URL Shortening Services a BAD Idea?

[Wilson Mattos]

It seems almost everyone these days uses a free URL shortening service such as tinyurl.com, bit.ly, bestdamnurl.com etc.

Is this a good idea? I personally think it is a BAD idea for Internet Marketers.

What do you think?

Wil

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Well, one reason this may hurt sales is that some corporate firewalls are starting to block URL shortening services.

[Wilson Mattos]

Originally Posted by Steven Carl Kelly

Well, one reason this may hurt sales is that some corporate firewalls are starting to block URL shortening services.

That's a reason NOT to use these services. Got any more?

[Alexa Smith]

The only potential advantage I can see to them is if space is severely restricted (such as, for example, using a url in a sig-file in a forum which allows only very short sig-files). It's not easy to envisage any other way that a shortened one can be better than a forwarded domain-name.

[hipnol]

I feel they are good for SEO (they do 301 redirect) - don't know for affiliate things...

[Colin Evans]

One big problem with URL shorters is you don't control them - if the service goes down or closes, you lose all your links...

[Wilson Mattos]

Originally Posted by alexa_s

The only potential advantage I can see to them is if space is severely restricted (such as, for example, using a url in a sig-file in a forum which allows only very short sig-files). It's not easy to envisage any other way that a shortened one can be better than a forwarded domain-name.

Forwarded domain names work, but this is not a scalable model for managing many affiliate links, etc.

Twitter's web interface will shorten URLs that are longer than 30 characters by default using a shortening service.

Most forums allow you to customize the anchor text for your links, so short links are not needed for this purpose.

Wil

[Wilson Mattos]

Originally Posted by hipnol

I feel they are good for SEO (they do 301 redirect) - don't know for affiliate things...

This is not always the case. Some shortening services will do a 301 redirect, some will do a 302, and some will even do a JavaScript redirect.

However, you are absolutely correct that 301 redirects are great for links that point to your own pages in terms of SEO. Not so important for affiliate links. But the best would be to control it yourself, right?

Wil

[Wilson Mattos]

Originally Posted by Colin Evans

One big problem with URL shorters is you don't control them - if the service goes down or closes, you lose all your links...

Totally true! This is a huge issue....and we have all known cool web sites to shut down or change their business models, right?

Wil

[hipnol]

Originally Posted by Wilson Mattos

Totally true! This is a huge issue....and we have all known cool web sites to shut down or change their business models, right?

Wil

certainly agree with that - if they shutdown everything is lost.

Also forwarded domains is not a good idea as it empties your pocket. Even if you buy .info domains, every domain cost you one dollar

[Wilson Mattos]

Originally Posted by hipnol

certainly agree with that - if they shutdown everything is lost.

Also forwarded domains is not a good idea as it empties your pocket. Even if you buy .info domains, every domain cost you one dollar

Sometimes it is good to buy a domain to promote a specific offer, but you are right, it gets expensive...and hard to manage. Not something you would do for every affiliate link.

Yet, managing every affiliate link is important, isn't it?

Wil

[EmmaJames]

Originally Posted by Dirky47

Personally, I do not recommend Shortening one's site URL.

For me, It will decrease sites reputation. Then if you will use it, credit will be given to the Site Host. For examble, tinyurl09023 -- Backlink will be given to tinyurl.com not to your site.

Do you get my point?

I never thought about it like that...I was under the impression
that affiliates used them in order to protect affiliate earnings...but
you make a valid point.

[Wilson Mattos]

Originally Posted by Dirky47

Then if you will use it, credit will be given to the Site Host. For examble, tinyurl09023 -- Backlink will be given to tinyurl.com not to your site.

Do you get my point?

It depends on the type of redirect used. For example, if a 301 redirect (Moved Permanently) is used, PageRank will pass to the destination page. In the case of 302 redirects, meta refresh, or JavaScript redirects, you are correct. It is important to know what type of redirect you are using to maximize the SEO benefit.

Wil

[Wilson Mattos]

Originally Posted by EmmaJames

I never thought about it like that...I was under the impression
that affiliates used them in order to protect affiliate earnings...but
you make a valid point.

Emma,

You are correct, affiliates use it to "hide" affiliate links. It is indeed a good idea, to do this. Using non-cloaked affiliate links usually causes loss of commissions for various reasons.

However, it is not a good idea to use free URL shortening services to cloak your links.

Wil

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by EmmaJames

I was under the impression that affiliates used them in order to protect affiliate earnings

Many do, but that doesn't make it a sensible thing to do.

The very real problem for which they're trying to use it as a solution is one with other, better/different solutions available.