Just a brief one tonight.
Sometimes you might like to share a link with someone but have been turned off by the length of some URLs. Sites that utilise content management systems are notorious for incredibly long URLs which can also break if you attempt to send one in an e-mail or perhaps via instant message. Otherwise, you might just like an easy way to easily access your favourite sites when using computers other than your own.
If the above sounds like you, then Bit.ly might be what you are looking for.
Quite simply, you can convert any URL into a shortened one. Either you can have Bit.ly give you a random shortened URL or you can specify your own (provided it’s available). For instance, I created http://bit.ly/boydo which links directly to my blog. This might come in handy if I am referencing the blog on Twitter where every character counts.
Another great feature of Bit.ly is that you can see some real time statistics regarding number of clicks, referral sources and even the location of people visiting your link. If you are wanting short and sharp data regarding how popular your links are with Facebook friends or followers on Twitter, this functionality could prove to be quite valuable.
So have a play with it. It’s free, incredibly easy to use and you might find it handy.
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