5 creative ways to use short links in social media marketing

Social media is one of the most powerful tools in digital marketing.

But did you know that something as simple as short links can make a big difference?

Whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or content creator, learning how to use shortened links creatively can help you get more clicks, track engagement, and improve your campaigns.

In this article, you’ll learn 5 smart and creative ways to use short links in social media marketing. Each method is practical, easy to understand, and ready for you to use.

Let’s dive in.

Why do short links matter in social media?

Shortened links take a long URL and turn it into something shorter, cleaner, and easier to share. They help with:

• Better user experience – no messy, long links.
• More engagement – people are more likely to click on neat links.
• Advanced tracking – know how many clicks your links get.
• Custom branding – use your own domain name to build trust.

“According to Rebrandly, branded short links can increase click-through rates by up to 39%.”

That’s a huge boost! Now let’s look at five ways you can use short links to level up your social media marketing.

1: Promote time-sensitive offers with link expiration

One creative use of short links is for limited-time promotions.

You can set an expiration date on your shortened link.

Once the time is up, the link will stop working or redirect users to a different page (like your homepage or a “sorry you missed it” message).

Why this works:

• Creates urgency (“Click before it’s gone!”)
• Avoids sending users to expired pages
• Keeps your brand looking fresh and active

Example:

Let’s say you run a 48-hour flash sale.

You shorten the sales page URL and schedule it to expire after 2 days. After that, it redirects to your new collection. Easy and clean!

💡 Pro Tip: Use tools like Linko that support link expiration, deep linking, and redirection rules.

2: Use short links in Bio Pages with multiple CTAs

Most social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter only allow one link in bio. But you can turn that single link into a mini landing page using bio link tools.

With Linko’s Bio Page Editor, you can:

• Add buttons for your latest blog posts
• Link to your YouTube channel
• Promote your newest products
• Share contact or download links

All using a single branded shortened link.

Why this works:

• Gives followers easy access to everything in one place
• Saves time and space
• Looks professional and organized

📊 Fact: Over 70% of Instagram users click on the link in bio when they’re interested in a profile’s content.

3: Share trackable links in stories, posts, and comments

One of the best reasons to shorten links is for tracking clicks. With each short link, you can see:

• How many people clicked
• Where they clicked from
• What device they used
• Which social network worked best

Where to use:

• Instagram Stories (if you have the link sticker)
• Facebook and LinkedIn posts
• YouTube video descriptions
• Twitter/X threads
• Pinterest pins
• Reddit comments

Use a different shortened link for each channel, even if the destination is the same. This way, you’ll know exactly which platform is working best for you.

Real-life case:

Let’s say you’re promoting an eBook.

You shorten one link for Instagram, another for Twitter, and another for Facebook. After 7 days, you see that 60% of your clicks came from Facebook. Now you know where to focus more.

📈 “Businesses that track their social media links see a 20% improvement in campaign performance,” according to a HubSpot report.

4: A/B test different messages or offers

A/B testing means trying two or more versions of something to see which performs better. You can do this with shortened links too!

For example:

• Version A: Short link with caption “Get 50% off today!”
• Version B: Short link with caption “Shop the biggest sale now!”

Use a unique short link for each version and post them at the same time (or rotate them). Then check which link gets the most clicks.

Why this helps:

• Improves your social media copy
• Helps you understand what grabs your audience’s attention
• Boosts conversions over time

🧠 Tip: Linko has a built-in A/B testing feature to compare two links and send users to each by setting a percentage.

5: Hide affiliate links and increase trust with custom slugs

Let’s face it—affiliate links can look long and messy. Something like:

https://example.com/product?id=9832&ref=abc123&utm=campaign12

is hard to read and can look suspicious. But if you shorten it to:

https://yourbrand.co/deal

It looks clean, branded, and trustworthy.

Benefits of hiding affiliate links:

• Increases click-through rates
• Builds trust with your audience
• Keeps your posts looking clean and professional

You can even customize the slug (the part after the slash) to match your content. Use terms like /ebook, /freegift, or /exclusive.

🔍 Studies show that clean, branded links can boost click trust by more than 30%.

More ways to enhance your social media links

Here are some bonus tips to get the most out of your short links:

• 🔒 Add UTM tags for Google Analytics tracking.
• 🌐 Use geo-targeting to send users from different countries to the right page.
• 📆 Schedule links to go live at specific times.
• 👤 Cloak your links to keep the destination private or avoid getting blocked.
• 📱 Create QR codes linked to your shortened URLs for offline use.

Final thoughts

Short links aren’t just for saving space.

They are powerful tools for tracking, testing, and improving your social media marketing. When used right, they can boost engagement, save time, and help you grow your audience.

Whether you’re promoting a flash sale, testing content, or just want cleaner posts, these five creative ways to use shortened links will give you a real edge.

Try using a link shortener like Linko to manage and create all your short links in one place.

With features like link expiration, A/B testing, QR codes, Bio Page editor, and advanced tracking—you’re ready to win at social media.

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