Why Branded Short Links Improve Click-Through Rates

What Are Branded Short Links?

Branded short links use your own custom domain instead of a generic URL shortener domain. Instead of sharing url.ink/3xK9mPq, you share something like links.yourbrand.com/spring-sale.

This seemingly small change has a measurable impact on how people perceive and interact with your links.

The Data: Branded Links Get More Clicks

Research consistently shows that branded short links outperform generic ones:

• •Up to 39% higher CTR compared to generic short links
• •Increased brand recall — people remember your brand even from a link
• •Higher trust signals — custom domains reduce spam perception
• •Better email deliverability — branded links are less likely to trigger spam filters

For marketers spending thousands on advertising, the incremental CTR improvement from branded links translates directly into more conversions and lower cost per acquisition.

How Custom Domain URL Shorteners Work

Setting up a custom domain URL shortener involves three steps:

1. Choose Your Short Domain

Select a short, memorable domain that represents your brand:

• •links.yourbrand.com (subdomain of your main domain)
• •yourbrand.link (a dedicated short domain)
• •go.yourbrand.com (common convention)

2. Configure DNS

Point your chosen domain to your URL shortener service. With URLINK, this involves adding a CNAME record to your DNS settings. URLINK provides step-by-step DNS verification instructions.

3. Start Creating Branded Links

Once verified, all your new short links will use your custom domain automatically. You can also customize the back-half of each link for maximum readability.

When to Use Branded Short Links

Social Media Posts

Branded links in tweets, LinkedIn posts, and Instagram bios reinforce your brand with every impression — even when people don't click.

Email Marketing

Branded links improve email deliverability. Email providers are less likely to flag branded domains as spam compared to generic URL shorteners.

Digital Advertising

In paid campaigns, branded links increase ad trust and improve quality scores, potentially lowering your cost per click.

SMS and Messaging

With character limits in SMS, branded short links keep messages concise while maintaining brand visibility.

Print Materials

On business cards, flyers, and packaging, branded short links look professional and are easier to type manually.

Setting Up Custom Domains in URLINK

URLINK makes it easy to connect your own domain for branded short links:

1. 1.Go to Settings > Domains in your URLINK dashboard
2. 2.Add your custom domain (e.g., links.yourbrand.com)
3. 3.Update your DNS by adding the CNAME record URLINK provides
4. 4.Verify the domain — URLINK checks your DNS automatically
5. 5.Set as default — all new links will use your branded domain

You can connect multiple custom domains if you manage different brands or campaigns. Each link shortener in URLINK can have its own default domain.

Generic vs Branded Links: A Comparison

The ROI of Branded Short Links

Consider this: if your email campaign sends 50,000 links per month and branded links improve CTR by even 10%, that's 5,000 additional clicks per month — without spending a single extra dollar on ads.

For most businesses, the cost of a custom domain ($10-15/year) and a URL shortener plan pays for itself within the first campaign.

Getting Started

URLINK supports custom branded domains on paid plans, with a simple DNS verification process. Combined with unlimited link creation, UTM parameter tracking, and team collaboration, it's the complete solution for brand-conscious marketers.

Start building branded short links that earn trust and drive clicks.