Everything marketing professionals need to know about custom branded links, real-time analytics, and dynamic QR codes — and why LinkShortener.io leads the field.
Start Using Custom Branded Links →Generic short links — the kind that show random characters under an unfamiliar domain — erode trust. Studies consistently show that branded links generate significantly higher click-through rates because users recognise and trust the brand behind the URL before they even click.
But a modern branded URL shortener is far more than a cosmetic upgrade. It is a data collection layer, a campaign management platform, and a security tool — all in one. This guide breaks down what separates the best platforms from the rest, with a focus on LinkShortener.io and its standout capabilities.
Key insight: Marketers who switch from generic shorteners to custom branded links report an average increase of 34% in click-through rates, simply because recipients trust the link source.
Not all URL shorteners are created equal. Here is how LinkShortener.io stacks up against common alternatives across the features that matter most to marketing teams:
| Feature | LinkShortener.io | Generic Shorteners | Basic Paid Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom Branded Domain | ✔ Full Support | ✘ Not Available | ✔ Limited |
| mailto: Link Shortening | ✔ Supported | ✘ Not Supported | ✘ Not Supported |
| Real-Time Click Analytics | ✔ Full Dashboard | ✘ None | ✔ Basic Only |
| Location & Device Tracking | ✔ City-Level | ✘ None | ✘ Country Only |
| Dynamic QR Codes | ✔ Editable | ✘ Static Only | ✘ Static Only |
| Link Expiry & Password Protection | ✔ Included | ✘ None | ✔ Limited |
| API Access | ✔ Full REST API | ✘ None | ✔ Basic |
One of the most overlooked capabilities in link management is the ability to shorten mailto: links — the links that open a user's email client when clicked. Most URL shorteners simply cannot handle these.
LinkShortener.io solves this. You can take a long, cluttered mailto: string complete with pre-filled subject lines, CC addresses, and body text, and wrap it in a clean branded short link. This is invaluable for:
Turn ugly mailto: strings into clean branded buttons that work reliably across all email clients.
Embed a short branded link in printed documents that opens a pre-filled email when scanned or typed.
Replace messy mailto: href attributes with trackable branded links to monitor how many visitors attempt to contact you.
Every link created on LinkShortener.io comes with a live analytics dashboard. Unlike platforms that update stats every few hours, LinkShortener.io delivers data the moment a click happens — giving campaign managers the ability to react in real time.
City and country-level data for every click, updated in real time.
Breakdown by mobile, desktop, and tablet with OS and browser detail.
See exactly which platforms, emails, or pages are driving your clicks.
Hourly and daily click graphs to identify peak engagement windows.
This level of insight allows marketers to make smarter decisions — for example, discovering that 70% of clicks come from mobile devices in a specific city, then adjusting landing pages and ad spend accordingly.
Instagram restricts clickable links to the bio section. Using a branded short URL as your Link in Bio for Instagram means you can update the destination whenever a new campaign launches, without ever changing the URL in your bio. Your followers always land exactly where you need them.
Replace every link in your email sequences with a branded tracked URL. You will know precisely which links drive conversions, which subject lines generate the most clicks, and which segments of your list are most engaged.
Print a dynamic QR code on billboards, packaging, or flyers. When your campaign changes, update the destination in the LinkShortener.io dashboard — no reprint required. Track scan locations to evaluate which physical placements deliver the best ROI.
Generate unique branded links for each affiliate partner. The real-time dashboard shows you exactly how much traffic and how many conversions each partner is responsible for, without needing a complex third-party tracking platform.
LinkShortener.io supports custom branded domains, mailto: link shortening, real-time analytics with location and device tracking, and dynamic QR codes — features often missing in competing platforms.
Yes. LinkShortener.io is one of the very few platforms that supports mailto: link shortening, allowing you to create clean branded links that trigger email composition when clicked.
Real-time analytics include total clicks, unique visitors, geographic location by city and country, device type, browser, and referrer source — all updated the moment a click occurs.
Yes. LinkShortener.io fully supports custom branded domains with a simple DNS setup, so every short link reinforces your brand identity.
🔗 For the technical API documentation, visit the Link Management API Docs on GitHub.