The ShortFreeURL blog
Guides, comparisons and practical tactics for branded links, QR codes and campaign tracking.
WhatsApp click-to-chat links: the practical guide
Pre-filled messages, short branded wrappers, and how to actually count how many conversations a campaign started.
How to track clicks from an Instagram bio properlyFIELD NOTES / 014 Marketing · 2 min readHow to track clicks from an Instagram bio properly
The bio link is the only clickable link most accounts have. Here is how to make it measurable without ten separate URLs.
Link expiration for flash sales, betas and time-boxed offersFIELD NOTES / 013 Marketing · 2 min readLink expiration for flash sales, betas and time-boxed offers
Expiry by date, by click count or by age — and what should happen after the door closes.
A/B testing landing pages with a single short linkFIELD NOTES / 012 Marketing · 2 min readA/B testing landing pages with a single short link
Split traffic across variations at the redirect, keep visitors sticky, and read the result without fooling yourself.
Mobile deep links: opening the app instead of the browserFIELD NOTES / 011 Developers · 2 min readMobile deep links: opening the app instead of the browser
Universal Links, App Links, custom schemes and the fallback chain that stops users landing on a blank page.
Geo-targeting one link for a global campaignFIELD NOTES / 010 Marketing · 2 min readGeo-targeting one link for a global campaign
One URL on the poster, the right regional page for every visitor — and the edge cases that make people angry if you get it wrong.
Password-protected short links: when they earn their keepFIELD NOTES / 009 Guides · 2 min readPassword-protected short links: when they earn their keep
A password gate on a link is not encryption. Here is what it does protect, and how to use it without annoying people.
Link cloaking explained — and when not to use itFIELD NOTES / 008 Guides · 2 min readLink cloaking explained — and when not to use it
Cloaking keeps your short URL in the address bar by loading the destination in a frame. It has real uses and real failure modes.
301 vs 302 vs 307 vs 308: choosing a redirect status codeFIELD NOTES / 007 Developers · 2 min read301 vs 302 vs 307 vs 308: choosing a redirect status code
Four codes, two axes: permanent or temporary, and whether the HTTP method is preserved.
Dynamic vs static QR codes: which to use and whenFIELD NOTES / 006 QR Codes · 2 min readDynamic vs static QR codes: which to use and when
The difference is not visual quality — it is whether the destination lives inside the code or behind it.
25 QR code ideas that people actually scanFIELD NOTES / 005 QR Codes · 2 min read25 QR code ideas that people actually scan
Placements and use cases with the practical constraints — size, distance, lighting and what to put on the other side of the scan.
UTM parameters: the complete practical guideFIELD NOTES / 004 Guides · 2 min readUTM parameters: the complete practical guide
What each of the five parameters means, a naming convention that survives contact with a real team, and the mistakes that split your report…
How to set up a custom short domain, step by stepFIELD NOTES / 003 Guides · 2 min readHow to set up a custom short domain, step by step
DNS records, SSL, apex vs subdomain, and the mistakes that cause a domain to sit in "not configured" for hours.
Branded links vs generic links: what actually changesFIELD NOTES / 002 Guides · 2 min readBranded links vs generic links: what actually changes
Custom domains change trust, click-through, deliverability and analytics ownership. Here is what to expect and what to ignore.
What is a URL shortener and how does it actually work?FIELD NOTES / 001 Guides · 2 min readWhat is a URL shortener and how does it actually work?
A short link is a 301/302 redirect with a database behind it. Here is the full request path, from DNS to destination, and what changes when…
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Frequently asked questions
What is written about here?
Branded short links, QR codes, UTM and campaign tracking, click analytics, link-in-bio pages, and honest comparisons between link platforms.
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