How to Use Short Links in Print Advertising: Integration into Offline Marketing

In the era of digital marketing, offline advertising may seem outdated, but statistics suggest otherwise. The main problem in this context is reader trust. Studies found, that a lot of consumers trust print advertising more than digital. However, without a connection to the online world, print advertising loses effectiveness. One way to make it interactive is by using short links.

Short URLs make it easy to direct potential customers to web resources, analyze traffic, and increase conversions. But how can they be properly integrated into offline marketing? Let’s explore key strategies and facts that support their effectiveness.

Ways to Integrate Short Links into Offline Advertising:

1. On Business Cards and Print Materials. Companies often include website links in their promotional brochures, but long URLs are inconvenient. Using surl.li helps make them readable and memorable. For example, instead of  company.com/special-offer-2025, you can use surl.li/offer25.

2. On Billboards and Outdoor Advertising. Consumers see billboards for just a few seconds (often when they're driving a car). Short links make it easier to remember the address and enter it manually. A marketing agency OutSmart found that billboards with short URLs increased website visits by 21% compared to traditional long links.

3. On Product Packaging. Print advertising on packaging remains effective. Manufacturers can place short links to provide additional product information, instructions, or reviews. For example, Coca-Cola used short URLs for personalized promotions, and quite successfully, I must say.

4. At Offline Events and Conferences. At conferences, trade shows, and presentations, distributing printed materials is common practice. Short URLs can lead to pages with presentations, registrations, or discount offers. For instance, participants can easily enter surl.li/event2025 to access exclusive content.

Also, the biggest challenge in print advertising for marketers, is measuring its effectiveness. Short links solve this problem by providing analytical data. With services like our one, marketers can track the number of clicks, user geolocation, and even the time of activity. This allows businesses to evaluate the success of offline campaigns and adjust their strategies.

Using short links in print advertising is not just a trend but a tool that makes offline marketing more measurable and effective. They increase audience engagement, enhance user experience, and provide marketers with valuable data. By integrating them into business cards, billboards, packaging, and events, companies gain a powerful tool for bridging offline and online marketing.