URL Shortening

A lot of communication that takes place online nowadays contains links. Links are used to assist and expedite users and customers to exactly the right places on the web where they can access the resources they need.

Long URLs in promotional messages, instructions, and notifications can appear untrustworthy and discourage users from clicking. Research shows that users are less likely to engage with links that are lengthy or contain many parameters, as these often look like spam.

With URL Shortening, the system automatically generates a shorter, more reliable-looking URL that directs users to the same destination. Infobip can shorten URLs completely or partially, allowing you to keep a recognizable brand domain in the link. This increases user trust and click-through rates.

URL Shortening also helps you:

• Track user engagement by measuring which users click your links. This data helps you improve your communication strategy.
• Reduce message length, which helps you stay within character limits and avoid splitting messages. This can lower your messaging costs and prevent users from receiving multiple fragmented messages.

You can use URL Shortening in the following ways:

• Broadcast on the web interface
• Flow on the web interface
• API

Features

Available channels

• SMS
• Email
• Viber
• WhatsApp
• Zalo

How URL shortening works

For URL shortening, there are two options:

1. Default - shorten a URL using a domain provided by Infobip
2. Custom - use your own subdomain so the shortened URL will have a recognizable company or brand

Default URL shortening

When using the default option, your URL is processed in Infobip and assigned a shorter URL made up of 23 characters. The first part of the URL consists of the standard protocol and the domain, and the remaining characters are a string of numbers that contain the tracking information.

Shortened URLs are automatically generated and allocated at random, and this means that you cannot choose your own shortened URL.

The shortened URL will contain one of the following domains:

• cka.nu
• eeg.nu
• eej.nu
• hhp.nu
• pgn.nu
• qyy.nu
• rrj.nu
• rzz.nu
• wwk.nu
• wws.nu
• zgz.nu
• eej.at
• qyy.at
• rzz.at
• qyy.be
• xxr.be
• kkq.cz
• yyp.cz
• ooq.im
• rrq.im
• ttq.im
• ooq.vc
• ycc.vc
• ttz.vg
• yyp.ch

Example

For example, this message:

To find out more on messaging go to https://www.infobip.com/messaging

Will be shortened to:

To find out more on messaging go to https://rrj.nu/x5T3jd2Y

Custom URL shortening

For SMS, you can shorten a URL with the custom option. Use subdomains only for custom URL shortening.

Your URL is processed in Infobip and assigned a shorter URL but with your subdomain untouched.

For example, a message that includes a URL using the https://blog.mybrand.com subdomain:

To find out more on messaging go to https://blog.mybrand.com/messaging/very-long-url-never-stops

Will be shortened to:

To find out more on messaging go to https://blog.mybrand.com/hS18xzBe

The first part of the URL consists of the standard protocol and your subdomain, and the remaining characters are a string of numbers that contain the tracking information.

Track URL clicks

You can track URL clicks on both the Default and Custom options.

See URL Tracking for details about tracking URLs.

Shorten further

You can also remove the protocol https:// or http:// prefix from the shortened link.

For example, this message:

To find out more on messaging go to https://docs.mybrand.com/messaging/too-long-to-read

Will be shortened and https removed to:

To find out more on messaging go to docs.mybrand.com/x5T3jd2Y

The prefix shortening is available on both Default and Custom options.