Overview: Using shortlinks in SMS campaigns is a common practice, but not all shortlink tools are created equal. Free services like Bit.ly and TinyURL can hurt your message deliverability. Here’s what you need to know to protect your sender reputation and ensure your messages get delivered.
Avoid Free Public Shorteners: Carriers often block or filter messages containing links from widely abused domains such as Bit.ly or TinyURL. These services are frequently used by spammers, which means your legitimate messages can be flagged simply for containing those URLs.
Risks of Free Shorteners
Reduced message deliverability
Higher likelihood of being flagged or filtered
Shared domains make your campaigns vulnerable to abuse by other users
Use a Custom Shortlink Instead: We recommend investing in a paid plan (such as Bitly's custom domain service) to create a branded shortlink. With a custom shortlink:
You have full control over link usage
Only your business uses the domain
Your links maintain a strong sender reputation
Best Practice: Before launching a full campaign using a new shortlink domain, send a test to a small group. Monitor for any deliverability issues and adjust accordingly.
Conclusion: Your link strategy impacts whether your SMS messages are seen. Avoid public shortlink tools and protect your deliverability with a custom solution.
If you have any questions about setting up a custom shortlink, reach out to support@textla.com.