Top 4 Reasons Why Websites Use Short URLs

So, you have a website. Every page has its own URL created by your web developer, or automatically created by an algorithm encoded in your page. Why could you possibly need your URLs changed to something else entirely? There are a few simple but very important reasons why people use URL shortening and URL redirects. Today we’re looking at why these services exist – and how your site could benefit by using them.

1. Short URLs get more clicks
   When people encounter a long URL that isn’t encoded as a hyperlink with anchor text, it looks intimidating. People tend to think thatshorter URLs will be closer to the main site page, and therefore contain more general informaiton that is closer to what they imagine they will need. After all, if only an obscure page on a website contains the term you are looking for, you might be able to get more comprehensive information elsewhere.
2. If you use Twitter marketing, you need short URLs
   Twitter limits its messages to 140 characters or less. A URL may only be counted as one word, since it has no spaces, but every little &ocsid= or &page_query_1125463 eats away at your character limit! And if you can’t tell your Twitter followers anything about the link, they aren’t likely to click on it.
3. If you use SMS marketing, you need short URLs
   The same rule as in Twitter marketing applies for SMS marketing. You have 140-160 characters, depending on your recipient’s mobile phone service, to get your message to them. If your characters are completely taken up by a website address, you’ll get few clicks. In addition, unless an enormous percentage of your clients use mobile internet devices as their phones (and you would really want that percentage to be close to 100%!), many will have to re-type the URL into their browser to visit the site. Long URLs increase the likelihood of typos, and missed opportunities for your website
4. You want to include a URL in your print advertising
   Unfortunately, technology hasn’t progressed to the point where print publications are web-enabled, and we can just tap printed words in a magazine to get to a website! Again, people must re-type addresses they see in print ads, and if you want to send them to a deep link in your site, every extra character is another possibility of creating a typo. If it looks like work, people simply won’t bother ... and your advertising dollar is wasted!

URL shortening and redirection services are an integral part of the web already, and are vital for truly integrating your web and traditional marketing efforts. Best of all, many great services are free to use!