Shortened Links vs. Internal Linking: What Works Best?
When growing a blog, two powerful link strategies can increase traffic and engagement: shortened links and internal linking. But which one works best?
Let’s break it down.
What Are Shortened Links?
Shortened links make long URLs short, clean, and easy to share.
✅ Example: Instead of:
https://yourblog.com/best-seo-tools-for-beginners-2025
Use:
yourblog.link/seo-tools
🔹 Best for:
- Social media (Twitter, Instagram, YouTube).
- Email marketing.
- Paid ads (Google Ads, Facebook Ads).
- Offline promotions (QR codes, business cards).
🚀 Top URL Shorteners: Bitly, Rebrandly, Aftergreenv
What Is Internal Linking?
Internal linking means adding links from one page of your blog to another.
Example:
"Check out our guide on Best SEO Tools for more insights!"
🔹 Best for:
- Improving SEO rankings.
- Keeping visitors on your site longer.
- Helping Google understand your site structure.
🚀 SEO Tip: Use descriptive anchor text (e.g., "Best SEO Tools" instead of "Click here").
Key Differences: Shortened Links vs. Internal Linking
| Feature | Shortened Links | Internal Linking |
|---|---|---|
| Boosts SEO? | ❌ No, doesn’t pass link juice | ✅ Yes, improves ranking |
| Easier to share? | ✅ Yes, great for social media | ❌ No, works within a blog only |
| Engages visitors? | ✅ Yes, drives external traffic | ✅ Yes, keeps visitors longer |
| Best for? | Ads, social media, promotions | Blog navigation, SEO improvement |
When to Use Shortened Links?
✔ Sharing outside your blog (social media, emails, ads).
✔ Tracking clicks (shorteners provide analytics).
✔ Promotions & affiliate marketing (cleaner & more attractive).
❌ Not for SEO improvement – Google does not pass ranking benefits through shortened URLs.
When to Use Internal Links?
✔ Improving SEO rankings (Google loves strong internal linking).
✔ Reducing bounce rate (visitors stay longer).
✔ Boosting content visibility (guides users to related posts).
❌ Not useful for external sharing – Works only within your site.
Which One Works Best?
Both are important but serve different goals.
- If you want SEO benefits, use internal linking.
- If you need click tracking & easy sharing, use short links.
For maximum impact, use both:
- Internal links to improve SEO.
- Shortened links to drive traffic from social media & ads.
Final Thoughts
Both shortened links and internal links are powerful tools, but they work best when used together.
✔ Use internal links to improve SEO and keep users engaged.
✔ Use shortened links to drive traffic from external platforms.
By balancing both, you can grow your blog, improve rankings, and boost engagement!