Make WordPress URLs shorter – the easy way

01 May 2010 · 0 comments

With the WordPress Stats plugin, you have access to Shortlinks right from the Post Edit screen. And stats are a great idea anyway.

 

You know how annoying it is when you end up with a really long URL for a post in your WordPress blog, like this recent one of mine: http://knowit.co.nz/2010/04/ keep-wordpress-widgets-from- appearing-on-particular-pages. In fact, that one’s so long at 85 characters I’ve had to insert a couple of spaces in it just so it can fit on the page here.

If I want to mention it on Twitter, or in an email newsletter that length is going to cause problems.

Get Shortlink button.

Get Shortlink button.

Make Shortlinks

One solution is to go to an external URL shortening service such as Tiny URL or Bitly, but if you install the WordPress.com Stats plugin you have a better option:

Now wp.me shortlinks are available on the Edit Post screen from a button next to View Post.

Visits to MacTips.info.

Visits to MacTips.info.

Of course the stats plugin is essential anyway as one source of useful information about visits to your blog, but this extra service adds a nice shine.

The Shortlink Generator is easy to use. First make sure you’ve finalised the permalink URL for your Post — you’ll probably want to use this service once you’ve published the Post anyway.

How to edit the Permalink

If you do want to change the URL for the Post, click the Edit button beside the Permalink field. The final portion of the Permalink becomes editable. Make your changes and then click OK or just click Cancel if you don’t want to edit the Permalink after all.

The Shortlink for one Post.

The Shortlink for one Post.

Get Shortlink

Then, on the Edit screen for the Post press the Get Shortlink button below the Title field. A message window appears, displaying the Shortlink.

Copy the Shortlink and click OK.

Now paste that Shortlink in to the email or Twitter screen where it’s needed.

Shortlinks can be really handy. The Get Shortlink button in the Edit Post screen is a nice way to save a few clicks if you need to use a shorter URL elewhere to refer to your Post.

And if you’re not using the WordPress Stats plugin, now’s a good time to start, even if you also use other stats services such as Google Analytics.

Clip to Evernote

Tagged as: plugin, shortlinks, stats, WordPress

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