How to Create Shortened URLs with Make.com and Bitly for Effective Tracking

Welcome to the world of business automation! 🎉 Today, we’re diving into the magic of creating shortened URLs using Make.com (formerly Integromat) and Bitly. If you haven’t yet harnessed the power of these tools, you’re in for a treat. Let’s get started!

Why Use Bitly for URL Shortening?

Bitly is a popular URL shortener that offers both free and paid plans. For most businesses, the free version, which allows up to 1,000 links per month with unlimited clicks, is more than sufficient. Here are some key reasons to use Bitly:

  • 📈 Tracking & Analytics: Bitly helps you track clicks and gather data, making it easier to understand your audience.
  • 🔗 Clean URLs: Shortened URLs look cleaner and are more likely to be clicked.
  • 🚀 UTM Parameters: You can include UTM parameters to track the source of your traffic in Google Analytics.

Setting Up URL Shortening in Make.com

Make.com does not have a built-in URL shortener, but you can easily integrate it with Bitly. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  1. 🛠️ Create a Make.com Scenario: Start by creating a new scenario in Make.com.
  2. 🔑 Connect to Bitly: Use Bitly’s API to connect your Make.com account. You’ll need to generate an API token from Bitly.
  3. 🔗 Map Your Long URL: In the Make.com interface, map your long URL to the Bitly module.
  4. 📝 Add UTM Parameters: Include UTM parameters in your long URL. This allows you to track where your traffic is coming from (e.g., utm_source=facebook).
  5. 🔄 Generate Short URL: Run the scenario to generate a shortened URL.

Example Use Case: Tracking YouTube Traffic

Imagine you’re promoting your business on YouTube. You want to know how many clicks your video description links are getting and where your traffic is coming from. Here’s how you can set it up:


{
  "long_url": "https://yourwebsite.com/your-page?utm_source=youtube",
  "domain": "bit.ly",
  "title": "YouTube Campaign"
}

Every time someone clicks your Bitly link, Bitly will redirect them to your long URL with all the UTM parameters intact. This data will then be available in your Google Analytics for detailed tracking and analysis.

Expanding Bitly Links

You can also see what’s behind a Bitly link without clicking it. This is useful for verifying your links and ensuring they’re correctly set up:


{
  "bitlink_id": "bit.ly/yourshortlink"
}

Make.com allows you to expand short links and see the original URLs, making it easy to manage your links and keep everything organized.

Creating a URL Database

For better organization, consider creating a database to store your long URLs and their corresponding short links. This makes it easy to reference them in the future and ensures you always have access to your data.

Conclusion

By leveraging Make.com and Bitly, you can create efficient, trackable, and user-friendly URLs that enhance your digital marketing efforts. Start integrating these tools today and take your business automation to the next level! 🚀

Happy automating! 🤖

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