Go Short URL

This article presents software to make short URLs with your own domain name in the URL.

Undoubtedly, you are aware of the shortening URL services offered by some websites.

Their services are okay. As far as I know, they almost always work. But for more than casual use, 2 things should be considered: Longevity and domain name.

How long will the short URL be good? If it can't be relied on to be permanent, it would be silly to use it where a permanent link is desired.

When using their short URL in a link, it's their domain name search engines see. Not yours. Similar with publishing their short URL on a forum or email discussion list.

Introducing "Go Short URL"

The Go Short URL software is installed on your domain.

You control the database. Short URLs have your domain name.

This is PHP software. It uses MySQL as the database for speed and reliability and for a capacity limited only by the resources of your hosting account.

Once it's installed, you'll be amazed how easy Go Short URL is to use.

Whenever you want a short or masked URL, create it at your own website. Publish the short URL directly or use it in a link.

Password Protected

The control panel is password protected so others can't use your domain to make their own short URLs.

Redirection To Any Page On The Internet

Any web page URL can be made into a short URL. Any at all.

For example, this tell-a-friend form generator web page has an unwieldy URL 80+ characters long (presented in text box to accomodate length):

https://www.willmaster.com/library/tools/Site_Recommend_Tell-a-Friend_Form_Generator.php

This short URL is much better: https://www.willmaster.com/go/Edv8wsg

All your short URLs have your domain name.

Shortening URLs is not the only reason to use this software.

Another reason might be to hide the real link URL. Browsers will still get to the correct destination, after the link is clicked. And, once there, the destination URL will be in the browser's address bar.

For example, some people hesitate to click on URLs that look like affiliate links. Hiding them with short URLs can bypass that reluctance.

As another example, you might not want to publish a certain URL, preferring the link have your own domain name.

Convert Individual URLs

Bookmark the control panel and you'll have an easy way to convert URLs. One or more URLs can be converted at once.

Publish the generated short URLs with click-copy-paste ease.

Convert All URLs In An Article

The web page URLs within an article or other blocks of text can be converted into short URLs all at once.

Paste the article into the control panel. Click the button.

On the next page, click the converted article. Copy it. Then, paste it where you want it published.

Paste. Click. Click. Copy. Paste.

Where To Get It

Go Short URL is free and can be downloaded at https://www.willmaster.com/software/goshorturl/

When you want a short URL, get it from your own domain, not from the other guy's.

Will Bontrager