Guide
What are branded links?
A branded link is a short link served from a domain you own. Instead of shrt.co/x7Kd91, your audience sees go.yourbrand.com/spring-sale — same redirect, very different first impression.
Branded vs generic short links
| Branded link | Generic short link | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Yours (go.yourbrand.com) | Shared shortener domain |
| Slug | Chosen keyword | Random characters |
| Recognition | Recipient sees your brand | Unknown host |
| Reputation | Only your traffic affects it | Shared with every other user |
| Reuse | Swap destination, keep the URL | Usually fixed |
Why marketers use them
- Trust at the moment of the click. Unfamiliar shortener domains are a common spam signal; your own domain isn't.
- Campaign clarity. A slug like
/webinar-juneis self-documenting in reports, print, and team handoffs. - Flexibility. Change where a printed or already-sent link points without republishing anything.
- Clean attribution. Pair the branded link with UTM parameters so the traffic is labelled correctly in analytics.
Setting up your first branded link
- 1
Pick a subdomain you're happy to see in public — go., link., and try. all work well.
- 2
Add it in Shortly under Domains and create the DNS record we display at your registrar.
- 3
Wait for verification (usually minutes), then create a link and pick the domain from the dropdown.
- 4
Choose a readable slug, add UTMs for campaigns, and share it.
- 5
Review analytics after the first day and compare click-through against your old generic links.
Naming conventions that scale
Decide on a pattern before you have hundreds of links. Lowercase words separated by hyphens, a channel or date prefix for campaigns (q3-webinar, ig-bio), and no internal codes your audience can't read. Keep evergreen slugs short so they survive on print.
Frequently asked questions
What are branded links?
Branded links are short links that use your own domain instead of a shared shortener domain — for example go.yourbrand.com/demo. They carry your brand name in the URL, which makes them more recognisable and more clickable than generic short links.
Do branded links get more clicks?
Generally yes. Recipients can see the brand they expect before clicking, which reduces hesitation in email, social, and messaging apps where unfamiliar shortener domains often look like spam.
What do I need to start using branded links?
A domain or subdomain you control (go.yourbrand.com works well), one DNS record pointing it at Shortly, and a link shortener that supports custom domains. Setup usually takes under ten minutes.
How do I measure branded link performance?
Compare branded and generic links on the same campaign: clicks, unique visitors, and click-through rate against the same audience size. Shortly records clicks, country, device, browser, and referrer for every link so the comparison is direct.
Are branded links safe for my domain reputation?
Yes, as long as you only redirect to destinations you control and revoke links you no longer use. Because you own the domain, nobody else's spam can affect the reputation of your short links — unlike a shared shortener domain.
Next steps
Try a short link, then brand it
Paste a long URL and get a working short link instantly. Create a free account to track clicks.