How to create branded links in Linkbreakers

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.

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 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 will generate the DNS records you need to add to your domain registrar's control panel.

You'll need to create two DNS records:

CNAME Record:

• Name: go (or your chosen subdomain)
• Value: domains.linkbreakers.com
• TTL: 300 (or your registrar's default)

TXT Record (for verification):

• Name: _some_verification_key.go
• Value: The unique verification code provided by Linkbreakers
• TTL: 300

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.

Creating your first branded link

Once your domain reaches "Active" status, creating branded links becomes effortless. Navigate to QR Codes / 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

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.

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 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 immediately breaks all links created with that domain. Visitors clicking those links will see error pages. Consider the impact carefully and migrate important links to other domains before deletion.

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 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 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.