Reasons for Not Using URL Shortening Services (such as Bitly)
This article will explain the disadvantages of using URL shortening services and why there is no need for them with Flashy.
Disadvantages of URL Shortening Services
First, it is important to know that many email service providers regard emails containing shortened URLs as spam, this is because there is no credible source for the URL and many hackers use such URLs in order to forward visitors to unsafe webpages.
Because many email service providers do not trust emails containing shortened URLs, using them may harm your email-sending credibility.
Another disadvantage is that using shortened URLs reduces Flashy's ability to gather useful link-related data such as the number of clicks on a link and the number of purchases originating from them.
Also diminished is the ability to mark contacts, automatically identify them, and add contacts who clicked on shortened URL links to subsequent campaigns.
For instance, if a contact clicks on a shortened URL link in a text message you sent, then adds a product to their shopping cart only to abandon the cart without making a purchase, they will not enter the cart abandonment automation because the shortened URL link will make it impossible to identify them.
Why is it not necessary to use an external link shortening service in Flashy?
When you send short text messages – Flashy automatically shortens link URLs so that you do not pay for unnecessary characters, there is therefore no need to use Bitly or any other URL-shortening service.
All you need to do is paste the link's URL as is in the text message, the automatic shortening occurs when the message is sent so that it will be received with a shortened URL. The charge for sending the text message will be according to the number of characters in Flashy's shortened URLs (22 characters).
This way, you will also be able to view full Flashy reports of purchases which resulted from short text message campaigns.
If you use Bitly for analytics – we recommend you switch to using UTM for following campaigns on google analytics – this is the correct and most effective way especially so far as emails are concerned regardless of the Flashy system.
