Custom Short URLs: How to Create Branded Links

Generic short links like bit.ly/3xK9mPq are forgettable. Custom short URLs like y.hn/launch are memorable, branded, and trust-building. In this guide, we'll show you how to create custom short URLs that strengthen your brand and drive more clicks.

What Are Custom Short URLs?

Custom short URLs (also called branded links or vanity URLs) are shortened links where you choose the slug — the part after the domain. Instead of a random string of characters, you pick a meaningful word or phrase.

Generic: y.hn/x7k9mp

Custom: y.hn/launch

Both redirect to the same destination, but the custom version is:

• Easier to remember
• More trustworthy
• More clickable
• More professional

Why Custom Short URLs Matter

Higher Click-Through Rates

Studies show branded links get up to 39% more clicks than generic ones. When people can see what a link leads to from the URL itself, they're more likely to click.

Brand Recognition

Every time someone sees y.hn/yourbrand, it reinforces your presence. Over time, your audience learns to recognize and trust your links.

Shareability

Custom URLs are easier to share verbally:

• ✅ "Visit y.hn slash launch" (easy to say and type)
• ❌ "Visit bit dot ly slash three x k nine m p q" (impossible)

Professionalism

Custom links signal attention to detail. They show that you care enough to create a proper link rather than accepting a random string.

How to Create Custom Short URLs

On y.hn

1. Go to y.hn/dashboard

2. Paste your destination URL

3. Click "Advanced options"

4. Enter your desired custom slug in the y.hn/ field

5. Click "Shorten"

That's it. Your custom short URL is ready to share.

Tips for Choosing Custom Slugs

Keep it short: The whole point is brevity. y.hn/sale beats y.hn/our-big-summer-sale-2026.

Be descriptive: The slug should hint at the destination. y.hn/menu tells people they'll find a menu.

Use lowercase: Uppercase letters are harder to type and can cause confusion. Stick to lowercase.

Avoid special characters: Hyphens are OK, but avoid underscores, periods, and other characters.

Be consistent: Develop a naming convention and stick to it across campaigns.

Custom Slug Ideas by Use Case

For Businesses

• y.hn/menu — Restaurant menu
• y.hn/hours — Business hours
• y.hn/book — Booking/appointment page
• y.hn/apply — Job application
• y.hn/support — Customer support

For Marketing Campaigns

• y.hn/sale — Sale landing page
• y.hn/launch — Product launch
• y.hn/webinar — Webinar registration
• y.hn/demo — Product demo
• y.hn/trial — Free trial signup

For Content Creators

• y.hn/podcast — Podcast page
• y.hn/yt — YouTube channel
• y.hn/newsletter — Newsletter signup
• y.hn/merch — Merchandise store
• y.hn/patreon — Patreon page

For Events

• y.hn/rsvp — Event RSVP
• y.hn/agenda — Event schedule
• y.hn/slides — Presentation slides
• y.hn/photos — Event photos
• y.hn/feedback — Post-event survey

For Personal Use

• y.hn/resume — Your resume/CV
• y.hn/portfolio — Portfolio site
• y.hn/card — Digital business card
• y.hn/wedding — Wedding website
• y.hn/wifi — WiFi login page

Branded Links with Custom Domains

For maximum branding, you can use your own domain as a link shortener. For example, instead of y.hn/sale, you could use go.yourbrand.com/sale.

How Custom Domains Work on y.hn

1. Register a short domain (e.g., go.yourbrand.com)

2. Add it to your y.hn Business account

3. Point the domain's DNS to y.hn's servers

4. Create links using your custom domain

Choosing a Custom Domain

• Keep it short (the shorter, the better)
• Use a subdomain of your main brand (go.brand.com, link.brand.com)
• Or register a dedicated short domain (brand.link, brand.io)

Best Practices

1. Reserve Important Slugs Early

Popular slugs get taken. If you know you'll need y.hn/sale or y.hn/demo, create them now even if you haven't decided on the destination yet. You can change where they point later.

2. Don't Reuse Slugs

Once a slug has been associated with one campaign, don't repurpose it for another. People who bookmarked the old link will be confused.

3. Create Platform Variants

For tracking purposes, create slight variations per platform:

• y.hn/sale — General use
• y.hn/sale-tw — Twitter
• y.hn/sale-ig — Instagram

4. Monitor Analytics

Check your y.hn dashboard regularly to see which custom links perform best. This data informs future slug choices and marketing strategy.

5. Test Before Sharing

Always test your custom link before sharing it widely. Click it yourself to make sure it redirects correctly.

Premium Slugs

Some URL shorteners, including y.hn, offer premium single-character and two-character slugs for purchase. These ultra-short URLs like y.hn/a or y.hn/go are the most valuable digital real estate for a short link.

Check out y.hn/premium to browse available premium slugs.

FAQ

Q: Can anyone create custom short URLs?

A: On y.hn, custom slugs are available on Pro plans ($4.99/mo). Free users get random slugs.

Q: What if my desired slug is taken?

A: Try variations: add a number, use an abbreviation, or try a different word. For premium slugs, check the y.hn premium page.

Q: Can I change a custom slug after creating it?

A: You can change the destination URL, but the slug itself is permanent. Create a new link if you need a different slug.

Q: Are custom slugs case-sensitive?

A: On y.hn, slugs are case-insensitive. y.hn/Sale and y.hn/sale point to the same link.

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Create your first custom short URL now. Get started with y.hn Pro for unlimited custom slugs.