API short links

We have some exciting news for those of you that send texts via The Reach API. Our latest update means that you can now include short links in your messages. To find out how you can use this new feature, read the "how to get started" section below.

What is a short link?

Using our short link tool means that you can take any website URL and convert it into a shorter version of itself. This provides your message with a clean and tidy link that is easy to read and understand. The example below shows what a message would look like with a short link included.

Why use a short link?

Since text messages have a 160-character limit, you want to be as precise as possible. The benefit of using a short link is that it reduces the number of characters that your link uses. For example, if we wanted to promote this page, then it would require 68 characters to use the full URL. Using the short link tool reduces that number to just 18. This means that you now have 50 characters to use in your text.

Short links can also have a positive impact on conversions. By including a short link, you are providing your customers with a clear call to action. If your customer is interested in making a purchase or finding out more information, then they can click on your short link and it will take them to a relevant landing page.

Another benefit of using short links is that they can be tracked. This means that you'll be able to find out the number of customers that have clicked on your link as well as each individual customer. You can evaluate engagement levels and make adjustments when sending future campaigns. Additionally, you'll be able to further target the individual customers that clicked on your link but did not purchase.

Reporting

You will be able to view reports via your existing system. The following will be available for you to view:

Short URL Report - shows the number of clicks of a Short URL and if it is a tracked URL, it also shows the number of unique users that have clicked it.

Short URL User Report - shows the number of clicks by a single user and includes tracking Information (browser, OS, country, etc.).

How to get started

If you are interested in sending short links via our API then please get in contact with our technical team and they will be able to assist you in getting started. You will need to be provided with a new API key. Additionally, you can also contact your account manager.

Once set up, you will have two options to choose from:

Untracked Short URL Creation - Returns a short URL for any website.

Tracked Short URL Creation - Returns a short URL specific to the website and phone number supplied.