Creating Short Links
StackBloom URL Shortener turns long, unwieldy URLs into clean, memorable links that you can share anywhere. Add custom slugs, organize links into workspaces, and start tracking clicks from the moment you hit Shorten.
Step 1: Open the URL Shortener dashboard
Log in to StackBloom and navigate to URL Shortener from the sidebar or the products menu. The dashboard shows all your existing links sorted by creation date, with a quick summary of total clicks and your most active links.
- Use the search bar to quickly find links by destination URL, slug, or tag
- Filter by workspace, tag, or custom domain using the sidebar filters
- Links can be sorted by clicks, creation date, or last click date
Step 2: Paste your long URL in the input field
Click New Link or use the quick-create bar at the top of the dashboard. Paste or type your destination URL — this is the full URL that visitors will be redirected to when they click your short link.
- Any valid URL works, including URLs with query parameters and UTM tags
- URLs are validated in real time — a warning appears for broken or unreachable destinations
- You can shorten URLs from any domain, not just your own
- Paste multiple URLs at once using the Bulk Create option in the menu
Step 3: Optionally set a custom back-half (slug)
By default, a random 6-character slug is generated. To set a memorable custom slug — the part after the domain — expand the Custom Link section and type your preferred back-half. Custom slugs make links easier to share verbally and improve click-through rates.
- Slugs can contain letters, numbers, and hyphens
- A real-time availability check shows if your slug is already taken
- Keep slugs short and descriptive (e.g.,
summer-saleorebook-2026) - Custom slugs are unique per domain — the same slug can exist on different custom domains
Step 4: Assign to a workspace and add tags
Use the Workspace dropdown to place the link in the right project or client workspace. Add one or more Tags to categorize links by campaign, channel, or content type — making filtering and reporting much easier later.
- Tags are free-text and shared across your account (e.g., "email", "social", "Q1-2026")
- Workspaces scope links to teams or clients for cleaner organization
- You can move a link to a different workspace at any time after creation
- Tags can be bulk-applied to multiple links from the dashboard list view
Step 5: Click Shorten and copy your link
Click the Shorten button to create your link. The new short link appears immediately with a one-click copy button. Paste it directly into your email, social post, or campaign — click tracking starts the moment the first visitor lands.
- The link detail page opens automatically so you can review all settings
- QR codes and analytics are available immediately after creation
- Short links use a 301 redirect by default for SEO-friendly forwarding
- You can edit the destination URL at any time without changing the short link
💡 Tip: Use descriptive custom slugs for better click-through rates. Links like go.yourbrand.com/free-trial outperform random strings like go.yourbrand.com/x7k2qp because visitors can see at a glance what they're clicking. This is especially impactful in email subject lines and print materials.