1

Hello hello!

It’s interesting to see how we share and click on links has evolved, especially with the rise of shortened URLs like bit.ly and TinyURL over the years! There have been some great conversations with fellow SpiceHeads about how to share links properly as a marketer or Brand Representative in the Spiceworks Community.

You can check those convos out here:

It’s been some time since we last discussed shortened links around here. I’m curious about your recent takes on best practices. When you see shortened links, what do you do?

Do you trust/click on these shortened links or avoid them altogether?

Would love your updated thoughts on the matter! I have a poll below, too. :slight_smile:

Poll: Do you click on shortened links these days?

  • Yes, it’s not a problem – As long as it’s from a trusted source, I’ll click
  • Only after I inspect the link – I like to preview or check it first
  • No – I avoid shortened links altogether
  • Depends on the situation – It really varies for me
0 voters

If you have any personal tips to share with fellow Brand Representatives/Marketers, please feel free to share them below!

15 Spice ups
2

I generally get sketched out by shortened links, but if I am in a known environment or in a communication from a trusted sender I will trust the link.

6 Spice ups
3

Definitely preview or use a site to uncover the URL.

10 Spice ups
4

I feel the same about a shortened link as a QR code. You can easily be tricked with those. At this point, you are can be vulnerable seeing the full link not knowing the site you are going to.

12 Spice ups
5

“You guys are clicking on links?”
meme1

18 Spice ups
6

Rickrolling has done wonders for making people aware of suspicious links

15 Spice ups
7

Oh! Do you mind if I ask you a follow-up question?

If you need to preview or uncover the URL before clicking, does that make you less likely to click on the link in the first place?

7 Spice ups
8

Much less likely.

5 Spice ups
9

I figured that might be the case, but just wanted to confirm!

2 Spice ups
10

I voted “depends” only because I do have a handful of very trusted people I wouldn’t worry about clicking a link from as part of an ongoing conversation (if it’s out of the blue I’ll still check probably because hacked accounts are A Thing™ regardless of how well you protect yourself)

9 Spice ups
11

Thanks for sharing! That’s helpful to know, for sure!

1 Spice up
12

We see them here in the community, often by vendors who are wrapping referral info into the link so they can track where it came from. Not a fan at all.

6 Spice ups
13

Thanks for sharing, @PatrickFarrell! I totally understand where you’re coming from regarding vendors using shortened links with referral info. It’s a common practice for some still, but not everyone is a fan.

I’m remembering this quote from a 2015 post about helping Brand Representatives in the Community:

Out of curiosity, what would you prefer vendors do if they need to use UTM codes for tracking? Would a more transparent approach work better, in your opinion, or do you think there’s another (maybe more modern) middle ground?

5 Spice ups
14

i make sure i always use https://unshorten.it first.

7 Spice ups
15

The middle ground would be using the link code feature like this. It lets one hover over the link (like I tell all staff to do all the time) and make sure it’s legit.

12 Spice ups
16

Very rarely unless I trust the person sending it to me. I still check it for correct destination.

6 Spice ups
17

I avoid them, although I do tend to spread a few that begin with archive.ph.

4 Spice ups
18

Hey now… I know what you’re doing there! You can’t fool me! :laughing:

Rick Roll GIF

8 Spice ups
19

I don’t think I’ve seen one of those shortened links in a while. They were everywhere, and now they don’t seem to show up much at all.

3 Spice ups
20

Tend to avoid them, really. It’s just too risky. We advise customers to do the same. People used to use them on QR codes to see how many people use the service. This is when everyone had a QR code on their business card.

5 Spice ups