URL shortener & link management guides
Guides, comparisons, and how-tos on link management, click analytics, QR codes, and EU-first privacy - from the people who build Elido.
Browse all articlesStart here: cornerstone guides
- URL shorteners for ecommerce: the funnel data plane
- GDPR for URL shorteners: what your DPO actually wants to see
- Sentry/GlitchTip across 12 Go services on the hot path
- URL shorteners for marketers: the 2026 comparison matrix
- Hitting p95 < 15ms for redirects from FRA, ASH, and SGP
- Migrate from Bitly without breaking links: a failure-modes playbook
FeaturesWhat Is a Custom Back-Half? Short Link Slugs Explained
A custom back-half is the editable text after the slash in a short link. What it is, how it differs from a branded domain, and how to set one that gets clicks.
5 min readcustom back-half · what is a custom back-half · custom back half short link
FeaturesWhat Is a Branded Link? Short Links on Your Domain
A branded link is a short link on a domain you own, like go.acme.com/sale. What branded links are, why they lift clicks and trust, and how to set one up.
4 min readwhat is a branded link · branded link · branded short link
ComparisonsShort.io vs Bitly: Pricing, Features, and Free Plans
Short.io vs Bitly compared on pricing, free plans, custom domains, analytics, and API - which shortener fits your budget and stack, with an EU note.
4 min readshort.io vs bitly · shortio vs bitly · bitly vs short.io
IndustriesQR Code for Google Maps: Get People to Your Location
How to make a QR code for Google Maps: grab the location link, turn it into a scannable code, and send people straight to your address or directions.
4 min readqr code for google maps · google maps qr code · location qr code
TutorialsWhy Your Instagram Bio Link Isn't Clickable (and Fixes)
Instagram bio link not clickable? Why it happens - captions are plain text, the link field needs the right format - and how to fix it in a minute.
4 min readinstagram bio link not clickable · instagram link not working · instagram bio link
EngineeringHow to Shorten a URL in Python With the requests Library
Shorten a URL in Python with a few lines of requests: POST to a shortener API, read the short link back, then add retries, idempotency, bulk, and async.
6 min readhow to shorten a url in python · python url shortener · shorten url python requests
TutorialsHow to Make a Clickable Link in Email, Social, HTML
How to make a link clickable in email, social bios, docs, and HTML: turn text into a hyperlink, and use a short link where raw URLs will not link.
3 min readhow to make a clickable link · clickable link · how to make a link clickable
TutorialsHow Big Should a QR Code Be? Size and Distance Rules
How big should a QR code be? The 10:1 distance rule, a 2 cm print minimum, the quiet zone, and sizes by use case from business card to billboard.
4 min readhow big should a qr code be · qr code size · minimum qr code size
ComparisonsCutt.ly Alternatives: 6 Better URL Shorteners to Try
The best Cutt.ly alternatives compared by analytics, branded domains, price, and EU data residency - how to match a shortener to what you actually need.
4 min readcuttly alternatives · cutt.ly alternative · url shortener alternatives
ComplianceCookie Consent for Short Links: What the EU Requires
Do short links need a cookie banner? A DPO explains when redirect tracking triggers ePrivacy consent, and when a cookieless, EU-resident setup avoids it.
7 min readcookie consent for short links · do short links need cookie consent · url shortener cookie consent
EngineeringBitly API Alternative for Developers: What to Look For
A Bitly API alternative for developers: where Bitly's rate limits and plan gating bite, and what a dev-first shortener API should give you instead.
4 min readbitly api alternative · bitly api · url shortener api
TutorialsWhat Is CTR? Click-Through Rate and How to Lift It
What CTR means, how to calculate click-through rate, what counts as good by channel, and the practical ways to lift it without chasing junk clicks.
5 min readwhat is ctr · click through rate · how to improve ctr
FeaturesWhat Is a Dynamic Link? Editable, Trackable URLs
What a dynamic link is: a short link whose destination you can change after sharing, how it differs from static links and deep links, and life after Firebase.
5 min readwhat is a dynamic link · dynamic link · dynamic vs static link
FeaturesWhat Is a Deep Link? A Plain-English Guide
A deep link opens a specific screen inside an app, not the home screen. Deep links vs universal and app links, and life after Firebase Dynamic Links.
5 min readdeep link · what is a deep link · universal links
TutorialsUTM Parameters for Google and Meta Ads
Google Ads and Meta need opposite UTM setups: auto-tagging on Google, manual UTMs with macros on Meta. How to tag each so GA4 and your CRM stay accurate.
5 min readutm parameters google ads · utm parameters meta ads · utm for paid ads
IndustriesTelegram Deep Links: Track t.me and Bot Start Links
How to build Telegram deep links you can measure: t.me link format, prefilled text, bot start parameters, and click attribution with a short link in front.
7 min readtelegram deep links · t.me link · telegram bot start parameter
IndustriesQR Codes for Real Estate: Signs That Capture Leads
How agents use QR codes for real estate: put the listing, tour, or lead form behind a dynamic code so one yard sign works for every property you list.
6 min readqr codes for real estate · real estate qr code · qr code for yard sign
IndustriesQR Code for App Downloads: One Code, Both Stores
Make one QR code for app downloads that sends iPhone users to the App Store and Android users to Google Play, with a smart link that detects the device.
5 min readqr code for app download · app store qr code · app download qr code
IndustriesQR Code for a PDF: Link Any Document in Minutes
How to make a QR code for a PDF: host the file at a URL, encode it, and choose static or dynamic so you can update the document without reprinting.
6 min readqr code for pdf · pdf qr code · qr code for a document
ComparisonsLinktree vs Beacons: Which Link in Bio to Pick
Linktree vs Beacons compared: pricing, native selling, customization, and analytics, so you can tell which link in bio tool fits how you actually work.
5 min readlinktree vs beacons · beacons vs linktree · link in bio comparison