Create a Short Link

Your Short Links (saved in this browser)

Note: These mappings live in your browser’s local storage. For real redirects (so links work for everyone), see the guide below.

Why Use a URL Shortener (and How to Do It Right)

Clean, memorable links convert better. Long URLs can look messy in emails, social media posts, banners, and QR codes. A URL shortener solves this by mapping a short path—like https://pageranker.net/s/abc123—to your full destination URL. When you combine this with UTM parameters, you get tracking that plugs into Google Analytics, Matomo, or your preferred analytics suite.

This tool gives you a fast way to build short links and add marketing parameters without mistakes. It’s designed to keep everything local to your browser for privacy and simplicity, and you can export all mappings to JSON to set up server-side redirects later. That means you can brainstorm, prototype, and organize your campaign links without needing a developer right away.

What Makes a Good Short Link?

• Branded domain: Use your own domain (or subdomain like s.pageranker.net) for trust and higher CTR.
• Readable slug (optional): For ads and print, a readable path like /summer-deal can outperform random IDs.
• Consistent UTM tags: Stick to lowercase, use dashes instead of spaces, and standardize your naming across channels.
• Avoid endless redirects: Too many hops can hurt tracking and user experience; keep it to a single shortener if possible.

How to Use This Tool

1. Paste your destination URL (the page you want users to reach).
2. Optionally expand the UTM section to add utm_source, utm_medium, and utm_campaign (plus term/content as needed).
3. Set your short domain preview (e.g., https://pageranker.net/s).
4. Click Shorten URL. You’ll get a short path like /A1b2C3, plus a copyable full short URL and a QR code.
5. Export mappings to JSON when you’re ready to implement real redirects on your server.

Making the Links Work for Everyone

This page stores your short links in localStorage (your browser only), which is perfect for planning and testing. To make short links public, set up redirects on your domain. On WordPress, you can use a redirect plugin (e.g., Redirection or Rank Math) and bulk import your JSON list. On Apache/Nginx, add rewrite rules that map /s/{code} to the long destination. If you prefer a managed approach, third-party shorteners (like Bitly or Rebrandly) provide APIs and analytics dashboards—but at a cost and with less control over branding.

UTM Best Practices

• Use lowercase: Analytics treats Facebook and facebook as different values.
• Keep it simple: Don’t overload UTMs; 2–3 parameters are enough for most campaigns.
• Avoid PII: Never put emails or personal data in UTM parameters—they’re visible in URLs.
• Document your taxonomy: Keep a shared sheet of approved UTM values so your team stays consistent.

Short links are more than cosmetic—they’re a reliable way to improve CTR, track performance, and keep campaigns organized. Start with the demo here, then upgrade to server-side redirects when you’re ready to go live.

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