Long URLs

Do you know, I had totally forgotten about the TinyURL site. When we have - say - character entry limits on some media and messaging platforms, we can go to www.tinyurl.com, paste in our long URL, and get a shortened version which will still point the user to the full address. Additionally, if we are wanting a cleaner looking link for branding/printing, to avoid breaking lines, or to make for easier sharing, TinyURLs fit that bill too.

While we don't need to create an account, if we do have one, we can also create custom alias URLs which make it easier for us to remember than thus share links... and we can use that custom link to help track clicks (although TinyURL itself does not track). 

We should note that there are also some limitations: we users are unable to see the final destination from the shortened URL, and many of us have been bitten too many times. We are only likely to click on a TinyURL that we know comes from a reputable forwarder; and if the TinyURL site is down, the link doesn't work. 

To make a TinyURL, simply follow these steps:

• Copy the long URL (Ctrl & C)
• Go to https://tinyurl.com/
• Paste the URL - Ctrl & V - into the text box
• Click the "Make TinyURL!" button
• TinyURL will generate a shortened URL
• Copy the shortened URL (Ctrl & C again) and use it where we need it.

The shortened link will work immediately and never expires. How's that for awesome?!

Sam

References:

TinyURL. (2025). The Original URL Shortener. https://tinyurl.com/