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.

The URL links that appear in promotional messages, instructions, and notifications, are often long and unsightly. Research has shown that end users hesitate and are less likely to click on long URLs that contain many parameters. Users find them untrustworthy and even consider them as spam.

With URL Shortening, the system automatically generates a shorter, more reliable-looking URL in your message content, still landing in the same destination when opened. 

Infobip can shorten those URL links completely or partially to keep a recognizable brand domain in the link. This means that end users are more likely to click through.   

In addition, if you cannot measure results and clicks, you will not be able to improve your strategy and communication. You can use tracking options to see which of your end users clicked on the links you sent in your messages.

Another benefit of URL shortening is a reduced message length when a long URL link is shortened. This avoids the need to send long URLs in multiple messages, especially when you may need to be cautious with the number of used characters, and so reduces costs.

Oftentimes, messages can end up being broken up and sent over multiple separate messages where URLs exceed message body character limits. This in turn generates more cost and can bombard users with messages.

URL Shortening is available on Broadcast on the web interface and over API. URL Shortening works with SMS and other digital channels, including Viber and WhatsApp. See the channel specific documentation.  

Available Channels

• SMS
• WhatsApp
• Viber

How URL Shortening Works

For URL shortening, there are two options:

• Default - shorten a URL using a domain provided by Infobip
• Custom Domain - clients can use their own domain so the shortened URL will have a recognizable company or brand domain.  

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 8 characters are made up of a standard protocol and 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
• pgn.nu
• qyy.nu
• wwk.nu
• wws.nu
• eej.at
• rzz.at
• eej.nu
• hhp.nu
• rzz.nu
• zgz.nu
• qyy.at
• qyy.be
• rrj.nu

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 Domain option

For SMS, you can shorten a URL with a custom domain. Your URL is processed in Infobip and assigned a shorter URL but with your domain untouched. The first 8 characters of the URL are the standard protocol and your domain, and the remaining characters are a string of numbers that contain the tracking information.

It is possible use a primary domain or a subdomain of that primary domain.  A subdomain is something like support.company.com, whereas the primary domain is company.com.

Using a primary domain, this message 

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

Will be shortened to:

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

 

Using a subdomain, this message 

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

Will be shortened to:

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

Track URL clicks

You can track URL clicks on both the Default and Custom Domain 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://www.mybrand.com/messaging/too-long-to-read"

Will be shortened and https removed to:

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

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