Have you ever clicked on link and thought – That’s too long and ugly URL? That’s where vanity URLs come in. They solve the issue of those too long links. While some digital marketers might not take them seriously, vanity URLs play significant role in digital marketing to improve online presence and brand visibility. Vanity URLs are custom and branded web addresses that are easy to remember and share.
Through this blog you learn about Vanity URLs—what they are, why they matter, and how to create one. By the end of this blog you will see how this small change can make big difference in your brand visibility, SEO optimization, and overall digital marketing strategy.
What Are Vanity URLs?
Vanity URLs are customed, branded, and short web addresses that are easy to share and remember. These URLs are designed to be short and user friendly which users can easily memorize. Custom URLs are clean and concise instead of long confusing links. The structure of vanity URLs is straightforward which makes it easier for search engines to rank websites on SERP.
Custom URLs allow businesses or brands to stand out in market and build online presence. They help to enhance your brand visibility and acquire more clients for you. Vanity URLs improve website search ranking by including the target keyword of the business. With short structure users can easily type and find your website online.
- Branded URLs make your site trustworthy and earn the trust of your customers.
- custom URLs are often used in marketing campaigns, social media profiles, and branding efforts to enhance visibility and make it easier for users to remember and access specific web pages.
- Short URLs make complicated URLs with tracking parameters simpler and easier to use without losing the important marketing features.
Standard URLs VS. Vanity URLs
By understanding these differences you can choose the right type of URL for your needs and maximize your online presence and brand visibility.
| Differentiate | Standard URLs | Vanity URLs |
| 1. Meaning | Standard URL is full web address of page. It is usually long, detailed and often includes random numbers, symbols, or parameters. | Vanity URLs are custom, shortened web addresses designed to be simple, memorable, and brand focused. |
| 2. Appearance | These links include numbers, symbols, or parameters. | Custom URLs are branded, professional, and easy to read. |
| 3. Use Case | They were used in general website navigation and internal linking. | These links are used in marketing campaigns, social media marketing, and printing advertisements. |
| 4. Click Through Rate | In standard URLs click through rate is lower due to too long URLs. | Click through rate is higher in case of vanity URLs because they are clear, concise, and more appealing. |
| 5. SEO Optimization | We can add target keywords in URLs for SEO benefits. | Indirect SEO benefits through shareability. |
| 6. When to Use | Best for internal linking, technical pages, or when SEO keywords in the URL are important. | Good for marketing, social media, email campaigns, and any situation where you want to make strong brand visibility and professional impression |
| 7. Example | https://www.example.com/blog/2023/10/post-12345 | https://yourbrand.com/guide |
What are the Benefits of using Vanity URLs?
In online branding and link management, first impression counts. Vanity URLs are not only for looking good there are several other benefits of using custom URLs for online presence.
Easier to Remember
Custom URLs are simpler and easier to remember than standard URLs. With its concise nature it helps to boost user engagement and reduce bounce rates.
Building Brand Visibility
Use of custom link with your brand name makes you look more professional and trustworthy. A good short URL builds trust with users. When it clearly shows where the link leads and matches your brand, it reassures users that it’s safe. This helps reduce any worries about clicking on suspicious links.
Easier to Share
Vanity URLs are easier for people to use and share because it is short and clear. This is especially helpful on social media where space is limited and clarity is important. Easier sharing can help more people see your content.
Enhances SEO Optimization
Keywords in vanity URLs help with SEO. Search engines may use these keywords to rank pages and make websites more visible. Well structured URLs with 301 redirects can also help maintain link equity. Using SEO performance analytics you can see how effective your vanity URLs and keywords are.
How to Create Vanity URLs: Step by Step Guide
Creating vanity URLs is not as hard as it sounds. Vanity URLs are special web addresses that replace the usual random strings of letters and numbers. Short URLs are great for branding and marketing. By using custom URLs you can make your brand more visible, improve user experience, and build strong online presence. Let’s create vanity URLs to boost your brand visibility.
STEP 1: Choose Appropriate Domain Name For Your Website
It is difficult to pick domain name for your vanity that exactly describes your brand or business.
- Choose domain which is clear, concise, and simple to spell.
- Include target keyword in your domain name which helps in SEO optimization to improves online branding.
- Short URLs with target keywords enhance the chances of ranking on SERP.
STEP 2: Register Your Domain
After choosing domain name you need to register it with domain registrar. There are many reliable registrars to choose from.
- Compare them to find one that fits your budget and provides extra features you need.
- Fill out registration form with all the required details including your contact information.
- It is important to give accurate information to avoid any problems.
STEP 3: Configure Your Vanity URL
Setup your Vanity URL with using services like LinkDrip, Bitly, and Rebrandly. If you are using custom domain you need to configure your DNS settings. Your domain registrar will provide instructions on how to do this. Use analytics tools provided by URL shortening services like Bitly or Rebrandly to track the performance of your custom URL. Monitor clicks, user engagement, and other metrics to see how well it is doing.
STEP 4: Promote Your Vanity URL
Share your new vanity URL in your social media posts and email signatures to maximize its reach and effectiveness. Show your vanity URL in different places to make more people aware of your brand and drive more traffic to your website.
Examples of Vanity URLs in Action
Here are some examples of vanity URLs in action:
Example 1
Look at this custom vanity URL of the renowned juice brand Treetop in the USA. See how this brand used custom URL specifically tailored to showcase the content of the link.
Example 2
Another example of using Custom URL is ContentStudio. This is a social media tool that has strategically used its link in its Instagram bio.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Vanity URLs
- Making URLs too long: Custom URLs are short so make sure your URLs are not too long with unnecessary numbers and phrases. It should be concise and clear which is easy to remember.
- Using Irrelevant numbers: Adding too many unnecessary numbers and details in URLs makes them difficult to remember.
- Test URL Before Sharing: When you share your link you need to test the URL to make sure that it does not contain any broken links.
- Ignoring Brand Consistency: Inconsistent brand URL affects brand credibility. Maintain consistency in the structure of link management which enhances brands online visibility.
Vanity URLs may be seem like small detail but it can have huge impact on your online presence. It is simple way to enhance your brand visibility, simplify link management, and make your digital marketing efforts more effective.
Remember your vanity URL is like your digital first impression. Make it count!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Are vanity URLs and vanity domains the same?
Ans. No vanity URLs and vanity domains are not same. Vanity Urls are short web address that redirects to the main website. On the other hand, vanity domains are custom domain names that redirect users to the websites main page.
Q2. How do vanity URLS affect SEO?
Ans. Using target keywords in vanity URLs positively affects SEO by increasing online presence and brand visibility and boosting search engine rankings.
Q3. How do you track vanity URLs in Google Analytics?
Ans. You can use the Google Campaign URL builder to add UTM to your URLs to track vanity URLs in Google Analytics.
Q4. What is the difference between HTTP 301 and 304?
Ans. HTTP 301 is about redirecting users and search engines to new URLs permanently and HTTP 304 is about telling the client to use the cached version of the resource as it has not changed since the last request
