Creating custom slugs for your short links can give you greater control over how your links appear and enhance your branding efforts. Custom slugs allow you to make your short links more memorable, relevant, and user-friendly. In this guide, we’ll show you how to create custom slugs for your short links using URLShortly.
What Are Custom Slugs?
A slug is the part of a URL that comes after the domain name. For example, in the link https://urlshortly.com/spring-sale, the slug is spring-sale.
When you use a URL shortening service, the default slug is typically a random string of characters (e.g., xyz123). However, with custom slugs, you can replace this random string with a keyword or phrase that makes the link more meaningful and easier to remember.
Benefits of Custom Slugs
Branding: Custom slugs can help align your short links with your brand name or message.
Memorability: Easier-to-remember slugs mean people are more likely to click on them and share them.
SEO Advantages: Relevant keywords in your custom slugs can improve the visibility of your links in search engines.
Better User Experience: Clear, descriptive slugs are more likely to inspire trust from your audience.
Step 1: Log In to Your URLShortly Account
To get started, log in to your URLShortly account. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up for free. Once logged in, you’ll be taken to your Dashboard, where you can access the link shortening tools.
Step 2: Shorten a Link
Before you can create a custom slug, you need to shorten a link. If you already have a URL you want to shorten, proceed with the next step. Otherwise, follow these instructions:
Go to the Shorten URL section in your dashboard.
Paste the long URL (the original link you want to shorten) into the provided field.
Click on the Shorten button.
Step 3: Choose the Custom Slug Option
After shortening your link, URLShortly will generate a random slug by default (e.g., https://urlshortly.com/abc123). To create a custom slug:
In the Shortened Link section, look for an option to Edit or Customize your slug.
Click on the Edit Slug option to open the customization window.
In the provided text field, enter your desired custom slug. It can be a keyword, brand name, or phrase that reflects the content of the link.
Example:
If you're shortening a link for a seasonal sale, you could choose a custom slug like spring-sale instead of the default xyz123.
Step 4: Save and Generate the Custom Short Link
Once you’ve chosen a custom slug, click the Save or Generate button to finalize the link. Your new short link will look something like this:https://urlshortly.com/spring-sale
Step 5: Share and Track Your Custom Link
Now that your custom slug is created, you can share it anywhere—on social media, email newsletters, or even in printed materials. You’ll also be able to track the performance of this link using URLShortly’s analytics features.
Tips for Creating Effective Custom Slugs
Keep It Short and Sweet: Aim for short slugs that are easy to remember. Avoid long strings of words.
Use Relevant Keywords: Include keywords related to the content you're linking to. This helps both your audience and search engines understand what the link is about.
Make It Branded: Include your brand name or a key product name for better brand recognition.
Avoid Special Characters: Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens. Avoid using spaces, underscores, or special characters.
Be Descriptive: Make sure your custom slug is relevant to the content of the link.
Best Practices for Using Custom Slugs
Consistency: Use similar styles for your slugs across all your links to maintain consistency.
Avoid Duplication: Make sure your custom slug is unique. If a slug is already taken, URLShortly will prompt you to choose another one.
Track Links: Use URLShortly’s analytics to track clicks on your custom links. This can help you measure the success of your campaigns and understand your audience better.
Use Custom Slugs for Campaigns: Custom slugs work especially well for campaigns. For instance, you can use slugs like
summer-promo,new-arrivals, orblack-friday.
Conclusion
Creating custom slugs for your short links on URLShortly is a simple but powerful way to improve branding, increase memorability, and enhance the user experience. With just a few clicks, you can turn generic, random short links into meaningful, descriptive URLs that are easier for your audience to recognize and trust.
Start customizing your slugs today to make your links stand out and track their performance effectively!