What is a Bitly Link?
What are Bitly Links?
Bitly is the first large link shortener, originally designed to help Twitter users share links and keep tweets under the 140 character limit.
The links look like:
The second half of the link is always a unique code.
When you create a Bitly link, they redirect to the final destination with a 301.
Things to Know about Bitly Links
- You cannot change the destination of a Bitly link once it has been created.
- Bitly links last indefinitely.
- Bitly uses the Base 62 link shortening algorithm to generate links.
- Bitly’s features are limited to link shortening, and basic analytics.
- You cannot redirect based on geolocation.
- Advanced features (like those in Linkly, for example), such as smart redirection, retargeting, Facebook Pixel, and more are not available.
- Bitly links are 21 characters long.
How to Create Bitly Links
Sign up or log in
Visit bitly.com and log in to your account. If you don't have one, create a free account.
Access the link creation tool
Once logged in, click the Create button at the top right of the dashboard.
Enter your long URL
Paste the long URL you want to shorten into the field provided.
Customize the back-half (optional)
If you're on a paid plan or your account allows it, you can customize the back-half of the URL to make it more meaningful or brand-relevant.
Add a title (optional)
You can also add a title for internal tracking purposes. This won't affect the link itself but can help organize your links.
Click "Create" or "Save"
Bitly will generate a shortened link, which you can copy and use immediately.
Track performance
Bitly automatically tracks link clicks and engagement. Navigate to the Links section in your dashboard to view metrics.
Tip: If you want to use your own branded domain (e.g.
lnk.yourbrand.com), Bitly supports custom domains on paid plans.