URL shortening services are a dime a dozen, and despite wishes for them to vanish (with good reason) they’re here to stay and more popular than ever given the abundance of social services that thrive on short messages and links. TinyURL and bit.ly appear to be the more popular of the bunch, but we’re seeing other services use their own custom URL shortening services at an increasing rate. To name but a few, Digg uses its top domain for the DiggBar and associated links, Posterous uses post.ly to trim down links when they distribute them to other networks and Twitter toolbox HootSuite uses ow.ly.
Update: shame on me for forgetting that TechCrunch also has its ‘own’ short URL (tcrn.ch), which you can view under every post and which we use for our Twitter account. We use awe.sm for this.
The latest startup to add a URL shortening feature to its service is UnHub, which we covered last month. Paste any URL after unhub.com and if you’re registered for the service, you’ll get a custom short URL you can use to distribute links to articles and such. On top of the linked website will be an iframe (yes, yet another one) where you can view the number of Diggs, bookmarks on Delicious, and redirects on bit.ly. You can also tweet, e-mail or share the link on a plethora of third-party services right from the toolbar. It’s also personalized, so people can jump to your own UnHub profile from the persistent bar, or straight to the source link. For an example, go to http://unhub.com/pC16.
Another one that just surfaced (in alpha mode) is Lnk.by, which adds a twist to URL shortening in the sense that you can pick a short URL that suits what you’re linking to i.e. it brings some context to what you’re sharing. You can share music files using Lstn.in, videos with Wach.it, photos with Seee.it and articles with Read.im. The service automatically maps known domains, protocols and file extensions so it will pick the most suitable one without the need for indicating it proactively. Other than that, there’s nothing really noteworthy about the service, apart from the fact it comes with an API and a toolbar bookmarklet, and that it was built by an Endemol executive with a friend in just one weekend.
Feel to shorten the URL for this article with both services and tell us which one you prefer (or why you hate URL shortening services).
One more way to shorten your URLs and even add meaning to them. It’s pagetweet.com but just check out the cool screencast at: http://p8g.tw/?SGY
There are already many shortening URL services and I think there is not much need now.
Currently I use tr.im for URL shortening which I really like.
http://www.smartbloggerz.com
I love how is.gd has it so you don’t have to copy it. If you set it up it does it for you automatically.
I can’t get LNK.by’s to work using WACH.it LSTN.in SEEE.it or READ.im, only LNK.by works…
The service AUTOMATICALLY maps known domains, protocols and file extensions to our ‘contextual’ short url domains.
For example, if you share a YouTube link, the short url you get back from the service will be WACH.IT/xyz
WE are building our list of domains, protocols and extensions, so if you see an obvious one we’ve missed please @tomnewton or @lnkby on twitter or email us at addasite@lnk.by
Cheers.
Tom
Thanks Tom for clarification!
Why do we need more ways? Aren’t there enough already?
We created Unshortn (http://unshortn.com) to combat this proliferation of URL shortners. You can use our bookmarklet to de-mangle links on a twitter page (something I find useful daily).
Hey, unshortn.com just goes to a (spammy) holding page >:<
Our DNS is still propagating (the site just launched to the public today). Try the link by my name in this comment.
You don’t seem to properly support unicode/international domains from this shortener:
http://➹.ws/䅬
Hi,
We’re looking into the issue right now. I think we should have a fix in by the end of the day.
Agreed!
FstURL.com does something clever: when you select an anonymous link, it makes it so that the destination can’t see where the click came from. This way you can create links that won’t give you the URL (complete with session IDs) of the webmail reader being used, will not let anyone else discover who your friends or real influence networks are, etc. It’s good to protect people’s privacy.
We don’t need anymore, but there’s going to be a lot more showing up. The problem is that at it’s core, developing a url shortener is very easy to do. You can register a domain, code up (a very basic) shortener, and have it live in under 15mins. Only the added features take a bit more time.
I think the newcomers are only getting into this space just for the heck of it, perhaps out of boredom or just for bragging rights among friends. I don’t see a real business this late into the game.
I use an Open Source one on my web server. That way I’m the gatekeeper
I agree. If you have a little bit of Web, PHP, and MySql experience do your own short URL service and you control everything.
Step #1 register a short URL. I registered: http://sk4.us Add the domain name as a “parked domain” pointing to your main web site.
Step #2 get a free short URL script. I used hotscripts.com to find a list of scripts. I chose ShortURL script by Harley. Here is a short url link to ShortURL: http://sk4.us/z.php?69
Step #3 I made a small change to the script to make a “Post to Twitter” GIF/button. Here is a image capture of the change to the script: http://sk4.us/z.php?70
You can login, paste the long URL, create the short, click the “Post to Twitter” and post with your own short URL.
LNK.by is Bug.gy
BTW, Digsby can get a new domain name digs.by
Yeah,..thnx 4 d’info. Once again, many authors will be happy to know that there is other short URL service that simplify our job.
heres another one
trl.to
and http://rde.me/
There’s should be three letter domain’ed one, even if c’named by an existing service.
tr.im has the best domain name. It is short and makes sense.
I agree! tr.im is hands down the best.
I’m also a big fan of Snurl, but tr.im shortens URLs by another 3 characters over Snurl which can be important.
http://www.ucash.in
Shorten URLs are great system.But some sources doesn’t allow its server to work short Urls.
AAfter.com creates multiple short URLs at a time to reduce the probability of one point of failure.
I guess most of these URL shorteners are going to be sold for 50$ million each. They are hoping.
Isn’t it ironic that the twitter status, http://twitter....atus/1557487760, for this post is using http://tcrn.ch for shortening and not mentioned in the post?
http://tcrn.ch/KT
No pun intended, just curious
Hehe right, I’ll update, thanks
Hmm.. Could you clarify more on the part where “it’s provided by awe.sm”?
awe.sm is a private beta URL shortener that will somehow probably be tied into socializethis/analytics. But since it hasn’t launched nor is there much out there about it, I’m guessing everyone’s being tight lipped.
Thanks for the shout-out Robin, I was wondering where all those new followers on the @awesm account were coming from
mcdavis is correct, we’re keeping the details a bit under wraps for now. But we will be revealing more info in the next few weeks. I will say that we view awe.sm as more of a social media analytics platform than a URL shortener (though, URL shortening is obviously a feature we offer).
We are currently testing with several publishers and developers, and we will be looking to expand that group soon. So if you’re interested in learning more about our private beta, please drop us a line to developers@awe.sm
Hey is youtube.com down for you guys ? I just checked http://downfore...com/youtube.com and its down on this too ?
Could also try: http://xr.com/
another me too idea . innovation is dead
These url shortners are very convenient to use. So whether we like it or not these are going to see it more.
Innovation is not there, but there is competition. But the only way they are going to survive by providing more speed.
I used to have such a site. I had to take it down, only spammers and phishers used it. I was getting emails from banks, posts and different kind of law protecting agencies daily. As was my host and domain registrar. I couldn’t cope with it any more so I had to shut it down.
I am sorry I have done it now, maybe I could sell it to some naive “investor” for nice sum of money. This services are really getting more and more popular and some are supposed to be worth a lot.
I prefer digg for stubby urls. With its diggbar, digg is the experts in stubby.
Of course URL-Shortening services are gonna keep popping up. They attract viewers fast, give ability to track where users go and are easy to set up and operate.
Just waiting for company branded URL-Shorteners, ugh.
Daniel
https://Spideroak.com – Online Backup and Online Sync
http://Twitter....m/SpiderOak_Inc
We also provide free service of short URL using http://SM.TV
This is a straight forward, simple and easy to use.
Check it out, type SM.TV in your browser today and let me know what you think.
Read more info:
http://sm.tv/1f
Thank you,
EM
By the way, http://SM.TV is using an open source script.
I also look to digg for stub dongs.
Thanks for sharing these new services. We’ve also compiled a new list of available domains for short URLs: http://tr.im/j9K3
Let me put in an Indian one to the list. Its http://www.uurl.in but let me tell you its just very ordinary
Hey Robin, When can we start using the service started by TC i.e tcrn.ch
You can share them, the shortened URL can be found under every post. It’s reserved for us exclusively for usage, though, apologies
CopyPaste is a very handy multiple clipboard utility for the Mac. CopyPaste has the ability to highlight any url in any app or browser and immediately turn it into a short URL you can paste anywhere.
Right now it only uses is.gd but more will be added. The url’s it produces are the shortest possible.
http://www.scri...e.com/copypaste
I dont understand why you all upset at all those shorting-url startups??
Is it wrong for anyone regardless of their programming knowledge to built such a simple service??
Besides, dont you get it?? — the more websites like that out there, there more is to choose from. The more choice, the shorter all those links will be, because one website generates less links, so less combinations are used – simple math, right?
Most comments here are about money. So I ask: what happened with building simple websites just for FUN?? Does everything nowadays built by one person, on his/her home computer has to have a budget, 10-years forecast, and exit strategy? Can’t you just do something for fun??
Oh btw: somebody mentioned that all of them will end up being bought for $50M. I know its a joke but like in any game, the first 2, 3 players will get bought. Just FYI – companies like google or yahoo wont buy it because of large user-database or huge traffic, nope. They will buy it to get more knowledge regarding those that shortened links because they assume when you short lots of links regarding lets say: bicycles, you are interested in a subject of bicycles so they can target their advertise better. AND that knowledge has its price that may be worth ALOT.
Me personally, I want to joint this game, because why not?? I have 15yrs experience programming Oracle, JS, VB, PHP, and more, but still it will be fun to build something like that JUST for pure fun and get more experience in my work overall.
Just grabbed a domain name yesterday: CUT.TW that I am planning to design url-shorting thing only for twitter users-database, in order to keep shorting URL’s combinations as short as possible.
I know I will be condemned in a minute by others, but you know what: I dont care
Peace!
FLV converter for Macyou are all right
@Timo
Please add http://sm.tv to your list. Very simple and straight forward short URL service.
Regards,
EM
If you’re like me, and would rather host your own URL shortener you can try the urlShort project (http://u.mavrev.com/pro) which offers a full API and custom short names, with more features to match other services on the way.
They all just hating, cause TinyURL is making serious xXx $ gUaP $ xXx
LOL
Thanks but I am addictied to tinyurl.com
Aren’t you tired of all that simple and small URLs?
Try JumboURL, a URL enlarger!
Why have a small URL when you can have a glorious JumboURL?!
I think there is no major technological barrier to introducing hyperlinks (lots of smart ways to get the actual URL of a link can be imagined) in microblogging services (furthermore, it is already in every blogging service). Thus, I can’t understand why people would bother slowing down the net with such URL-shortening services.
I hate short URLs but understand the need for them considering twitter wont increase their 140 char limit.
But heres an idea… why not reverse engineer the urls to display the actual link. I guess this could be done either by a twitter reader, or as a browser plugin.
All interesting stuff.
Here’s a new idea, a short url service for golf related links only (excuse the pun).
http://golftwitt.com
So you get the usefulness of the shorter url AND maintain an identify of being a golf related link.
Provides more than one domain option for the short url.
So many url shortening options! Theres a trend with ccTLDs as domain names.
Prefer descriptive URLs?
Too lazy to type a summary when tweeting a link?
Try longr.us
http://longr.us...rls.for.the.win
Try this URL – great site about real estate at http://www.insiderater.com
Or just get your own shortener thru http://smrl.tk.
I use it to shorten by subject:
http://cookin.tk/1 was the latest food i cooked.
http://har2k9.tk/2 was a t-shirt i thought was cool
etc…
The lines are hard to read. ,