Link shortener via API
In inMobile, you have the option to shorten your links without using spam-like extensions like tinyurl or bitly. When you shorten your link in inMobile, you keep your company name in the link instead, which significantly increases the credibility of the link and increases click-through rates by up to 39%.
It's especially smart to shorten your links if the link is very long. An SMS message has a natural limit of 160 characters, so a long link can take up a disproportionate amount of space. You don't have to worry about that when you shorten your link via the inMobile API.
How to shorten your links in SMS via API
Before you get started: You can't shorten your links without setting up a subdomain. You can see how to set up a subdomain here: Setting up a subdomain.
Once you have created a subdomain, you are ready to use shortened links via the inMobile API. Here's how you do it:
- In inMobile: Go to the "API" menu item.
- Click "API keys" in the top menu.
- Choose whether you want to edit an existing key by clicking on it or generate a new one using the "Generate new API key" button".
- When you're in your API key's overview, you'll find the heading "Link tracking". Here you click "Edit".
- Here you tick the "Link tracking in the SMS message" box.
- From the list, you can now select the domain you would like to use to shorten your links.Note. Before you can do this, a subdomain must be set up on your account.
- Click the "Save" button. The LinkTracking feature is now activated.
When you send SMS messages via your API and on this domain, inMobile will make sure to shorten your links at the recipient so that the link takes up a maximum of your subdomain followed by 8-9 characters.
Benefits of shortened links
There are many benefits to shortening your links when sending SMS messages.
More trustworthy links
There are a wide variety of online link shorteners (also called URL shorteners), and what they all have in common is that they often make your links look like spam. Unlike these online link shorteners, inMobile's link shortener ensures that your brand name is still part of your link. This significantly increases credibility and therefore click-through rates.
Fewer characters with shortened link
As you know, an SMS message is limited to 160 characters. This is why it's a great advantage to use shortened links, as the link doesn't take up as much of the message's characters. You can read more about this in this article about the limitations of the SMS format.
More engagement
Using links in your SMS messages allows you to direct the recipient to your website or another URL of your choice. For example, it could be a special offer, a specific category, a sign-up form and more. This increases engagement with the recipient.
Bonus: Access to important data
When you insert links in your SMS messages via inMobile, not only is it shortened, you also get to track the number of clicks on the link. This number is called your click-through rate. If you use an unsubscribe link, you can also access your bounce rate - how many people have unsubscribed from your SMS list.
This is important data that you can and should use to optimise future SMS campaigns. If you work with SMS marketing or SMS for e-commerce, link tracking is particularly relevant.