Keyword URLs which are good for SEO and easy to read, can be long and difficult to type out in full. Shortlinks are, as the name implies, short links. They forward to the long URL. Their popularity has grown due to the rise of social networks such as Twitter, where every character counts.
Create a Shortlink
WordPress already includes a way to create a shortlink. Once a Post/Page has been published, a ‘Get Shortlink’ button will appear (just below the title).
Click it and a shortlink similar to www.yoursite.co.uk/?p=1 will display. The full permalink has been replaced with the post or page ID. Your domain name is retained. This works well if your domain name is relatively short and you have a very long post or page title.
For example, a long URL:
https://ljcltd-webhosting.co.uk/2015/05/post-with-very-long-title-indeed-rambling-on-somewhat/
would be shortened to:
https://ljcltd-webhosting.co.uk/?p=1133
If your domain name is lengthy and you would prefer to create shorter links still, you can use sites such as Bit.ly, TinyURL or Goo.gl . Clear instructions are provided, but generally you simply have to copy and paste your long URL in a text box and click a button.
