Short URLs With Analytics

Pete Prestipino
by Pete Prestipino 29 Sep, 2008
Short URLs With Analytics

The problem with using short URL services such as TinyURL is that you can't really tell how effective they are (how many people click on them) much less where they have been seen on the wider Web. In a time when analytics is so important, I believe that services such as Cli.gs (which offers short URLs with traffic statistics) will eventually become the norm.

Cligs Short URL serviceCli.gs enables anyone to create a short URL from a longer one. Web pro's will not be able to keep the information private unless they register for a free account (which is quick and painless). I created a "clig" for the https://cli.gs/jjgsry) which shows all the post that are public on WebsiteMagazine.com. Analytics are kept for 30 days. What's helpful at Cli.gs are the depth of the reports. Users can see the latest activity from search engine bots on their Cligs short URL, mentions on social media sites like Twitter and inbound links to the destination URL. There is even a handy little bookmarklet available which creates shortened links on the fly.

Pete Prestipino
Pete Prestipino
Digital marketing executive with proven experience in all aspects of search engine optimization (SEO), performance-based advertising, consumer-generated/social media, email marketing, lead generation, Web design, usability, and analytics. - 20-year Internet marketing veteran, currently serving as the Digital Marketing Campaign Manager at Antenna Group (formerly Chicago Digital). - Former Editor-In-Chief of Website Magazine, and a regular speaker on Web technology digital marketing strategy - Author of several books on digital marketing Including Web 360: The Fundamentals of Web Success; Affiliate 360: The Fundamentals of Performance Marketing; Domains 360: The Fundamentals of Buying & Selling Domain Names, and SEO 360: The Fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization.