Branded Short Links: How to Put Your Own Domain on Every Link
Your link is often the first thing people see from you. Here is how to make it look like it came from you.
In this article
A branded short link uses your own domain instead of a shortener's. Compare these two:
minisnip.com/Xk9a2Qgo.yourbrand.com/diwali
Both redirect to the same page. Only one tells the reader who sent it and what they will get. That small difference shows up everywhere your links travel: Instagram bios, WhatsApp broadcasts, SMS, emails, printed packaging and QR codes.
Why branded links are worth it
Recognition. People decide in a split second whether to tap a link. A familiar brand name in the URL answers the question "who is this from?" before they ask it.
Trust. Generic shortener domains are used by everyone, including spammers. That is why some email and SMS filters treat them with extra caution. A domain that only you control does not inherit anyone else's reputation.
Memorability. go.yourbrand.com/sale can be read aloud on a podcast, printed on a poster or typed from memory.
A random code cannot.
Consistency. Every link your team creates looks like it belongs to the same company, which matters as soon as more than one person is sharing links.
Portability. If you ever change tools, links on a domain you own can be pointed at the new tool. Links on someone else's domain cannot.
Subdomain or a separate short domain?
You have two good options.
| Subdomain of your main site | Separate short domain | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | go.yourbrand.com, link.yourbrand.com |
ybrnd.co, yourbrand.link |
| Cost | Free, you already own the domain | A new domain to buy and renew |
| Recognition | Instantly recognisable | Recognisable once people learn it |
| Length | Slightly longer | As short as you can find |
| Setup | One DNS record | A few DNS records |
For most businesses, a subdomain like go. or link. is the best start. It is free, obviously yours, and quick to set up.
Choose a separate short domain when every character counts, for example on SMS campaigns or small printed labels.
Tips for choosing the name
- Keep it short and pronounceable. If you have to spell it out on a call, it is too complicated.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers that people mishear.
- Match your brand.
go.andlink.are clear. Clever abbreviations of your brand name only work if people already know them. - Buy the obvious misspelling of a separate short domain and redirect it, so typos still reach you.
How a custom short domain works
Connecting a domain to a link shortener is a DNS change, not a website migration. You add one record at your domain provider
that says "send traffic for go.yourbrand.com to the shortener". The shortener then answers on that domain and looks up your
short codes there.
Your main website is not affected. yourbrand.com keeps working exactly as before; only the subdomain you chose is handed to
the shortener.
Setting it up in MiniSnip
Custom domains are part of the Pro and Enterprise plans.
- Open Domains in your dashboard and add the domain, for example
go.yourbrand.com. - MiniSnip shows the DNS record to add. Log in to your domain provider (GoDaddy, BigRock, Hostinger, Namecheap, Cloudflare and so on), open the DNS settings for your domain and add it.
- Come back and press Verify. DNS changes usually apply within minutes, though some providers take a few hours.
- Once verified, choose the domain from the dropdown when you create a link.
Two settings are worth filling in straight away:
- Root redirect. Where someone lands if they visit
go.yourbrand.comwith no code. Your homepage is a good choice. - Not-found redirect. Where a mistyped or deleted code goes, instead of an error page. Your homepage or a search page works well.
Best practices for branded links
Name links for humans. /diwali-sale beats /ds24. Readers trust links they can understand.
Keep a naming convention. Decide once how you name campaigns, for example /product-month, and stick to it so your team's
links stay consistent and easy to find.
Use tags and titles. Tag links by campaign or channel and give them internal titles. Six months later you will still know
what /summer was for.
Customise the preview. When a link is pasted into WhatsApp, X or LinkedIn, the app shows a title and image. With custom social previews you decide what that card says.
Pair it with QR codes. A branded domain makes printed QR codes more trustworthy too, because people can read the URL under the code.
Measure per channel. Branded links tell people who you are; tracking tells you where they came from. Our guide to UTM parameters shows how to combine the two.
Frequently asked questions
Will connecting a subdomain affect my main website?
No. Only the subdomain you choose (for example go.yourbrand.com) is pointed at the shortener. Your main site and email keep working as before.
Can I use my root domain as a short domain?
You can use a domain that has no other website on it. If yourbrand.com is your main site, use a subdomain such as go.yourbrand.com instead.
How long does verification take?
Often a few minutes. Some DNS providers take several hours to publish changes. You can press Verify again at any time.
What happens to my links if I stop using the custom domain?
Links on that domain stop resolving through MiniSnip. Because you own the domain, you can point it somewhere else at any time.