How to Create Branded Short Links with a Custom Domain

Creating branded short links with a custom domain is one of the smartest moves you can make to build trust, improve click-through rates, and strengthen your brand identity.

Instead of using generic shorteners like bit.ly or tinyurl.com, a branded link like yourbrand.com/product-launch tells users that the link is yours and safe to click.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up your own custom domain for link shortening, why it matters, and how tools like Linko can make the process easy even if you’re just starting out.

What is a branded short link?

A branded short link is a shortened URL that uses your own custom domain name rather than a generic one. For example:

• Generic short link: bit.ly/3ABcXYZ
• Branded short link: yourbrand.co/launch

While both links point to the same destination, the second one looks more professional and trustworthy.

Key elements of a branded short link:

• Custom domain: e.g., yourbrand.co
• Short path or slug: e.g., /sale, /signup, or /blog
• Redirects to a full URL: e.g., https://yourbrand.com/summer-sale-page

Why use a custom domain for your short links?

Here’s why switching from a generic URL shortener to your own branded domain can be a game-changer:

1. Increase trust and clicks

People are more likely to click links when they recognize the brand. Studies show branded links can boost CTR by up to 34% compared to generic shorteners.

2. Boost brand visibility

Every time someone sees or shares your link, your brand gets exposure. It’s free branding, embedded in every URL you post.

3. Better control and tracking

Branded short links are not just pretty — they’re powerful. With tools like Linko, you can:

• Add UTM tags for campaign tracking
• Set expiration dates
• Use A/B testing
• Add CTA overlays
• Hide referrers or cloak links

4. Avoid being flagged or blocked

Some platforms restrict generic shorteners because they’re often abused by spammers. Your own domain reduces the chances of links being blocked on social media, emails, or ad platforms.

Examples of branded short links in action

Here are some real-world use cases:

These examples show how top brands use short, readable, and branded links for marketing and communication.

You can do the same for your business — even if you’re just starting out.

Step 1: Choose a custom domain for your short links

Before you can create branded links, you’ll need a domain name that’s short, clean, and brand-aligned.

Tips for choosing the right domain:

• Keep it short and memorable
  A 5–10 character domain works best (e.g., get.ly, go.io, yourbn.co).
• Use your brand name or variation
  You can abbreviate your main site. For example, yourbrand.com becomes yrbd.co or go.yourbrand.com.
• Choose a creative TLD
  Short TLDs like .co, .ly, .me, .to, or .io are popular for short links.
• Avoid numbers or hyphens
  Stick with letters to keep the domain clean and easy to remember.

Step 2: Register the domain name

Once you pick a domain, register it through a domain provider like:

• Namecheap
• GoDaddy
• Google Domains
• Porkbun
• Cloudflare

💡 Pro tip: You can even use a subdomain of your main domain, like go.yourbrand.com. This way, you don’t need to buy a new domain.

Step 3: Connect your domain to a link shortener

Now that you own a custom domain, you’ll need to connect it to a link shortening platform that supports branded domains. One easy and free option is Linko.me.

Why use Linko?

Linko is a powerful URL shortener built for marketers, bloggers, and creators. It supports:

• Branded domains (on paid plans)
• Unlimited link shortening (on paid plans)
• Link scheduling and expiration (on paid plans)
• Bulk URL shortening
• Bulk QR code generation
• Custom splash pages and CTA overlays
• Advanced link analytics
• Deep linking and UTM support
• Bio pages with 38 widgets

And yes — you can get started free with up to 50 short links.

How to add your custom domain to Linko

Let’s walk through the basic steps:

1. Sign up on Linko.me
   Create an account if you haven’t already.
2. Choose a paid plan
   Select the core plan from pricing page that costs $9/mo and allow 2 branded domain.
3. Go to Domain Settings
   From your dashboard, find the “Custom Domains” section.
4. Add your domain or subdomain
   Enter your chosen domain (e.g., go.yourbrand.com or yourbn.co).
5. Update DNS settings
   You’ll be asked to add an A Record or CNAME to your domain provider’s DNS settings. This connects your domain to Linko.
6. Wait for propagation
   It might take a few minutes or hours to reflect. Once verified, your domain is ready to use.
7. Start shortening branded links
   You can now shorten links like go.yourbrand.com/welcome-offer and share them anywhere.

Step 4: Customize your branded links

One of the benefits of branded links is full customization. Here’s what you can do with tools like Linko:

✅ Edit the link slug

Make it clean and keyword-rich, like:

• /summer-sale
• /webinar-2025
• /free-trial

✅ Add metadata

Set link title and description so previews look polished when shared on social media or messengers.

✅ Track link clicks

Use Linko’s analytics to see:

• Total clicks
• Referrer sources
• Countries
• Devices
• Browsers
• Languages
• A/B test results

✅ Set advanced rules

Enable:

• Geo-targeting (e.g., users from India go to a different page)
• Device targeting (e.g., mobile users see a different promo)
• IP targeting or language targeting

Benefits of using Linko for branded short links

Here’s a quick list of features that make Linko a strong choice:

• ⚡ Fast setup for custom domains
• 🔒 HTTPS secure links with branded SSL
• 🧠 Smart targeting and automation
• 📊 Link analytics in real-time
• 💡 Custom CTAs and overlays for engagement
• 🧰 Developer-friendly API
• 🔄 Bulk operations without CSV

Branded vs generic short links: what’s the difference?

Let’s break down how custom branded links compare to generic ones:

If you’re serious about growing your audience, increasing conversions, and standing out — branded links are the way to go.

Common mistakes to avoid when creating branded short links

Creating branded short links with a custom domain is straightforward — but a few simple mistakes can hurt your performance, branding, or even cause broken links. Here’s what to watch out for:

❌ Choosing a confusing domain

Don’t pick a domain that looks spammy or includes hard-to-read characters. Stick with short, simple, and clean domains.

❌ Forgetting HTTPS

Always ensure your branded links are secure (HTTPS). Platforms like Linko automatically provide SSL certificates for your domain, but it’s easy to overlook this step if you’re self-hosting.

❌ Using generic or random slugs

Avoid auto-generated slugs like /a8Xqz9 — they don’t help with branding or SEO. Instead, create custom slugs that are readable and keyword-rich like /discount, /ebook, or /black-friday.

❌ Ignoring analytics

Short links without tracking defeat the purpose. If you’re not measuring performance — clicks, referrers, or conversions — you’re flying blind.

❌ Letting links expire by mistake

If you set expiration dates or link schedules, always double-check them. Nothing’s worse than a marketing campaign with dead links!

Real-world use cases for branded short links

Branded links aren’t just for large companies — they’re useful across industries. Here’s how businesses, creators, and marketers use them daily:

📩 Email marketing

Instead of linking to long URLs in your email campaigns, use branded links like offers.brand.co/signup. It looks clean and builds trust.

📱 SMS marketing

Short links fit perfectly into the character limits of text messages. Plus, they look professional and are less likely to be filtered as spam.

📢 Social media

Platforms like Instagram and TikTok limit how you share links. Branded short links give you a neat, clickable URL for your bio or post captions.

📊 Campaign tracking

Pair branded links with UTM tags to track performance across platforms — especially useful for ad campaigns and influencer tracking.

🎯 Retargeting

Tools like Linko allow you to attach retargeting pixels to your short links. That means you can build ad audiences based on who clicks your link.

🔗 QR codes

Combine your custom short links with QR codes for offline campaigns — think brochures, flyers, packaging, or event signage.

Why Linko is a top choice for branded short links with a custom domain

If you’re looking for a user-friendly, feature-rich platform that lets you create and manage branded short links with ease, Linko is built for you.

What makes Linko stand out?

• Free plan with 50 links
• Connect any custom domain (root or subdomain)
• Link cloaking, deep linking, and overlays
• Bulk link and QR generation
• Bio page builder with 38 widgets
• Advanced link targeting (IP, device, geo)
• Powerful analytics and UTM builder
• No CSV needed for bulk links
• API for developers

And it’s all hosted on blazing-fast infrastructure with HTTPS included by default.

Whether you’re a solo creator or running a business, Linko is flexible enough to grow with you.

Final thoughts: start building trust with every click

Branded short links give you more than a shorter URL — they give you control, credibility, and visibility.

Whether you’re running ads, sending emails, posting on social media, or building links offline with QR codes, a branded link puts your name front and center.

It only takes a few minutes to register a domain, connect it to Linko, and start creating smart, custom-branded URLs that work harder for you.

Don’t let generic shorteners steal your spotlight — build your own branded link empire today.

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