Got a great website? Got a long, drawn out URL
link to go with it?
Then you've probably experienced the agony of
telling someone that long, drawn out URL string.
Imagine what that link looks like on your
business card, in your signature file, or
in your resource box. Looks pretty bulky
and long, doesn't it?
If so, then it's probably time to give your link
a "facelift." The best way to do this is with
a redirect URL, or simply, a redirect.
First, for the uninitiated, a URL is the
destination address of your website. Generally,
it begins with 'www.' or 'http://'.
A redirect is a shorter URL address, or string,
that when clicked, will still take you to your
designated website.
Redirects have some great features.
They can add to the simplicity of your URL. They
can also help make your string more memorable.
They have the ability to camouflage your existing
URL string.
And, best of all, you can find them offered for
FREE. But, there is a small trade off. You must
agree to some sort of ad promoting the company that
is providing the redirect, such as a popup or some
sort of promotion page.
Here is an example of the simplicity of a
redirect.
First, I'll show you a long URL string that I have
for one of my replicated sites:
http://www.dmapower.com/d.cgi/1066/call.htm
Notice how bulky that looks. That's too much to
communicate over the phone or even to remember.
Here's the redirect that I have for that address:
http://www.easy.to/phone
That's 'easy to' say and to remember. Plus,
I included the keyword 'phone' in it for word
recognition.
Also, when that redirect is clicked on, the site
visitor will notice that when they arrive at the
site, they will see that simple redirect in their
browser URL window, as opposed to the long string.
The company that promotes that URL uses a popup
ad too.
Redirects can also be used to camouflage your URL.
You might want to camouflage your link to
keep the curiosity level up with your prospect.
A redirect could help you to not "spill the beans."
Or, maybe you'd like to hide that link for your own
promotional purposes to avoid confusion.
Here's a redirect that I have for another replicated
website. Again, I included keywords in the string.
http://www.goodhealth.findhere.org
When you click this redirect on, or copy and paste
it into your browser, you'll also see a different
example of how this company promotes their service.
Did you notice the promotional page? A different
approach from a popup ad.
You might have also seen that the long link appears
in the browser window after you click past the
promotional page. (Remember that the first redirect
example in this article showed only the redirect
in the browser window.)
Here is a partial list of companies that will
provide FREE redirects.
http://come.to/
http://1st-part.com/
http://www.ontheweb.nu/ "click on whatwedo"
http://over.to/
http://webalias.com/
http://www.freesitex.com/shorturl01.shtml
http://www.nothinginlife.com/
"Click webmaster tools", click "URL redirects"
http://www.bru.to/
Some companies charge as low as $5 annually for
the use of their strings. They can go as high as
$100.
Of course, the optimum is getting your own domain
name. This will enable you to create a brand, or
recognizeable name that relates to your business.
They can range anywhere from under $20 to $35
annually. Maybe more.
For my e-zine's subscription site, I have my
domain name that I simply use to redirect to my
'LeaderZKorner' subscription site.
http://www.lzkorner.com
Click it on and that short URL is all you will see
in your browser box. In fact, you will be redirected
around a pretty lengthy website address.
Now you have a way to STOP wasting time explaining
that long URL to people by giving them something
shorter or more memorable or both.
And all by giving your link a quick
facelift with a redirect.
About the Author
Ron Kimball is the editor of "LeaderZKorner," a
weekly electronic publication that is geared
towards home based business owners.
For a FREE subscription, go to:
>http://www.lzkorner.com<