How to Keep News Links Short & Shareable
In digital news, speed and clarity matter. Whether you're a journalist, blogger, or news agency, sharing news quickly across social media, email, and messaging apps is essential. But long URLs can look messy and discourage clicks.
Using URL shorteners can make news links cleaner, more readable, and highly shareable. Let’s explore how to keep your news links short while maximizing engagement.
1. Why Short Links Matter for News
✔ Quick & Easy Sharing – Short URLs are faster to copy and paste, making news distribution effortless.
✔ Better Engagement – A short, clean link looks more professional and clickable.
✔ Space-Saving – On platforms like Twitter/X, where character count matters, short links help fit more content.
✔ Easy to Remember – If shared on radio, TV, or print, short links are easier for audiences to recall.
✔ Trackable Clicks – Many URL shorteners provide analytics to see how well a link is performing.
2. Best URL Shorteners for News Sharing
| Shortener | Best For | Free Plan? |
|---|---|---|
| Bitly | Custom links & tracking | ✅ Yes (limited) |
| TinyURL | No sign-up needed, quick shortening | ✅ Yes |
| Rebrandly | Branded, professional short links | ✅ Yes |
| Ow.ly (Hootsuite) | Social media scheduling | ❌ No |
| Aftergreenv | SEO-friendly & custom short links | ✅ Yes |
Pro Tip: Always use a trusted shortener to avoid broken links or security risks.
3. How to Shorten News Links (Step-by-Step Guide)
1️⃣ Copy the news article URL
2️⃣ Visit a URL shortener (e.g., Bitly, TinyURL, Aftergreenv)
3️⃣ Paste the link and click "Shorten"
4️⃣ (Optional) Customize the link for clarity (bit.ly/Election2025)
5️⃣ Share the link on social media, blogs, or messaging apps
6️⃣ Track performance to see how many people clicked
4. Making News Links More Clickable
✔ Use Custom URLs – Instead of random characters, use descriptive words (bbc.in/WorldCup2025).
✔ Avoid Generic Links – A specific, keyword-rich short link is more effective.
✔ Use Branded Shorteners – If possible, use domain-based shorteners (nyti.ms, cnn.it).
✔ Ensure Mobile Compatibility – Make sure links open properly on all devices.
✔ Test Before Sharing – Always double-check that the shortened link is working correctly.
5. Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Using Untrusted Shorteners – Some may add spam or ads to your links.
❌ Forgetting Link Tracking – Without tracking, you won’t know how well your links perform.
❌ Over-Shortening – If a platform already shortens links (like Twitter), avoid extra shortening.
❌ Not Refreshing Old Links – Update links for ongoing news stories to keep them relevant.
Final Thoughts
Shortened links make news sharing faster, easier, and more effective. Whether you're a news agency, journalist, or blogger, using Bitly, TinyURL, or Aftergreenv can help improve engagement and readability.
By keeping links short and clear, you increase click-through rates, make content more accessible, and enhance your news distribution strategy.