What Is a Branded Link?
Branded link A branded link is a short link that uses your own domain instead of a generic shortener domain, for example go.yourbrand.com/sale rather than a shared short domain. It keeps your brand in the URL, which signals the link is legitimate and typically lifts click-through rates.
At a glance
- Uses a custom domain you control, so your name is in the link, not a generic shortener.
- Raises trust and click-through because people recognise the domain and see where the link goes.
- Requires a domain (or subdomain) pointed at the platform with SSL, then links are minted on it.
- Also called a branded short link, custom short link, or vanity domain link.
How it works
Your domain, their engine
You connect a domain or subdomain, such as go.yourbrand.com, to the link platform by pointing DNS at it and provisioning SSL. From then on, every short link you create uses that domain, so the platform does the redirecting and tracking while your brand stays in the visible URL.
Readable back-halves
A branded link pairs the custom domain with a readable back-half or alias, like go.yourbrand.com/spring-sale. Together they produce a link that is short, on-brand, and self-explanatory, which is easier to trust and to say out loud than a random string.
Branded link vs generic short link
| Generic short link | Branded link | |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Shared shortener domain | Your own domain |
| Signals who it belongs to | No | Yes |
| Click-through rate | Baseline | Typically higher |
| Spam-filter reputation | Shared with everyone | Yours to control |
Example: The same destination, two very different links
- Generic: a shared short domain plus a random code
- Branded: go.yourbrand.com/spring-sale
- The branded version tells a reader exactly whose link it is and where it goes
Why it matters
People hesitate to click links they do not recognise, and generic short domains share reputation with every other user, including spammers. A branded link puts your name in front of the click, which lifts trust and click-through and keeps your domain reputation in your own hands.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a branded link and a vanity URL?
They overlap. A branded link emphasises the custom domain (your brand in the host part of the URL). A vanity URL emphasises a readable, memorable path. The strongest links are both: your domain plus a clean, human back-half.
Do I need to buy a new domain for branded links?
Not necessarily. You can use a short subdomain of a domain you already own, such as go.yourbrand.com or link.yourbrand.com, point its DNS at the platform, and start minting branded links on it.
Do branded links really increase clicks?
Studies and platform data consistently show branded short links outperform generic ones on click-through, because the recognisable domain reduces the fear of clicking an unknown link.
Related terms
On Flyn
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