How to White Label a URL Shortener for Clients

The short answer

To white label a URL shortener for a client, connect a domain that belongs to the client (for example go.clientbrand.com) to your shortener with one DNS record, then create the client's links on that domain. The client's audience sees only the client's name in the link. Add the client's logo to the QR codes, and send reports from the click data. The rest of this guide shows each step and the limits to check first.

What "white label" means for short links

For an agency, a white-label short link has three parts:

• The domain. The link uses the client's domain, not the shortener's domain. go.clientbrand.com/spring instead of bit.ly/3xK9mP2.
• The QR code. The QR code shows the client's logo in the center, not the shortener's logo.
• The reports. You send the client click numbers in your own report format, so the client does not need a login to the tool.

Most agencies do not need a fully rebranded software product (a "reseller" dashboard with your logo). The client's customers never see the dashboard. They only see the link and the QR code.

Step 1: Choose the domain for each client

You have two good options:

1. A subdomain of the client's website, such as go.clientbrand.com or link.clientbrand.com. This is the usual choice. The client keeps their main website, and the subdomain is only for short links. You need someone with access to the client's DNS settings to add one record.
2. A separate short domain, such as clbr.co. This gives shorter links, but the client must buy and renew another domain.

Do not use the client's main domain (clientbrand.com) for short links. That domain already serves their website. For more help with the name, read how to choose a custom domain for a link shortener.

Step 2: Check how many domains your plan allows

Each client domain uses one custom-domain slot. On URLyte, the Pro plan includes 1 custom domain and the Business plan includes 3, plus up to 5 team members. Count your clients before you pick a plan. If you need more domains than your plan has, contact support before you promise a launch date to a client. See the pricing page for the current limits.

Step 3: Add the DNS record

1. In your URLyte dashboard, open Custom domains and add the domain, for example go.clientbrand.com.
2. The dashboard shows one CNAME record. In the client's DNS provider, add a CNAME record for go that points to redirect.urlyte.com.
3. Click Verify. DNS changes can take from a few minutes to some hours. When the domain is verified, the SSL certificate is set up for you, so links open on https://.

A root domain (with no go. in front) needs CNAME flattening or an ALIAS record at the DNS provider. Not all providers support this, so a subdomain is the safer choice.

Step 4: Create the client's links

Create each link on the client's domain, with a readable path such as /spring-sale or /menu. Use one link for each channel (email, Instagram, print) so that the report can show which channel worked. All URLyte redirects are temporary (302) redirects, so you can change where a link goes after the client has printed it.

Step 5: Put the client's logo on the QR codes

On Pro and Business, you can upload a brand logo, and every QR code then shows that logo in the center. Important: the logo is set once for each account, not for each link. If you manage several clients in one account, all QR codes show the same logo. For a client who needs their own logo on QR codes, use a separate account for that client, or download the QR code without a logo and add the logo in a design tool.

Step 6: Report to the client

The dashboard shows clicks by day, country, city, device and referrer for each link. You can take screenshots for a monthly report, or pull the raw data. The URLyte API (Pro and Business) returns each link and its click events as JSON or CSV, so you can put the numbers into your own report or spreadsheet.

If the client wants to see the numbers themselves, invite them as a team member on Business. Note that they then see the URLyte dashboard, not a dashboard with your agency's brand.

Limits to tell the client about

• Retargeting pixels add a short redirect page. If you turn on a Meta or Google pixel for a link, the visitor passes through a short "Redirecting" page on urlyte.com that shows the URLyte logo, so that the pixel can load. Links without pixels go straight to the destination.
• The dashboard is not rebranded. Your clients' customers never see it, but a client who logs in will.
• The client owns the domain. If the client stops working with you, they keep the domain. That is fair, and it is good to agree on it at the start.

Frequently asked questions

Do my client's customers see the URLyte name?

Not in the link. A link on the client's custom domain redirects straight to the destination. The exceptions are links with retargeting pixels (see above).

Can I use one account for many clients?

Yes. Give each client their own domain and their own namespace, so their links stay separate. The limits are the number of custom domains on your plan and the single QR logo per account.

What happens if the client's domain expires?

Every link on that domain stops working until the domain is renewed. Ask the client to turn on auto-renew at their domain registrar.

Where can I read more?

See the white-label URL shortener page and the custom domain page for the feature details.