✉️ How to Use Shortened Links in Email Campaigns | Best Practices & Tips
Email marketing is a powerful way to connect with your audience, but long URLs can look messy and unprofessional. Shortened links not only make emails look cleaner but also help track clicks, improve engagement, and enhance branding. In this guide, I’ll show you how to effectively use shortened links in email campaigns while avoiding spam filters. 🚀
🔹 Why Use Shortened Links in Emails?
✅ Improves readability – Short URLs look professional and clean.
✅ Tracks link performance – See how many people clicked your link.
✅ Increases engagement – A shorter, clearer CTA (Call-to-Action) link improves click-through rates (CTR).
✅ Enhances branding – Custom short URLs (e.g., yourbrand.link/deal) build trust.
✅ Saves space – Essential when using text-based emails.
🔥 Best Practices for Using Shortened Links in Email Marketing
1️⃣ Use a Trusted URL Shortener
Not all link shorteners are the same. Choose a reputable service to avoid spam filtering issues.
🔗 Best URL Shorteners for Email Campaigns:
- Bitly (custom branded links, analytics)
- Rebrandly (professional, branded short links)
- TinyURL (simple and free)
- Short.io (advanced tracking & team collaboration)
✅ Tip: Custom branded short links (e.g., yourbrand.link/sale) increase trust and CTR.
2️⃣ Avoid Spam Filters by Using Custom Domains
Email providers may flag generic shorteners (e.g., bit.ly, goo.gl) as spam.
✅ How to Avoid This?
- Use a custom domain (e.g., go.yourwebsite.com/offer) instead of generic shorteners.
- Avoid excessive capital letters, symbols, and numbers in links.
- Use a reputable email provider (e.g., Mailchimp, Sendinblue, ConvertKit) to prevent blacklisting.
📌 Example: Instead of using bit.ly/123XYZ, use offers.yourbrand.com/discount.
3️⃣ Place Links Strategically in the Email
Where you put the link affects click-through rates (CTR).
✅ Best places to insert shortened links:
✔️ CTA Buttons – Example: Claim Your Discount
✔️ Text Links – Example: Click here to access the full guide: yourbrand.link/guide
✔️ End of Email Signature – Add a link to social media or promotions.
🚫 Avoid placing too many links, as it may trigger spam filters.
4️⃣ Track Performance with UTM Parameters
Shortened links can include UTM parameters to track user behavior.
📌 Example of a UTM-tracked link:
👉 https://yourbrand.link/offer?utm_source=email&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=summer_sale
✅ Benefits of UTM Parameters:
- Track where your traffic is coming from.
- Measure which emails generate the most clicks.
- Optimize future email campaigns based on performance.
5️⃣ Test Your Links Before Sending Emails
Always test shortened links before sending them in bulk.
✅ How to Test:
✔️ Click on the link yourself in different email clients (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo).
✔️ Open on mobile & desktop to check responsiveness.
✔️ Ensure the link redirects correctly and tracks analytics.
🚀 Pro Tip: Send a test email to yourself before launching the campaign.
🎯 Final Tips for Using Short Links in Emails
✔️ Use a custom domain to build trust.
✔️ Avoid spammy link shorteners that get flagged.
✔️ Place links in CTA buttons & text for better engagement.
✔️ Track performance using UTM parameters.
✔️ Test links before sending to avoid broken URLs.
📩 Now you know how to use shortened links effectively in email campaigns! 🚀
Let me know if you need any more tips. 😊