Two links can point to the exact same page and still perform differently. One reads linx.ly/a9Xk2p. The other reads linx.ly/summer-sale. Same destination, but people trust the second one more, and they remember it. The difference is the slug: the part after the slash that you get to choose.
What a branded short link is
A branded short link keeps the short, tidy format of a normal short link but replaces the random code with a word or phrase you set yourself. Instead of accepting linx.ly/kQ4Zt, you write linx.ly/menu or linx.ly/black-friday.
One point is worth stating plainly: the brand lives in the slug, not in the domain. Your links stay on the shared linx.ly domain, and you customise the path after it. You cannot point your own domain at them. For most links shared in a bio, a caption, or on a printed flyer, a readable slug does the job a custom domain usually gets credit for, which is making the link look deliberate instead of automated. If the idea of short links is new to you, it helps to first read what link shortening is, then come back here for the branding side.
Why the slug is worth setting
A random code tells the reader nothing. A slug tells them where they are about to go. On social media, where people have learned to be wary of a string of random characters, that small signal matters. A link shortener that lets you set the slug turns a throwaway URL into something you would actually say out loud.
There are three practical reasons to bother:
- It reads as trustworthy.
linx.ly/pricingis obviously your pricing page.linx.ly/x7Kp9qcould be anything. - It survives being spoken and printed. You can read a good slug over a podcast or fit it on a business card without anyone squinting.
- It stays consistent. If you run the same offer every season,
linx.ly/salecan point somewhere new each time while the link you share never changes.
How to create a branded short link
Setting one up takes about a minute and needs no technical background.
- Paste your long URL into the shortener.
- Replace the suggested random code with your own slug, for example
linx.ly/summer-sale. - Copy the link and share it wherever you need it.
- Open your dashboard when you want to see how it is performing.
That is the whole process. The only decision that takes any thought is the slug itself.
Choosing a slug that works
This is where most people either overthink it or do not think at all. A few rules keep a slug clean.
Keep it short. The entire point is brevity, so linx.ly/spring-collection-2026-final defeats the exercise.
Use words, not codes. linx.ly/webinar beats linx.ly/wb1. If you plan to say the link out loud, say it out loud while you type it and see whether it holds up.
Separate words with a hyphen. linx.ly/black-friday reads faster than linx.ly/blackfriday, and far faster than a slug that jams everything together.
Match the slug to the content. If the link goes to your menu, call it menu. A slug that describes the page is also the one people guess correctly.
One small warning: a slug has to be unique, so common words get taken early. If linx.ly/sale is gone, add a little context, like linx.ly/sale-june.
What every branded link gives you
The moment you create the link, a QR code for it is generated automatically. Print it on packaging or a poster and people scan straight through to the same page the link opens. You do not add the QR code as a separate step, since it is there from the start.
You also get click analytics on every link. Open the dashboard and you can see:
- total clicks and how they trend day by day,
- the country each click came from,
- the device, brand, browser, and operating system behind it,
- the referrer, meaning the site or app that sent the click,
- and any UTM tags you attached, so two links to the same page stay separate in the report.
The report shows patterns, not people. You learn where your audience is and what they use, not who they personally are.
If you are managing a lot of links for social media, a bio link page puts them behind one branded URL, so a single linx.ly/yourname can hold every link you share.
A small change with a long payoff
A branded slug is a minor edit at creation time that keeps paying off every time the link is shared. It makes the link look considered and easier to remember, and the analytics behind it tell you whether the audience responded. Whether you post once a week or run a campaign across several channels, choosing the slug is the cheapest upgrade you can make to a link.
Frequently asked questions
Is a branded short link free?
You can try Linxly free for 7 days with full access. After that, plans start at $0.99 per month.
What if the slug I want is taken?
Slugs are unique, so if a common word is already in use you will need to add something to it, like linx.ly/sale-summer instead of linx.ly/sale.
Can I change where the link points after I share it?
Yes. You can update the destination of a short link without changing the link itself, so the same linx.ly/sale can lead somewhere new next season while the URL in your bio stays the same.
Can I use my own domain for the short link?
No. Links stay on the shared linx.ly domain, and you customise the slug after it, like linx.ly/yourbrand. There is no option to connect a domain you own.
Does a branded link slow down the click?
No. The redirect happens in a fraction of a second, so visitors reach the destination before they notice anything passed through.