What is a Branded Short Link?
A short link built on your own domain, so every link reinforces your brand.
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Quick Answer
A branded short link is a shortened URL that uses your own domain instead of a generic shortener’s domain. Where a generic short link might look like shortifyme.co/abc123, a branded short link uses your domain, like yourbrand.com/spring2026. The link works the same way; it just visibly belongs to your brand.
Full Definition
A branded short link combines two things: shortening (turning a long URL into a compact one) and branding (using your own domain instead of a third-party one). The branding part is what makes it “branded.” Without it, the link is just a short link.
To create branded short links, you need a custom domain pointed at a URL shortener that supports them. The shortener turns the long URL into a short alias on your domain. Visitors who click the link see your brand in the URL, never the shortener’s.
Why It Matters
People click branded links more often than generic ones. The brand in the URL signals trust and intentionality. A link from a recognized business looks credible; a link from a generic shortener can look like spam or a phishing attempt, especially in an email or text message.
Branded links also work harder for marketing. A printed flyer with a branded link reinforces the brand twice: once on the design and once in the URL itself. On a business card, the branded link becomes part of the contact information rather than a generic redirect.
How ShortifyMe Handles It
Branded short links require a paid ShortifyMe plan, because they need a custom domain. The Starter plan at $7.99/month includes 1 custom domain. Basic at $19.99/month includes 3 custom domains, and Premium at $49.99/month includes 10, useful for businesses managing several brands or working with multiple clients.
Related Terms
Custom Domain
Your own web domain used in place of a generic one, for branded short links.
Vanity URL
A short, easy-to-remember URL chosen for branding rather than auto-generated.
Custom Back-Half
The readable text after the slash in a short link, set by you instead of generated automatically.
URL Shortener
A tool that turns a long web address into a clean, short, shareable link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The "branded" part requires your own domain. Without one, you are using the shortener's generic domain instead.
Yes. Many businesses use a short subdomain (like link.yourbrand.com or go.yourbrand.com) specifically for branded short links, keeping the main domain separate.
They require a paid plan to support custom domains. The link itself is no more expensive once you have the plan; the cost is in the domain support.
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