URL Shortener & Link Management Blog
CornerstoneTutorialsMigrate from Bitly without breaking links: a failure-modes playbook
Seven classes of breakage when migrating from Bitly - slug case, DNS TTL, webhooks, deeplinks - and the audit script that catches them before users do
15 min readmigrate from bitly · bitly migration · bitly export
TutorialsGA4 server-side tracking via the redirect tier
GA4 client-side loses 25-35% of events to ad-blockers and ITP. Measurement Protocol restores most of it. The endpoint, the payload, and the client_id stitching
11 min readga4 server side · ga4 measurement protocol · ga4 server tracking
TutorialsMeta Conversions API for short links: recover 30-40% of lost events
Meta Pixel loses a third of conversions to ITP and ad blockers. CAPI setup through the redirect layer: match keys, deduplication, and a validation checklist.
11 min readmeta capi conversion · meta conversions api · capi server side
CornerstoneComplianceEU data residency for marketing tools: what your DPO actually asks
What 'EU data residency' means under GDPR Article 3 + Schrems II - where marketing tools leak, the server-side fix, and a procurement checklist
13 min readeu data residency · eu hosted analytics · gdpr analytics
FeaturesDeep links without Firebase or an SDK: Universal Links + App Links
Set up iOS Universal Links and Android App Links with two association files and no paid SDK. What works, what breaks, and when you still need a fallback.
11 min readmobile deep linking · universal links · app links android
ComplianceCookieless attribution explained: what still works in 2026
Two attribution paths survive third-party cookie sunset - server-side identifiers and first-party redirects. A pragmatic stack for marketers who need real numbers
13 min readcookieless attribution · cookieless tracking · server side attribution
ComplianceSafari ITP and click attribution in 2026: what still works
Every ITP version broke another tracking workaround. The full timeline, what each change killed, and the server-side redirect pattern that survives them all.
11 min readsafari itp tracking · itp 2.3 · attribution after itp
TutorialsBulk-import short links from a Google Sheet
Copy-paste 200 campaign URLs into a sheet, bulk-import into Elido, get short links with UTM tagging in one pass. The sheet shape and Apps Script automation
12 min readbulk url shortener · csv import short links · sheets to short links
FeaturesBio pages for creators: what actually goes above the fold
A bio page is one link to 5-15 destinations with per-link tracking. The four zones, the 3-link rule above the fold, and why a URL shortener hosts it better
9 min readlink in bio · bio page · linktree alternative
TutorialsA/B test landing pages with short links - no CRO tool
Smart short links split traffic server-side with no JS flicker. Variant shapes, sample sizes, and a workflow most marketers can run in an afternoon
12 min reada/b test landing pages · landing page split test · short link a/b test
CornerstoneAgenciesWhite-label URL shorteners for agencies: buyer's guide
How to evaluate white-label URL shortener platforms: what each branding layer covers, how vendors compare, reseller billing, EU compliance, and migration
16 min readwhite label url shortener · reseller url shortener · agency url shortener
IntegrationsWebhooks vs polling for click tracking: pick the pattern
When to use webhooks and when to poll the analytics API for click data: hidden costs of each, code in TypeScript and Python, plus the hybrid pattern.
11 min readclick tracking · webhooks · url shortener api
ComplianceURL shortener security checklist: 9 things to verify first
A concrete checklist for vetting any URL shortener: malware scanning, webhook signing, API key storage, rate limits, bot filtering, audit logs, and takedowns.
13 min readurl shortener security · url shortener api key · webhook security
FeaturesShort link analytics - what to measure and what to ignore
The short-link metrics that drive decisions: unique visitors, click decay, referrer attribution, bot-filtered counts, and a 15-minute weekly ritual.
15 min readlink analytics · url shortener analytics · utm tracking
CornerstoneEngineeringSelf-hosting Elido on k3s - a complete playbook
A step-by-step guide to deploying the full Elido stack on k3s: Helm bootstrap, 14 services, StatefulSet data plane, Caddy on-demand TLS, backups, and upgrades.
13 min readself hosted url shortener · k3s · kubernetes url shortener
CornerstoneFeaturesQR code campaign from scratch: a step-by-step guide
A practical guide to running QR campaigns: set goals, plan UTMs, generate dynamic QR codes, design for print, measure scans, and iterate without reprinting.
17 min readqr code campaign · dynamic qr code · qr code marketing
ComplianceGDPR-friendly URL shorteners - what to look for in 2026
A practical checklist for evaluating URL shorteners under GDPR: EU data residency, IP truncation, DPA availability, right to erasure, and US-tool traps.
16 min readgdpr url shortener · gdpr friendly url shortener · url shortener data residency
ComparisonsElido vs YOURLS: managed EU stack vs self-host PHP
YOURLS is free PHP self-host; Elido is a managed EU stack with columnar analytics and a Helm chart. An honest comparison of both options.
13 min readelido vs yourls · yourls alternative · yourls comparison
ComparisonsElido vs T.LY: alternatives for indie creators and SMBs
T.LY wins on price and a polished browser extension. Elido wins on EU residency, white-label, developer tooling, and smart routing. The honest breakdown.
12 min readelido vs tly · tly alternative · url shortener for creators
ComparisonsElido vs TinyURL: modern shortener vs the original
TinyURL is still the fastest way to shorten a link anonymously. The honest comparison: where TinyURL is fine, where it stops, and what Elido adds.
10 min readelido vs tinyurl · tinyurl alternative · tinyurl comparison