The Hidden SEO Benefits of Branded Short Links

Branded short links (like yourbrand.link/promo) aren’t just prettier—they carry SEO value too. Here’s how:

1. Higher CTRs in Search and Social

Custom links look more trustworthy and clickable, which can indirectly boost your SEO through increased engagement.

2. Keyword Control in URLs

When you own the slug, you can include keywords even in short links shared externally.

3. Link Management and Redirection

Branded shorteners let you update URLs without changing the destination. Perfect for campaigns that evolve over time.

4. Better Analytics

Know exactly where your traffic is coming from with tracking built-in, helping you refine future SEO content.

Tip: Use tools like Rebrandly or Bitly with a custom domain.

Affiliate Link Tracking Best Practices (Without Breaking the Rules)

Discover how to track affiliate links ethically and optimize your strategy.

1. Always Disclose Affiliate Links

Use clear labels like “This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission…”

2. Use Pretty Link or ThirstyAffiliates

These tools cloak long URLs and help manage links in one place.

3. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Don’t overload your content with affiliate links or manipulate anchor text to trick search engines.

4. Use UTM Parameters with Affiliate Networks

Track which platforms drive the most affiliate clicks. Example:

https://affiliate.com/?ref=yourid&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

5. Monitor Performance

Use link trackers to see what converts — then optimize.

Affiliate marketing works best when transparent, helpful, and data-driven.

UTM Parameters Explained: A Beginner’s Guide

Learn how UTM parameters help track marketing performance across campaigns.

What Are UTM Parameters?

UTM parameters are small bits of text added to the end of a URL that help you track where your website traffic is coming from.

Why Use UTM Parameters?

They allow you to see which marketing efforts (ads, emails, social posts) are bringing in visitors.

Example of a UTM-tagged Link:

https://yourdomain.com/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=summer_sale

Key UTM Elements:

  • utm_source: Where the traffic is coming from (e.g., google, facebook)
  • utm_medium: The type of channel (e.g., email, social, cpc)
  • utm_campaign: The campaign name (e.g., spring_launch)

Bonus Tip: Use a URL shortener like Bitly to make these links cleaner and trackable.

Top 5 Free Link Tracking Tools Compared (2025 Edition)

Compare the best free link tracking tools of 2025.

1. Bitly

Best for: Simple link shortening and analytics
Features: Dashboard analytics, branded links (with custom domain)

2. Rebrandly

Best for: Branding-focused marketers
Features: Custom branded short URLs, team collaboration

3. Google UTM Builder

Best for: Manual campaign tagging
Features: Easily create UTM links to use in Google Analytics

4. T2M

Best for: Basic tracking without a learning curve
Features: Simple dashboard, QR code generation

5. ClickMeter

Best for: Affiliate marketers
Features: Conversion tracking, A/B testing, geotargeting

Conclusion: Choose based on your needs — from branding to affiliate metrics. You can even combine tools (e.g., Rebrandly + Google Analytics) for better insights.