How to Create Small URL Links
Edited by John Kummailil, Rob S, Brandywine, Maluniu and 18 others
Ever wanted to send someone a website link only to find it was longer than your message?
Here is an example of one of those long links:
www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?ovi=1&mqmap.x=300&mqmap.y=75&mapdata=
%252bKZmeiIh6N%252bIgpXRP3bylMaN0O4z8OOUkZWYe7NRH6ldDN96YFTIUmSH3Q6
OzE5XVqcuc5zb%252fY5wy1MZwTnT2pu%252bNMjOjsHjvNlygTRMzqazPStrN%252f
1YzA0oWEWLwkHdhVHeG9sG6cMrfXNJKHY6fML4o6Nb0SeQm75ET9jAjKelrmqBCNta%
252bsKC9n8jslz%252fo188N4g3BvAJYuzx8J8r%252f1fPFWkPYg%252bT9Su5KoQ9
YpNSj%252bmo0h0aEK%252bofj3f6vCP
Note how ghastly the formatting has become. Imagine pasting that into an email with the message, "Check out this map of Boston!" Here is a way to fix those unwieldy links using TinyURL.com.
EditSteps
-
1Go to the TinyURL website. Look for "Add TinyURL to your browser's toolbar".Ad -
2Drag the link to your toolbar. It adds Javascript to the browser button. You only need to do this once. -
3Open the link you want to send someone in a browser window and then click the TinyURL button. It automatically converts the link into a much smaller one, which you can easily cut and paste into your email. -
4Now, that ghastly, original link from above will be condensed to "tinyurl.com/o2mqu". The link never expires!Ad
EditWarnings
- Some people may hesitate to click a link that uses a URL-shortening service fearing spam or even viruses.
- Be forewarned that many wiki-websites (including wikiHow) have most URL-shortening services blacklisted, due to spam issues. Thus, you will not be able to add them onto an article.
Article Info
Categories: Email and Instant Messaging
Recent edits by: Tina, TechFlash1, Marta
In other languages:
Español: Cómo crear pequeños enlaces
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 32,904 times.
