How to Create Custom Short URLs for Your Business in 2025

In 2025, standing out online is harder than ever. 🥲

Long, clunky URLs don’t just look bad—they hurt your brand, lower trust, and reduce clicks.

Imagine sharing a sleek, branded short link—one that’s memorable, professional, and trackable.

Link shorteners have evolved significantly over the years, becoming essential for branding and marketing.

If you’re curious about how they started, check out the history of link shorteners to see how they’ve shaped the digital landscape.

Why Custom Short URLs Matter?

• Boost engagement 📈 – Branded links attract more clicks.
• Improve brand recognition 🔥 – Your domain builds trust.
• Provide deep insights 📊 – Track audience behavior with ease.

Businesses using custom short URLs see higher click-through rates and better marketing performance.

No Coding, 🧑‍💻 No Hassle. 😧

What if you could create your own custom short URLs in minutes?

With the right tools, you can turn long, forgettable links into powerful assets that drive traffic and conversions.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to create custom short URLs step by step.

Whether you’re a e-commerce business, digital marketer, or influencer, this is your key to smarter, more effective link sharing.

🚀 Let’s get started!

Why Custom Short URLs Matter for Businesses?

In 2025, businesses rely on custom short URLs to improve branding, track performance, and boost engagement.

Unlike generic short links, a custom short URL is tailored to your brand, making it more recognizable and trustworthy.

Stronger Brand Identity

A branded short URL reinforces your company name in every link you share.

Instead of a random shortener like bit.ly/xyz123, you can use yourbrand.link/deal, making it instantly recognizable.

A consistent brand presence increases trust and click-through rates.

Higher Click-Through Rates (CTR)

Studies show that branded links get up to 39% more clicks than generic ones. Users are more likely to engage with a link that looks familiar and trustworthy.

Advanced Tracking & Analytics

With a custom short link, you can track:

• Total clicks
• Geolocation of users
• Device types (mobile, desktop, tablet)
• Referring websites
• Browsers
• Users’ Language

Using UTM Parameters for Better Tracking

Adding UTM parameters to your links helps track campaigns in Google Analytics:

https://yourbrand.link/sale?utm_source=email&utm_medium=campaign

• utm_source → Where the traffic comes from (email, social, ads).
• utm_medium → The marketing channel (paid, organic, referral).
• utm_campaign → Campaign identifier.

Optimizing short links based on analytics improves marketing ROI.

Better User Experience

Short, clean URLs are easier to remember, type, and share, especially in SMS, social media, and offline marketing (QR codes, print ads).

Control & Security

• Prevents link hijacking and spam.
• Allows easy redirection if URLs change.
• Hide the referrer or cloak the link.

A custom short URL isn’t just a link—it’s a powerful branding and marketing tool.

Steps to Create a Custom Short URL

Creating a custom short URL for your business is easier than you think.

Follow these simple steps to set up a branded short link that enhances your brand identity, improves click-through rates, and provides valuable tracking insights.

Step 1: Choose the Right URL Shortener

Not all URL shorteners are created equal. Some offer custom domains, analytics, and API integrations, while others have limited features.

When selecting a URL shortener, consider:

✅ Custom branding – Allows you to use your own domain.
✅ Advanced analytics – Tracks clicks, locations, and devices.
✅ Security – Provides HTTPS protection and spam prevention.
✅ API support – Automates link creation for marketing campaigns.

Some of the best tools for branded short links in 2025:

• Linko.me – Full-featured URL shortener with custom branding, deep linking, and link management.
• Bitly – Popular for its simple interface and analytics.
• Rebrandly – Best for businesses looking for custom domain solutions.

Choosing the right shortener ensures you have control over your links while enhancing branding.

Step 2: Register a Branded Domain

A custom domain makes your short links look professional and recognizable. Instead of using a generic shortener, you can create links like:

❌ bit.ly/sale2025
✅ yourbrand.link/sale

How to Choose the Right Domain

• Keep it short, memorable, and brand-related.
• Use short extensions like .link, .me, .co, or .io.
• Avoid numbers and special characters.

Where to Buy a Custom Domain

• Namecheap
• GoDaddy
• Cloudflare Domains
• Porkbun

A branded domain increases trust and encourages more clicks.

Step 3: Set Up Your Custom Domain in a URL Shortener

Once you have a domain, you need to connect it to your URL shortener.

Here’s how to do it in Linko:

1. Log in to your Linko dashboard.
2. Go to Custom Domains and click Add New Domain.
3. Enter your branded domain name (e.g., yourbrand.link).
4. Update your DNS settings:
   • Add a CNAME record pointing to linko.me.
   • Save and wait for DNS propagation (may take a few hours).
5. Verify your domain in Linko and start shortening URLs.

Example DNS Setup:
Type: CNAME
Host: yourbrand.link
Value: linko.me

Custom domains ensure that all your short links maintain your brand identity.

Step 4: Customize Your Short Links

Custom short links should be easy to remember, relevant, and professional. Instead of using random strings, customize your links to match your content.

• ✅ Good example: yourbrand.me/discount
• ❌ Bad example: yourbrand.me/xYz12aB

Best Practices for Customizing Links

• Use keywords relevant to your campaign.
• Keep it short and simple (avoid unnecessary words).
• Avoid misleading or spammy-looking URLs.

A well-crafted short URL improves user trust and engagement.

Best Practices for Using Custom Short URLs

Using custom short URLs effectively can boost your brand visibility, improve engagement, and enhance marketing performance. Follow these best practices to maximize their impact.

Keep URLs Short and Readable

A short, clear link is easier to remember and share. Avoid random characters and use meaningful slugs like:

✅ yourbrand.com/offer
❌ yourbrand.com/ab7z1b2c3

Readable links improve trust and increase click-through rates (CTR).

Use Keywords for SEO & Branding

Custom short URLs with relevant keywords help users and search engines understand the link’s purpose. Example:

https://yourbrand.link/black-friday-sale

Track and Optimize Performance

Monitor clicks, location, referrer data, and devices to refine your strategy. Use UTM parameters for campaign tracking:

https://yourbrand.link/sale?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=ad

Use Linko’s free UTM builder to add UTM tags to any URL.

Avoid Spammy or Misleading Links

Never use custom short URLs to trick users. Keep them relevant, accurate, and trustworthy.

Secure Your Links

Enable HTTPS to protect users from phishing attacks and maintain credibility.

A well-crafted custom short URL strategy enhances marketing effectiveness and brand recognition.

Advanced Features to Enhance Your Short URLs

Modern custom short URLs go beyond basic link shortening. Advanced features help businesses improve engagement, tracking, and conversions.

Link Scheduling & Expiration

Set an expiry date for time-sensitive promotions. Example:

https://yourbrand.link/holiday-sale (active until Dec 31, 2025)

Great for flash sales, limited-time offers, and event registrations.

A/B Testing for Links

Redirect users to different landing pages to see which one performs better. This helps optimize conversion rates.

Geo-Targeting & Device Targeting

Send users to different URLs based on location, device type, language, or IP.

✅ Example:

• U.S. visitors → yourbrand.link/us-deal
• EU visitors → yourbrand.link/eu-deal

CTA Overlay & Custom Splash Pages

Display a call-to-action (CTA) banner or branded landing page before redirecting users.

Link Cloaking & UTM Tags

• Cloaking hides long affiliate links (yourbrand.link/deal instead of affiliatesite.com/xyz).
• UTM tags track campaign performance in Google Analytics.

Using advanced features makes short URLs more powerful for marketing and conversions. 🚀

Conclusion

Custom short URLs are a powerful tool for branding, marketing, and link management.

By using a branded domain and advanced features, businesses can enhance trust, engagement, and tracking.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Branding matters – A custom short URL reinforces your business identity.
✅ Short and clear links improve click-through rates and user trust.
✅ Tracking and analytics help optimize marketing strategies.
✅ Advanced features like geo-targeting, A/B testing, and link expiration add flexibility.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still using generic short links, now is the time to upgrade to a branded short URL.

A well-structured short link strategy can significantly improve your marketing efforts and give your business a competitive edge in 2025.

Start creating custom short URLs today and take control of your brand’s online presence! 🚀

FAQs