Question 1

How can I use TinyURL to comply with the TRAI whitelisting rules for sending SMS that contains URLs

Accepted Answer

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) published new rules for usage of URLs in SMS messages on August 20, 2024 which came into effect on October 1, 2024. This regulation requires senders to add their URLs to TRAI's whitelist of URLs.

A typical TinyURL link uses the format of tinyurl.com/example where the "example" part is dynamic and changing for each recipient you send an SMS message to. TRAI, however, requires the sender to make the first part of the path, which they call the header, static so that it can be registered on the whitelist.

We do not directly support this format for URL shortening, but with our path expansion feature, we can accomplish their required format.

TinyURL path expansion explained

When a TinyURL link has an extra directory or directories added to the path of the URL, TinyURL will transform the destination link to include that added path.

As an example, a TinyURL link like https://tinyurl.com/example which has a destination that goes to https://example.com can have another directory added to the path such as https://tinyurl.com/example/123abc which will redirect to https://example.com/123abc

Creating the TRAI header with your branded domain

To set up your branded domain with the header, you would create a TinyURL link using your branded domain and then enter the header, which is usually your registered TRAI sender ID, as the alias, and point it to just your branded domain as the destination URL.

Let's take the branded domain mybranded.link to use as an example. Using this domain, we would create the TinyURL link of https://mybranded.link/HEADER, where HEADER is your sender ID, and enter in the destination URL of https://mybranded.link

This will result in all links under this domain working with or without the "HEADER" (the sender ID, or header as they call it) in it, so that a newly created TinyURL link will work as https://mybranded.link/example or as https://mybranded.link/HEADER/example and take you to the same destination URL.

Our API will not output new TinyURL links with the header included, so your code will have to add it into the resulting TinyURL link that is returned.

Working with the 30 character limit of variables in message templates

When sending commercial SMS in India, TRAI requires you to use message templates for most of the messages you send. Unfourtunately, the additional seven characters they require you to add as a result of needing to include your six character sender ID and add another slash to the URL makes the URL longer and more difficult to use as a variable. With eight characters for the https://, at least three for the top level domain like .in or .com, one for the slash following the domain, and seven for the sender ID, we only have 11 more characters to work with for the random alias and domain name.

While choosing a short domain can help solve this problem, it is best practice to use a domain that is on brand so your recipients know it's from you and is a message they can trust. Normally, you can get away without including the https:// part of the URL if it is a .com or .in domain as all messaging apps will turn them into clickable links, but the TRAI regulations require you to use https:// in your URLs, leaving us without many options.

The only solution then to have an on brand domain and stay within the limits when shortening a URL is to have only the dynamic part of the URL as a the value of the variable. In your message template, you would have https://mybranded.link/HEADER/{#var#} and then you would pull out the alias from the generated TinyURL link, such as "example" like we used above, and submit that as the value for the variable when sending your message to result in the URL being https://mybranded.link/HEADER/example

Question 2

Can I import my TinyURLs into my account?

Accepted Answer

For prior TinyURLs created, you can import them into your registered account by going through the following steps.

Check on the same computer and browser you created the TinyURL links with.
Check if these links appear under My URLs list:

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/n9sEghF2ZC/resources/37Tl4IynF7/myURL%20logged%20out_with%20list.PNG (myURL logged out_with list.PNG)

If they are on the list, create or sign in to your account on the same browser which will then add these links into your account.

Please note that for any other TinyURL links not on this list, we are unable to associate them to an account from our end.

Question 3

How to set your TinyURL profile picture

Accepted Answer

Profile Settings will allow you to upload a new or change current profile picture of your TinyURL account.

Log in or Sign-up to your TinyURL account.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/n9sEghF2ZC/resources/8bEFLxuqYw/tinyurl_sc_visitor%20view-b.png (tinyurl_sc_visitor view-b.png)

Go to Account and Profile Settings.
To upload or change current photo, click on Upload Photo.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/n9sEghF2ZC/resources/wIuU7WP1JA/account%20profile_final.PNG (account profile_final.PNG)

Browse for the image from your computer and hit Open or Select.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/n9sEghF2ZC/resources/Bnnw3ZakfO/upload%20photo.png (upload photo.png)

Selected image will display as the profile picture of your TinyURL account.

For users with existing Gravatar profiles:

Created by WordPress to associate avatar images to email addresses, Gravatar sets all profiles publicly by default. With the integration of Gravatar into our website, you may see profile images displayed on your TinyURL account associated with the same e-mail address of your Gravatar profile.

To change your TinyURL profile photo, please follow the steps outlined above.

To modify your Gravatar profile privacy setting, please follow recommend steps below:

Question 4

Can I redirect my TinyURL?

Accepted Answer

If you recently moved one of your pages or the entire website associated with a TinyURL created from our Legacy Site, you can point your TinyURL to your new location by creating a redirect.

The following steps will require ownership or control of the site your TinyURL points to. As these changes may lead to an interruption of service for your website, if you don't have or you are unsure how to proceed, please consult with your IT, hosting provider or Web Development team.

Applying a Redirect via Server

Apache Server :

Redirecting pages of site on an Apache server can be done my modifying the '.htaccess' file on your website.

Nginx Server :

Redirection on Nginx can we accomplish using many ways, but the most common way to redirect by creating the server block using the return Directive. For additional details on in setting up of the server block, follow steps on How to Redirect to Nginx Server.

IIS Server :

For details on how to redirect in different IIS and Windows version, follow steps how How to Redirect on IIS/Windows Server.

Applying a Redirect via Website Builders

WordPress :

Creating redirects in WordPress is straightforward process with plugins readily available for you to use. Here are some steps on How to Create Redirect in Wordpress.

Wix :

Redirects in Wix are managed on your site's Dashboard. Additional details and steps are discussed on How to Create redirect in Wix.

SquareSpace :

When creating redirects in Squarespace, one must ensure that the new site exists. Read through How to create Redirect in Squarespace for more details.

Question 5

How long will my TinyURL be available?

Accepted Answer

Our TinyURLs do not expire!

With the URL shortening service we provide, you can use and share your TinyURL so long as they are created and maintained in accordance with our Terms of Use. Not only are they reliable and secure, your TinyURLs will never expire!

Question 6

What information is captured on my dashboard?

Accepted Answer

Your TinyURL Dashboard will include the following information.

***Link management

Destination : The original URL that is being shortened, usually too long or contains additional characters.

Alias : Shortened and friendly version of the URL that be can be shared with users.

Active Links : Number of TinyURLs that have been actively clicked within specified time period.

***Monitoring

Human Clicks : Authentic clicks by real people identified by User Agent or IP address.

Bot Clicks : Clicks that originate from automated systems.

Unique Clicks : Are the first click of the URL by a user.

Non-Unique Clicks: Clicks that occur when a specific link is repeatedly clicked.

Unique Visitors: Refers to the audience that clicked the links identified by IP address.

Referrer : Provides information as to how a user found a link they clicked on.

***Analytics

Traffic by Region : Signifies the clicks plotted with a global view down to countries and sub-regions.

Most Popular Days and Time : Indicates the day or time where URLs are clicked the most.

Top Browser : Shows the browser used when a user clicks on a link, identified through user agent string.

Top Devices : Shows devices used to click the link, identifies device through user agent string.

Top Platform : Shows operating system used to click the link, identifies device through user agent string.

Top Languages : Shows language of user who cliked on the link, identified through language setting.

Question 7

Can I create a TinyURL with an alias?

Accepted Answer

A URL Alias allows you to create a new name for your TinyURL. Aliases are created so that the URL is short, clear, and easy to remember.

TinyURL Alias:

This is the system generated Alias that TinyURL creates after you shorten your URL.

Custom Alias:

You may create a custom alias that can be intuitive and descriptive of your TinyURL.

Login to your TinyURL account.
Enter the long URL of the destination site and the custom alias you'd like to use for your TinyURL.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/n9sEghF2ZC/resources/e2GSWxkaCj/tinyurl_sc_visitor%20view-a.png (tinyurl_sc_visitor view-a.png)

After clicking MakeTinyURL! button, your long URL is now shortened with a custom alias.

https://malcolm-en-gb.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/instances/n9sEghF2ZC/resources/1YVWclNXsG/custom%20alias%20output.png (custom alias output.png)

You can now copy to your clipboard, share through Social media platforms or use the QR code generated for your TinyURL!

Question 8

What is a branded domain?

Accepted Answer

A branded domain enables you to create links and include your brand. When you share links with your brand, it helps people easily identify with the site, establish trust and would then result into higher click-through rates.

With TinyURL, you can:

Purchase Domain

You can choose an available domain and we will set it up for you! No technical knowledge needed. To top it all off, we have a promo where domains that end in .live, .life, and .info are free for the first year.

BYO Domain

Bring your own domain and in no time you can be shortening URLs through it.

BYO Subdomain

Already have a website? We can create a Subdomain with which to shorten URLs.

Question 9

Welcome to TinyURL !

Accepted Answer

What is a URL?

Uniform Resource Locator, URL, is a reference to a web resource that specifies its location on a computer network. A URL incorporates the domain name, along with other detailed information, to create a complete address (or “web address”) to direct a browser to a specific web page.

What is a TinyURL?

TinyURL is a service we provide to enable users to shorten the URLs they need to share. Our TinyURL tool can drastically shorten your long links and still reliably direct to the same web pages. By simply entering the complete and whole URL, we will help you grow, scale, and dominate through the power of link management.

Question 10

Here's a quick peek into what's new with TinyURL

Accepted Answer

Subscription Plans

With our subscription plans, measure how your short URLs build your brand name and awareness through tracked clicks and link tagging.

Customized Links

Create shortened links, get more clicks and more exposure with branded domains and customized links that will reflect you and your customers will trust.

Link Management

Create and manage your links through your dashboard. Rename, Edit your TinyURLs and get detailed analytics on how your links perform.

Data Monitoring and Analytics

Through your Dashboard, understand your user's journey when they click on your URLs. Track links by how much traffic comes from specific regions or device types to optimize your campaigns to your TinyURLs to more and to the right people.