URL shortening is a convenient way to turn long web addresses into more compact and easy to remember URLs. However, in some cases, using short URLs may not only be unhelpful, but also create problems. Let's consider the situations when it is better to do without shortening.
1. When the transparency of the link is important . Shortened URLs hide the real address, which can cause distrust. If the user can not see where the link leads, he may refuse to go, fearing phishing attacks or malicious sites. This is especially critical for official resources, banking institutions and services that handle sensitive information.
2. For official or business communication. In business correspondence, company websites and documents, it is better to leave full URLs. This provides a professional look to the message and increases the credibility of its content. Using shortened links in such cases may look unreliable or even suspicious.
3. When a link has a long lifespan. Many link shortening services have a limited lifespan for short URLs. If your link is supposed to work for years (for example, in printed materials, archives or documents), it is better to use a full link to avoid a situation where the shortened link stops working.
4. When a link is placed in printed materials. If you place a link on promotional materials, business cards or posters, shortened URLs can cause problems. First of all, people may be distrustful of anonymous links, and secondly, popular shortening services may disappear or change their policies to make the link inactive.
5. When Working with SEO. For search engines, short URLs do not carry information about the content of the page, and may not convey specific parameters for SEO promotion. A full URL shifts the keywords and structure of the site, which improves its visibility in search engines.
6. For important technical links. If the URL contains specific settings that should not be lost (e.g. UTM tags, transaction IDs, referral codes), shortening may result in the loss of this data. In such cases, it is better to leave the original link to preserve its functionality.
7. If the URL is used on social media platforms with built-in previews. Many platforms, such as Facebook or LinkedIn, automatically create a preview of the page based on the inserted URL. A shortened link may hinder this process or look less attractive in the newsfeed.
Short links have their advantages, but their use should be justified. If transparency, longevity, and trust in the URL are to be ensured, it is better to leave it in its full form. This is especially true for official resources, SEO optimization and printed materials. Before shortening links, you should ask yourself: will it really benefit you, or perhaps only create unnecessary problems?