending too. Instead of random characters, you can create memorable links like "mntz.xyz/summer-sale" or "mntz.xyz/newsletter-signup".

The Problem:

You create a short link and immediately blast it out to your audience without checking if it actually works.

Why It's Bad:

Broken links are the fastest way to lose credibility. Nothing's more frustrating than clicking a link that leads to a 404 error page or, even worse, the wrong destination entirely.

The Fix:

Always, ALWAYS test your short links before sharing them. Click on them yourself from different devices if possible. Make sure they're going to the right place and that the destination page loads properly.

Extra Step:

Test your links again a few days after creating them. Sometimes destination pages change or go down, and you'll want to catch that quickly.

The Problem:

Your short links look like this: "mntz.xyz/x9k2m7q8"

Why It's Bad:

Random character strings don't give users any hint about where they're going. This creates hesitation and reduces click-through rates. People want some idea of what they're clicking on, especially in today's security-conscious internet environment.

The Fix:

Use descriptive custom endings when possible. Instead of random characters, try:

• "mntz.xyz/pricing-guide"
• "mntz.xyz/free-trial"
• "mntz.xyz/blog-tips"

This gives users confidence about where they're heading and can actually improve your click rates significantly.

The Problem:

You're creating short links but never looking at the data they provide.

Why It's Bad:

You're missing out on valuable insights about your audience! URL shorteners provide amazing analytics about when people click, where they're located, what devices they're using, and much more. Ignoring this data is like flying blind.

The Fix:

Make it a habit to check your link analytics regularly. Look for patterns:

• Which links get the most clicks?
• What times of day are most popular?
• Which platforms drive the most traffic?
• Where are your visitors located?

Use this information to improve your future campaigns and posting strategies.

The Problem:

You're using shortened URLs for links within your own website.

Why It's Bad:

This creates unnecessary redirects that can slow down your site and confuse search engines. It's also confusing for users who expect to see your domain in the address bar.

The Fix:

Only use short links for external sharing (social media, emails, print materials, etc.). For internal website links, stick to your regular URLs or use relative links.

The Problem:

You're completely dependent on one URL shortening service.

Why It's Bad:

What happens if that service goes down, changes their pricing, or worse - shuts down completely? All your shared links could suddenly stop working. This has happened before with smaller shortening services.

The Fix:

• Use reputable, established services
• Keep a backup list of your important long URLs
• Consider using multiple services for different purposes
• If you're doing high-volume business, look into enterprise solutions with guarantees

The Problem:

You're not paying attention to whether your links have expiration dates.

Why It's Bad:

Some URL shorteners automatically expire links after a certain period, especially on free plans. Imagine sharing a link in an email campaign, only to have it stop working a few months later when someone tries to access it.

The Fix:

• Check the expiration policy of your chosen service
• For important links, pay for plans that guarantee permanence
• Set calendar reminders to check important links periodically

The Problem:

You're shortening URLs that are already reasonably short.

Why It's Bad:

If your original URL is already clean and not too long, shortening it might actually hurt more than it helps. You lose the SEO benefits of having keywords in your URL, and you add an unnecessary redirect step.

The Fix:

Only shorten URLs when it actually provides value:

• When the original URL is very long (over 60-80 characters)
• When you need click tracking
• When sharing on platforms with character limits
• When the original URL contains ugly parameters or tracking codes

The Problem:

You're using the same short link across all platforms and campaigns.

Why It's Bad:

You can't tell which platforms are driving the most traffic or which campaigns are most effective. This makes it impossible to optimize your marketing efforts.

The Fix:

Create platform-specific short links:

• "mntz.xyz/twitter-promo" for Twitter
• "mntz.xyz/facebook-ad" for Facebook
• "mntz.xyz/email-campaign" for email newsletters

This gives you much better analytics and helps you understand what's working where.

The Problem:

You're not considering how your short links will look and work on mobile devices.

Why It's Bad:

Most people are clicking links on their phones these days. If your destination page isn't mobile-friendly, or if your short link is hard to tap accurately, you're losing potential engagement.

The Fix:

• Always test your links on mobile devices
• Make sure your destination pages are mobile-responsive
• Consider the context where mobile users will encounter your links (like in apps or mobile browsers)

The Problem:

You're sharing short links without any context about the destination.

Why It's Bad:

People are naturally suspicious of mystery links. Without context, your click-through rates will suffer, and you might even get flagged as spam.

The Fix:

Always provide context:

• "Check out our latest blog post: mntz.xyz/seo-tips"
• "Download the free guide here: mntz.xyz/marketing-guide"
• "See the full product demo: mntz.xyz/demo-video"