Feature

Vanity URLs that read like your brand

A vanity URL is a short link on your own domain with a slug you choose — go.yourbrand.com/spring-sale instead of a random code. Shortly creates them in seconds, tracks every click, and lets you change the destination later without touching the link you already shared.

Anatomy of a vanity URL

Long destination

https://yourbrand.com/campaigns/2026/spring?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

Vanity URL

https://go.yourbrand.com/spring-sale

Your domain

The branded host, connected once with a single DNS record.

Your slug

A readable keyword that says what the link is for.

Your data

Clicks, countries, devices, and referrers behind every share.

How to create a vanity URL

1
Connect your domain (or subdomain such as go.yourbrand.com) in the dashboard and add the DNS record we show you.
2
Paste the long destination URL and choose the slug you want — keep it short, lowercase, and descriptive.
3
Add UTM parameters if the link belongs to a campaign, so the traffic shows up correctly in your analytics.
4
Share the vanity URL anywhere, then watch clicks land in real time and update the destination whenever the offer changes.

Where vanity links earn their keep

Print and offline

Posters, packaging, and business cards need a link people can retype from memory.

Email campaigns

Branded hosts look less like spam than a shared shortener domain, which helps click-through.

Social bios

One readable link per campaign, swappable without editing the profile again.

Sales outreach

yourbrand.com/acme-proposal reads as personal — and tells you the moment it's opened.

Frequently asked questions

What is a vanity URL?

A vanity URL is a short, readable web address that uses your own domain and a hand-picked slug — for example go.yourbrand.com/summer-sale instead of a random string of characters. It tells people where the link goes before they click it.

What is the difference between a vanity URL and a short link?

Every vanity URL is a short link, but not every short link is a vanity URL. A plain short link uses a shared shortener domain and an auto-generated slug; a vanity URL uses your domain and a chosen keyword, so it carries your brand and reads as intended.

How do I create a vanity URL?

Connect your domain in Shortly (one DNS record), paste your destination URL, then type the slug you want — for example /pricing-demo. The vanity URL works immediately and every click is tracked in analytics.

Are vanity URLs good for SEO?

Vanity URLs use a 301 redirect, so link equity passes to the destination page. Their main benefit is behavioural: readable, branded links get clicked more often in email, social posts, and print, which improves campaign performance.

Can I change a vanity URL after sharing it?

You can change the destination behind a vanity URL at any time without reprinting or resharing it. The slug itself stays stable so anything already published keeps working.

Create your first vanity link

Paste a long URL and get a working short link instantly. Create a free account to track clicks.