Branded Short Links: Why They Get 34–39% More Clicks
Generic bit.ly/abc123 links create hesitation — 67% of users hesitate to click them. Branded links like yourdomain.com/sale build trust and can increase CTR by over a third.
What is a branded short link?
A branded short link uses your brand in the slug: yourdomain.com/summer-sale instead of bit.ly/aB3x9. With ShortLink you pick a custom alias (3–30 chars, letters/numbers/dash/underscore) after your domain. On a custom domain setup (e.g. go.yourbrand.com), the effect is even stronger — but even on a shared domain, a vanity slug signals intent.
The data: why brands are switching
- Over 55% of businesses now use branded short URLs; adoption is the default for enterprises.
- Branded links see 34–39% higher CTR than generic (multiple studies).
- 67% hesitate to click generic short links in professional contexts (trust gap).
- 64% of enterprises rely on branded links to enhance trust and engagement.
This is why picking a shortener is a long-term branding decision, not just a utility choice — and why comparisons like Bitly vs TinyURL increasingly focus on branding.
Generic vs branded — example
| Generic | Branded (ShortLink) |
|---|---|
bit.ly/3xK9pLq | yourdomain.com/summer-sale |
| Unclear destination | Clear intent, memorable, shareable |
| Lower trust, lower CTR | Higher trust, +39% CTR |
How to create a branded link with ShortLink
- Go to ShortLink homepage.
- Paste your long URL.
- In Custom alias type your vanity slug:
summer-sale,my-brand,qr-menu. - Click Shorten — your branded link + QR are ready. Track at
/stats/summer-sale.
Best practices for vanity slugs
- Keep it short and readable — 6–15 chars ideal (even though 30 allowed).
- Use kebab-case (
summer-sale) not camelCase. - Match campaign names — UTMs and slugs should align.
- Avoid lookalike chars (0/O, 1/l) if sharing verbally.
Custom domains vs custom aliases
A custom alias (vanity slug) is the path after the domain — free on ShortLink. A custom domain (e.g. go.yourbrand.com) is your own short domain — the strongest trust signal. ShortLink currently supports aliases; custom domains are on our roadmap. Even without a custom domain, aliases deliver most of the CTR benefit.
Ready? Create a branded short link now, or learn how to shorten any URL step-by-step. See all features.