URL shortening is a technique in which a uniform resource locator (URL) may be made substantially shorter in length and still direct to the required page. This is especially convenient for messaging technologies that limit the number of characters that may be used in a message, such as Twitter, or in email communications. Other uses of URL shortening are to “beautify” a link or make it more memorable. Some URL shorteners also provide tracking abilities so you can track how many clicks you receive on the URL.
While The Texas A&M System does not offer a single URL shorter service, here is a list of available resources:
bit.ly – This URL shortening service that offers tracking metrics so you know exactly how many people are clicking on your link. Something to keep in mind though is that bit.ly tracks all clicks, even non-human clicks. It’s a free service where you can share links directly from their site to your Twitter profile.
ow.ly – Hootsuite’s built in URL shortener can be accessed via your Hootsuite dashboard or on the ow.ly site. This link shortener allows you to upload images, track real-time clicks that doesn’t include clicks from bots, and you have the ability to post it to your various social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google+. You can also use the shortened URL in emails or on your website and use Hootsuite’s URL click stats to track how many clicks those links receive. The A&M System has a negotiated a System-wide contract with Hootsuite Enterprise for social media management, including a free URL shortening service. Please visit the services and vendors section for more information.
Tx.Ag – The Association of Former Students offers a free URL shortening service, but use is limited to those with an Aggie Network account.
u.dots – Texas A&M IT offers this URL shortening service. Note that it forwards only to sites on the tamu.edu domain.