Link Basics
Before diving into the customization options, it's important to understand the basic structure of a URLyte short link. Each link consists of three main components:
urlyte.com/namespace/shortcode- Domain: urlyte.com - The base domain for all URLyte links
- Namespace: A unique identifier for your account or project
- Shortcode: A custom or auto-generated code that identifies the specific link
When you create a basic link without customization, URLyte will automatically generate a random shortcode and use a default namespace. However, the real power of URLyte comes from customizing these elements.
Setting Up Namespaces
Namespaces are a powerful way to organize your links and create branded short URLs. Think of a namespace as your personal domain within URLyte.
Creating a Namespace
Namespace Rules
- Namespaces must be between 3-20 characters long
- Can contain letters, numbers, and hyphens
- Cannot start or end with a hyphen
- Must be unique across all URLyte users
- Cannot contain special characters or spaces
Managing Multiple Namespaces
URLyte allows you to create and manage multiple namespaces under a single account. This is particularly useful if you manage links for different projects, brands, or departments.
For example, a marketing agency might create separate namespaces for each client:
- urlyte.com/client1/campaign
- urlyte.com/client2/promotion
This organization makes it easier to manage and track links for different purposes or audiences.
Creating Custom Shortcodes
Shortcodes are the final part of your URLyte link and identify the specific destination URL. While URLyte can generate random shortcodes automatically, creating custom shortcodes makes your links more memorable and descriptive.
How to Create a Custom Shortcode
Shortcode Best Practices
- Keep shortcodes brief but descriptive (e.g., "summer-sale" instead of "s1")
- Use keywords relevant to the destination content
- Avoid using special characters that might be difficult to type
- Consider using a consistent naming convention for related links
- For campaign tracking, include identifiers like "fb" for Facebook or "em" for email
Pro Tip
For marketing campaigns, consider using a structure like "campaign-source-medium" for your shortcodes. For example, "summer-fb-post" for a summer campaign promoted on Facebook posts. This makes it easier to identify the purpose and origin of each link at a glance.
Bulk Link Creation
If you need to create multiple short links at once, URLyte's bulk creation feature can save you time and effort. This is particularly useful for marketing campaigns, product launches, or content migrations.
Using the Bulk Creation Tool
- CSV Upload: Prepare a CSV file with columns for destination URL, namespace, and shortcode
- Manual Entry: Add multiple links directly in the interface
CSV Template Format
Your CSV file should include the following columns:
destination_url,namespace,shortcodeExample:
https://example.com/very-long-product-page,mycompany,product1
https://example.com/another-long-url,mycompany,product2Link Management
URLyte provides comprehensive tools for managing your short links after creation. You can edit, disable, or delete links as needed, as well as organize them into folders or tag them for easier management.
Managing Existing Links
From your dashboard, you can perform the following actions on your links:
Editing Links
You can edit the destination URL of an existing link without changing the short URL. This is useful if you need to update a landing page or fix a broken link.
Disabling Links
If you need to temporarily prevent a link from working, you can disable it. Disabled links will show a custom message to users instead of redirecting them.
Deleting Links
When a link is no longer needed, you can delete it permanently. Note that deleted links cannot be recovered, and the shortcode may become available for others to use.
Organizing Links
URLyte allows you to organize your links using tags and folders. This makes it easier to find and manage links, especially if you have a large number of them.
Advanced Link Options
URLyte also offers several advanced options for your short links:
- Expiration Dates: Set a date when the link will automatically expire and stop working
- Password Protection: Require users to enter a password before being redirected
- Geo-targeting: Redirect users to different URLs based on their location
- Device Targeting: Send users to different destinations based on their device type
- UTM Parameters: Automatically add tracking parameters to your destination URLs
These advanced features are available on premium plans and provide powerful tools for creating sophisticated link management strategies.