A short link you can actually control
Shorten a URL, add UTM parameters, change the destination and set redirect rules. Analytics and restrictions stay next to every link in the dashboard.
- Editing the target URL and the slug
- Five UTM parameters
- Password, expiry date and click limit
Long URL
| Short link | Destination | Clicks |
|---|---|---|
| app.smartqrcodes.io/r/autumn | shop.example/catalog/autumn | 3 421 |
| app.smartqrcodes.io/r/sale | shop.example/sale | 1 908 |
| app.smartqrcodes.io/r/menu | cafe.example/menu | 862 |
Features
Not just a short address, but a managed route
The settings below match the current schema for creating and updating a short link.
Editable target URL
Update the destination while the same slug stays in every material you have already published.
Click analytics
Compare the trend and the available technical breakdowns for each link within the period your plan allows.
UTM tagging
Store five standard UTM fields and append them to the destination on redirect.
Context-aware routing
Set rules by device, platform, language, location, time, browser and A/B split.
Password
Lock a link with a password and check it before the destination is handed over.
Expiry and click limit
Set an end date or a maximum number of clicks for a limited campaign.
Custom domain
Attach a link to a verified domain within your plan.
Details
What happens when someone follows a short link
The service finds the link by slug and domain, checks its state and restrictions, picks a route, appends the UTM parameters and only then sends the visitor to the final page.
The slug and the destination are separate
The public part of the link — the slug — can stay constant while the target URL changes in the dashboard. That is convenient for printed materials, emails and posts that cannot be replaced quickly.
A slug should not promise content that the destination page no longer has. After changing the destination, check that the ad copy, the UTM tagging and the page still match, so that nobody is misled.
The order of the checks
Before the redirect, the system checks the status, the expiry date, the password and the maximum number of clicks. If the link is unavailable, the usual redirect does not happen. For temporary campaigns, prepare a clear fallback in advance.
A password protects the redirect itself, but it does not make the published material secret and does not replace proper authentication on the destination service.
Routing and analytics
Routing rules are evaluated by priority. They can take the technical context of the request and an A/B split into account, and when nothing matches, the base link is used.
Click events build the statistics of the link. Availability and depth of the data depend on the plan; this page promises no geolocation accuracy, no SLA and no storage beyond the stated period.
What a short link can do
- Editing the target URL and the slug
- Five UTM parameters
- Password, expiry date and click limit
- Routing by technical context
- Verifying the domain and the destination stays with the owner of the link
Workflow
One address for the launch and every change after it
A short link separates the public slug from the final URL. That lets you update the campaign and keep the address you have already published.
- 1
Add the final URL
Enter the destination page, a name and, if you need one, a custom slug of up to 50 characters.
- 2
Tag the campaign
Save the UTM parameters, an expiry date, a password, a click limit or routing rules.
- 3
Publish the address
Put the short link in a message, an ad or a QR code. For a custom domain, finish the verification first.
- 4
Update and compare
Change the destination without changing the slug and read the statistics within the history of your plan.
Scenarios
Scenarios where control matters
Use a separate link for every channel, partner or route variant — that way the results never blend together.
Comparison
A direct URL or a short link
A direct URL is simpler and does not depend on a redirect. A short link is what you need when the address and the statistics have to be managed.
| Parameter | Direct URL | Short link |
|---|---|---|
| Changing the destination | ||
| UTM stored in the dashboard | ||
| Password and expiry date | ||
| Routing by device and time | ||
| Click analytics | On the destination site | In the link report |
| Depends on a redirect |
- Changing the destination
- Direct URL
- Short link
- UTM stored in the dashboard
- Direct URL
- Short link
- Password and expiry date
- Direct URL
- Short link
- Routing by device and time
- Direct URL
- Short link
- Click analytics
- Direct URL
- On the destination site
- Short link
- In the link report
- Depends on a redirect
- Direct URL
- Short link
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can the address be changed after a short link is published?
Yes. The target URL is stored separately from the slug and is updated in the dashboard. Once it is saved, new clicks on the same short link go to the new address.
Which UTM parameters are supported?
utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, utm_term and utm_content are supported. They are appended to the target URL on redirect.
Can access to a link be restricted?
A link can have a password of 4 to 64 characters, an end date and a maximum number of clicks. A link can also be switched to an inactive state.
What does the click analytics show?
Clicks land in the report of the short link. The available data may include date, country, city, device, OS, browser and referral source. The history period depends on the plan.