What is Link Shortening and How Does It Work?

With the widespread use of the internet, long and complex links have become a problem for users. For those who want to use more practical and readable links in social media posts, emails and even printed materials, link shortener services provide great convenience. So, what exactly is link shortening and how does it work?

What is Link Shortening?

Link shortening is a process that makes long URLs shorter and more useful. This way, links look more aesthetically pleasing and are easier for users to share. For example, consider the following long link:

https://www.ornekwebsite.com/kategori/urunler/satis/uzun-url-ornek

When we convert this link with a link shortening service it might become:

https://lnq.com.tr/UMJNV3

As you can see, the shortened link is both more readable and easier to share.

How Does Link Shortening Work?

The link shortening process is pretty simple and usually involves the following steps:

1. The user specifies the URL he wants to shorten.
2. This URL is entered using a link shortening service (Bitly, TinyURL, Rebrandly, etc.).
3. The service creates a special referral link by converting the original URL into a shorter format.
4. The user can share and use the generated short link.
5. Once the click occurs, users are automatically redirected to the original long link.

Advantages of Link Shortening

• Easy Sharing: It shortens long URLs, making them more practical for email, social media or messaging applications.
• Tracking and Analysis: Most link shortening services provide data such as how many times the link has been clicked and from which geographic areas it was accessed.
• Branding: You can strengthen your personal or corporate brand identity by using custom domain names.
• More Professional Look: Shortened links provide a cleaner and more reliable look in posts.

Popular Link Shortening Services

• Bitly: It is a popular service with its user-friendly interface and detailed analysis tools.
• TinyURL: It offers the opportunity to quickly shorten links without requiring registration.
• Lnq : As a rising site in Turkey, it is a unique site where you can follow the links you create with the membership system.
• Rebrandly: It allows you to create shortened links with custom domain name.
• Google Firebase Dynamic Links: Provides smart routing features for mobile applications.

Link shortening, is a tool that provides great convenience for internet users. Both individual users and businesses can use their digital assets more effectively by making long and complex links shorter and more manageable. Especially in social media and marketing strategies, more interaction can be achieved by using the right link shortening methods. If you want to use shorter and more understandable links instead of long URLs, you can try one of the link shortening services mentioned above.