--- title: "How to create branded links in Linkbreakers" description: "Learn how to set up custom domains and create branded short links that reinforce your brand identity while maintaining professional appearance across all marketing channels." canonical: "https://linkbreakers.com/help/article/how-to-create-branded-links-in-linkbreakers" last-updated: 2026-11-04 --- # How to create branded links in Linkbreakers > Learn how to set up custom domains and create branded short links that reinforce your brand identity while maintaining professional appearance across all marketing channels. ## Short answer This article explains how to create branded links in linkbreakers with practical guidance, limits, and implementation details so you can apply it consistently. Building trust through every click starts with your domain name. When someone sees a short link from your brand, they should immediately recognize it as yours. Generic short links like `bit.ly/abc123` tell visitors nothing about your brand. But `go.yourcompany.com/summer-sale` communicates trust, professionalism, and clear intent. This difference matters more than you might think. ## Quick summary - Configure custom domains through DNS settings to create branded short links that build trust - Let Linkbreakers detect your DNS provider and, where supported, set everything up in one click - Choose memorable subdomains like "go" or "links" that clearly communicate purpose and action - Create meaningful link keywords that reflect campaign content and maintain consistent naming conventions - Integrate branded links seamlessly with QR codes and analytics tracking for comprehensive campaigns - Implement advanced multi-domain strategies for different business purposes and audience segments - Troubleshoot common DNS and SSL certificate issues to ensure reliable domain functionality - Deleting a domain deletes its links and their analytics, and a domain that stops pointing to Linkbreakers is deleted with its links after 30 days, after emails on days 0, 7 and 21 ## Why branded links drive better results Click-through rates improve when people recognize your brand in the URL. Trust increases when visitors see your domain instead of a third-party service. Brand consistency strengthens when every touchpoint reinforces your identity. Research consistently shows branded links perform 34% better than generic alternatives. People hesitate before clicking unknown domains, but they confidently engage with brands they recognize. This psychological factor translates directly into campaign performance. Your marketing campaigns deserve better than anonymous links. Whether you're running email campaigns, social media promotions, or print advertisements, branded short links maintain your professional image throughout the customer journey. ## Setting up your custom domain Custom domains in Linkbreakers follow a straightforward configuration process. You'll need access to your domain's DNS settings and about 15 minutes to complete the setup. The process works through Linkbreakers's infrastructure, which handles SSL certificates automatically. This means your branded links always use secure HTTPS connections without additional configuration on your part. ### Choosing your subdomain Select a subdomain that's memorable and clearly associated with links. Popular choices include: 1. `go.yourcompany.com` - clear action-oriented approach 2. `links.yourcompany.com` - explicitly describes the purpose 3. `click.yourcompany.com` - emphasizes the call-to-action 4. `share.yourcompany.com` - great for social media campaigns Avoid complex subdomains or ones that could confuse visitors. The goal is instant recognition and trust. ### DNS configuration steps Navigate to your [workspace settings](https://app.linkbreakers.com/workspace/dashboard/settings) and select "Custom Domains" from the menu. Click "Add Domain" to begin the configuration process. Enter your chosen subdomain (like `go.yourcompany.com`) in the domain field. Linkbreakers then looks up who manages your domain's DNS (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace, IONOS, OVHcloud, Hostinger, Wix, Amazon Route 53 and many more) and tailors the setup page to it. ### One-click setup When your DNS provider supports [Domain Connect](https://www.domainconnect.org), the setup page shows a **Set up automatically** button. Click it, sign in to your provider if asked, review the changes and approve them. You land back on Linkbreakers, which checks your domain straight away. You never copy a record by hand. ### Guided manual setup When one-click is not available, the setup page tells you which provider manages your domain, links you to it, and lists the exact records to add, written the way your provider expects them: **CNAME Record (required):** - Name: `go` (or your chosen subdomain, without your domain after it) - Value: `domains.linkbreakers.com` **CNAME Record for certificates (recommended):** - Name: `_acme-challenge.go` - Value: shown on the setup page - This record lets your HTTPS certificate renew on its own, so you never have to come back to your DNS settings. Some providers call the name field "Host", "Hostname" or "Record name": the setup page uses your provider's wording. If your domain is on Cloudflare, set the proxy status of the CNAME to **DNS only** (grey cloud), otherwise Linkbreakers cannot see the record. If the setup page asks for TXT records too, add them the same way. They prove you own the domain and let Linkbreakers issue your certificate. DNS changes typically propagate within 5-15 minutes, though some registrars may take up to an hour. Linkbreakers automatically checks your configuration and updates the domain status once verification succeeds. ### Domain status workflow Your custom domain progresses through several states during setup: **Inactive** - Initial state before DNS configuration begins **Domain Pending** - Waiting for CNAME record to propagate **Verification Pending** - Checking TXT record for domain ownership **Certificate Pending** - Linkbreakers provisioning SSL certificate **Active** - Ready for creating branded links The entire process usually completes within 30 minutes. You'll receive notifications as your domain progresses through each stage. A domain that was never set up and has no links is removed after 7 days without progress (14 days if it is stuck waiting for its certificate). You can add it again at any time. ## Keeping your domain connected Your branded links only load while your domain points to Linkbreakers. If the CNAME record is removed or changed at your DNS provider (a DNS migration, a new website host, an expired domain), the domain stops pointing to Linkbreakers and every link on it stops loading. When that happens to a domain that worked before or has links, Linkbreakers emails the workspace admins: - **Day 0**: the domain no longer points to Linkbreakers. The email names the record to restore (a CNAME on your domain with the value `domains.linkbreakers.com`), the number of links on the domain, and the date it will be deleted. - **Day 7**: a reminder. - **Day 21**: a last reminder. - **Day 30**: if the domain still does not point to Linkbreakers, it is deleted together with its links and their analytics, and you receive a final email listing what was deleted. The custom domains page shows the same thing: "No longer points to Linkbreakers since" the date it broke, the record to fix and the deletion date. Restoring the record at any point before the deletion date cancels it: Linkbreakers checks every domain each hour and takes it off the schedule as soon as it points back. ## Creating your first branded link Once your domain reaches "Active" status, creating branded links becomes effortless. Navigate to [Links](https://app.linkbreakers.com/workspace/dashboard/links) in your dashboard. Click "Create Link" and you'll see your custom domain available in the domain dropdown. Enter your destination URL and choose a memorable keyword for your short link. Instead of random characters, you can create meaningful links like: - `go.yourcompany.com/product-demo` - `go.yourcompany.com/pricing` - `go.yourcompany.com/webinar-signup` Printing many codes for the same page, one per product, table or batch? Click **Advanced {}** next to the Short link label to create a dynamic short link such as `go.yourcompany.com/p/{serial}`: one link answers every value and saves it on the visitor. See [dynamic slugs](/help/article/dynamic-slugs-capture-data-from-the-url-path) for the full guide. ### Best practices for link keywords Keep keywords short and descriptive. Long keywords defeat the purpose of short links and become difficult to share verbally. Aim for 3-15 characters when possible. Use consistent naming conventions across campaigns. If you use `summer-sale` for one campaign, stick with similar patterns like `winter-sale` or `spring-promo` for others. Avoid using dates that will become outdated. While `black-friday-2024` works for specific campaigns, consider `black-friday` if you'll run similar promotions annually. Test your keywords by saying them aloud. If someone couldn't easily type your keyword after hearing it spoken, choose something simpler. ## Advanced configuration options Linkbreakers supports up to 5 custom domains per workspace, allowing sophisticated domain strategies. Different domains can serve different purposes: - `go.company.com` for general marketing campaigns - `events.company.com` for event-related links - `docs.company.com` for documentation and resources - `promo.company.com` for special offers and sales This multi-domain approach enables better campaign organization and clearer visitor expectations. ### QR code integration Branded links work seamlessly with QR codes. When someone scans a QR code created with your custom domain, they see your brand in any link preview that appears on their device. This integration maintains brand consistency across both digital and physical marketing materials. A QR code on a printed flyer creates the same branded experience as a link in an email campaign. ### Analytics and tracking All analytics features work identically with custom domains. You can track clicks, geographic distribution, device types, and visitor behavior regardless of which domain generated the link. Custom domains don't impact campaign attribution or UTM parameter handling. Your analytics platforms receive the same data whether you use branded links or default Linkbreakers domains. ## Slugs with several segments and dynamic slugs A slug can be a path, such as `summer/poster-a` or `menu/lunch`. On a custom domain it can also be dynamic: a segment written `{name}` matches any value and saves it on the visitor, so the link `p/{serial}` answers `go.yourbrand.com/p/A7Q2-9931` and records `serial = A7Q2-9931`. One link then covers every serial, table, booth or batch you print. In the link form, the **Advanced {}** button next to the Short link label opens a dialog to compose one, with examples. See [dynamic slugs](/help/article/dynamic-slugs-capture-data-from-the-url-path). ## Troubleshooting common issues ### DNS propagation delays If your domain remains in "Domain Pending" status for more than an hour, check your DNS configuration. Use online DNS lookup tools to verify your CNAME record points correctly to `domains.linkbreakers.com`. Some DNS providers cache records aggressively. Try reducing your TTL (Time To Live) setting to 300 seconds to speed up propagation. ### Certificate provisioning problems SSL certificate creation occasionally encounters delays during high-traffic periods. If your domain stays in "Certificate Pending" for more than 2 hours, contact support for assistance. Certificate issues often resolve automatically with patience, but support can expedite the process if you have urgent deadlines. ### Verification failures TXT record verification requires exact matches. Ensure your verification code matches exactly what Linkbreakers provided, including any special characters or formatting. Some DNS providers add quotes around TXT record values automatically. If verification fails, try removing any quotes that weren't part of the original code. ## Using branded links programmatically The [Links API](https://linkbreakers.com/help/api/links) supports custom domains for automated link creation. Specify your custom domain in API requests to generate branded links at scale. This capability enables sophisticated automation scenarios: - E-commerce platforms creating product-specific links - Event management systems generating unique attendee links - CRM integrations creating personalized outreach links - Marketing automation platforms building campaign-specific URLs API-generated links maintain the same analytics, QR code integration, and workflow capabilities as manually created links. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I use my root domain instead of a subdomain? Linkbreakers requires subdomains for technical reasons related to DNS management and SSL certificate provisioning. Using subdomains also prevents conflicts with your main website's configuration. ### How many custom domains can I configure? Each workspace supports up to 5 custom domains. This limit accommodates most organizational needs while preventing abuse and maintaining system performance. ### What happens if I delete a custom domain? Deleting a custom domain deletes every link on it, together with their analytics, and their QR codes stop working. This cannot be undone. The confirmation shows how many links will be deleted. Links never move to another domain: recreate the ones you still need on another domain before you delete it. ### What happens if my domain stops pointing to Linkbreakers? Its links stop loading straight away. If the domain worked before or has links, the workspace admins get an email on day 0, day 7 and day 21 with the record to restore. If it is still not fixed 30 days after the first email, the domain is deleted with its links and their analytics. Restore the CNAME record (`domains.linkbreakers.com`) before that date and nothing is deleted. ### Can I change a link's domain after creation? Currently, link domains cannot be changed after creation. You'll need to create a new link with your preferred domain. This limitation ensures URL stability and prevents accidental link breakage. ### Do branded links affect SEO? Branded short links use 301 redirects, which pass link equity to destination pages. However, the redirect does add a small delay compared to direct links. For SEO-critical content, consider using direct links when possible. ### Are there domain name restrictions? Linkbreakers blocks certain reserved domains and requires valid DNS ownership verification. You cannot use linkbreakers.com subdomains or domains associated with malicious activity. ### How do I track campaign performance across multiple domains? Use consistent [tag strategies](https://linkbreakers.com/help/article/how-to-use-tags-to-segment-and-analyze-qr-campaigns) across domains to group related campaigns. UTM parameters and analytics work identically regardless of which custom domain creates the link. ### Can team members create links on all custom domains? All workspace members can create links on any configured custom domain. Use [role-based access control](https://linkbreakers.com/help/article/what-are-the-workspace-roles-in-linkbreakers) to manage broader permissions if needed. Custom domains represent more than technical convenience. They're brand assets that reinforce your identity with every interaction. When someone clicks your link, they should never question its authenticity or worry about where it leads. Start with one well-chosen subdomain and expand your domain strategy as your campaigns grow more sophisticated. The investment in proper setup pays dividends through improved click-through rates, increased trust, and stronger brand recognition across all your marketing channels. ## Limits and caveats - Feature availability and limits can vary by plan and workspace setup. - Results depend on correct implementation, attribution setup, and data quality controls. - Regulatory and privacy obligations vary by jurisdiction and use case.