URL Shorteners was designed for convenience. What started out as a way to make remembering URLs easier has since evolved into one of the most effective analytics tools used by digital marketers across the world.
Are there any best ones?
Not all ULR shorteners are created equal. While there are many tools that offer such services, a few have been the popular ones. This is mostly because they provide a comprehensive group of analytic tools where you can track your traffic in your site.
The Catch-22 situation
The only problem with short URLs is that some users do not trust these links. But then again, on the flip side, having long URL addresses are just too cumbersome to remember. Hence, short URLs are better if they serve more purpose besides being easy to remember.
Analytics, you say?
Yes, URL shorteners come with their own set of analytics functions so that you can now understand your users better. Since they are redirected via a short URL, the tracking starts and then proceeds from there. We take a look at the few major URL shorteners.
- Bitly – One of the easiest to use and it comes with functions where users can decide if the links are private or public. They can also customize their links and tracks the number of clicks. It has yet to track page views or any additional data.
- Goo.gl – The name tells you that this is by the king of search engines. It offers a lot more information that it tracks including referrals and demographics too. Besides the main functions, Goo.gl comes with the time with the most clicks too, among others.
- Tiny.URL – This is quite a popular tool for those who like being anonymous. You can customize the link yourself if you do not like to have it auto-generated. What more, it is absolutely free of charge.
So what is the best?
There is no best URL shortener to be honest. Depending on what you intend to use it for and where your accounts are. If you are a Google-oriented business, then Goo.gl could suit your needs perfectly. You get all your information from one central area. Otherwise, Bit.ly and Tiny.URL could get the job done pretty well too.
