Branded Links Brings the Spotlight to Your Brand

First came bit.ly, then rebrand.ly and now pxl.to is my favorite. They all do the same thing - make long links, short!

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Photo by Aman / Unsplash
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This post contains significant updates published on May 22, 2024.
First published March 23, 2021 at https://techiemamma.com/how-to-make-it-as-a-big-star-with-branded-links/
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I am a self-professed app junkie and proud of it. For years I've been looking up apps to do this or to do that and trying to always find the next best thing. I used to love going to SXSW simply because all the newest apps and features would be released during that time. I left the festival with 20 new apps on my phone and 50 new signups. I know nuts!

Although I love trying out new apps, switching 100% to something new is still rather difficult. I am set in my ways and change is hard. This year though I have managed to switch several platforms and have not looked back.

Switching Apps

I switched from Canva to Stencil, and CloudApp to Droplr. Project Management and Contact Management apps are the hardest to switch and yet there is so much to benefit. I switched over the years from Harvest to Freshbooks and then this year to Dubsado. Each jump has up-leveled my business in different ways. For project management, each app I believe has a unique way to approach things. I have switched from Asana to mostly Trello and most recently I added ClickUp to my arsenal. I find ClickUp especially helpful for managing goals and priorities and tasking each day, while I still use Trello to manage projects in collaboration with others. I am on the verge of making one more switch! I have used bit.ly for years and recently stumbled upon rebrand.ly and have enjoyed the features so far! My little side note about apps but let’s get into branding links.

Update 5-22-24 I am back to using Canva, am still in the search for project management and tried so many more! Still using Droplr! Last but not least I scored pxl (affiliate link) in a lifetime deal (affiliate link) and love it for short links or branded links!

So what exactly is pxl.to, bit.ly and rebrand.ly and many others like tiny.url and Google’s URL Shortener. Short URLs have recently been hurt with the reputation that it hurts SEO, but in fact, they don’t and have many benefits for your brand. This video and article, Will a URL shortener help or hurt your SEO? - OnCrawl describes the way link shorteners work and how they are treated as 301 redirects by search engines and SEO.

Twitter's (now X) need for short URLs is the most famous reason for URL shorteners. Though now Twitter shortens all links themselves and increased the characters of all tweets to 280 characters. So why use a URL shortener?

The focus for modern URL shorteners boils down to several things:

  • Link branding - staying on brand with all URLs you share
  • Link retargeting - helping set pixels so users return back
  • Link tracking and analytics - tracking different networks and campaigns with different URLs
  • Embedding UTM parameters using a URL Builder - tracking various campaigns for Google Analytics

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What is a URL Shortener

URL Shorteners became popular with Twitter's rules for only so many characters. Modern tools though offer so much more than the random short link that older tools did 5-10 years ago.

Rebrandly has some good videos describing URL Shorteners and the more modern Branded Links.

Rebrandly may have been the first to market branded links but now there are many tools that push a similar sort of ideal. My latest tool pxl, sets up short links (or branded links), QR codes, and custom microsites. It truly captures all of your branded identity needs.

Build your branded link with a domain, TLD, and your slug.
How to Build Your Branded Link

Shorteners Compared

Bit.ly

Bit.ly is great starting out and you can set up a custom domain for your branded links and do a limited number of custom slugs for things. Setting up your custom domain is fairly simple with great tutorials available, How to Set Up Bitly Branded for Your Custom Domain in 12 Mintues or Less: 12 Steps. The free version though holds several things back and to upgrade it is a whopping $495 a month on their low plan. That is 10x more than all their competitors! It may be time to move on and get to know a new tool!

Rebrand.ly

Rebrand.ly tools have a very flexible free option with 5 branded domains included and when one is ready to upgrade their plans start at a reasonable $29 / month. Still need some other options to check out the article, The 6 Best URL Shorteners and How to Choose The Right One?

Update 10-11-24 Rebrandly no longer offers a free plan according to their website. The paid plans start at 13 / month for 250 links and 1 branded domain.

pxl.to

My newest tool, pxl.to (affiliate link), also has a free plan that allows for 20 links per month, 5 branded QR codes, and 2 branded microsites. The paid plans start at $7.50 per month which allows for 200 links, 20 QR codes, and 5 microsites.

Bit.ly has been around for years and is well recognized by many. Rebrand.ly and pxl.to are newer tools on the market that are emphasizing brand over just shortening long URLs. These days it is assumed that we all have multiple domains for our brand. After all it takes to build up a brand we don’t want someone having a similar name and taking over.

Search for the Perfect Domain

If you want a super cool short domain like momte.ch or my new domain, techie.mom check out Namechk, which let's you check social media accounts and more, to find your perfect domain and then register the domain on namesilo (affiliate link), porkbun, or spaceship (affiliate link). Instant Domain Search also let's you search in real time for a domain to see if it's available.

There are so many new TLDs (or extensions) that are now available! With 882 extensions you can find something unique and cool to promote your brand. What will your short and / or branded URL be?

Diagram Showing 24 new TLDs

Further Reading, Tools, and Resources

The Power of Branding: How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market
Did you know that 81% of consumers say they need to trust a brand before buying from it, and consistent branding can increase revenue by up to 33%? When done right, branding transforms a business from a commodity into a trusted and beloved name.
Open a Web Shop and Attract 100 Customers
This guide isn’t about shortcuts; it’s about setting up a web shop that stands out in a sea of URLs.
The Role of Link Building Management in a Comprehensive SEO Strategy
It can be difficult to navigate the digital SEO landscape. But you can swing the balance in your favor if you can master the art of link building management.
5 Benefits of Content Marketing
Content marketing is cheaper—and often more effective—than traditional ads. Done right, it helps you rank as an authority in your niche. Here are five big reasons to start your strategy today.
How to Become a Successful Fashion Blogger
If you are very passionate about fashion, you might feel motivated to become a successful fashion blogger. But, be warned, this endeavor might also be very challenging.
Back to Basics: How to Identify Your Small Business’s Target Audience
When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products and services that I think will help you on your Mompreneur journey and all opinions expressed here
10 Reasons Content Marketing Plan Are Important
Alexa started a site about her biggest fascination, producing art. Yet she couldn’t appear to make any type of traction as well as she wasn’t sure why. She started studying content marketing and promptly understood her trouble.
10 Ways to Grow Your YouTube Subscribers (Plus 5 Free YouTube Tools)
So you want to grow your Youtube subscribers? Anyone who has a Youtube channel wants this - to get more viewers and subscribers and finally get that monetization ignition going. But not everyone can reach this target.
8 Ways To Get Your Content Noticed Online
Today, every business needs an online presence. Since the 2020 pandemic, companies once built on foot traffic had to move online—making it harder than ever to stand out.
The Modern Sitemap Page
Back when I taught web design, a sitemap was a public page listing all your site’s content. Today, it’s more about making sure Google knows your pages—but for large sites, those old-school sitemaps were gems.
Bringing Your Business Some Much Needed Brand Awareness
Brand awareness shapes your future. Your reputation decides the clients you attract, and visibility fuels your leads. Let’s dive into top strategies to grow the awareness that keeps clients coming.
Content Creation: Blog Posts that Rank Well
Blogging is one of the essential marketing strategies. It is great for acquiring qualified leads.
9 Steps To Ace Your Content Creation Strategy
Content marketing is about creating and sharing content with purpose. For your WordPress site, that means knowing your goals, audience, and channels before you hit publish.

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Pin image for post. Description: Make your links even when shared by others memorable, custom and pronounceable! With branded links, you can do just that. Increase your brand's visibility when your brand name is embedded in the link.