Picture this: You’re just about to close a sale with a potential new client. 

You’ve got the go-ahead to pull up the agreement for them to sign and seal the deal, but you can’t find the document in the sea of agreement templates on your computer.

You’re going on two minutes of searching now, fumbling through dozens of documents — and the potential buyer is getting impatient. You are afraid they may have started to second guess their choice to work with your business. 

Now, picture this: You’re just about to close a sale with that same client. Because you decided to use OSlash, when you get the go-ahead to pull up the agreement — you simply type in o/sales-agreement and the document is ready to go. The deal is closed and your new client is very happy with their choice to work with your business.

You've probably seen custom URL shortcuts before, and maybe even used some without realizing it. Custom URL shortcuts are little modifications you can make to a web address so it's easier to remember, access, share, or type. For example, the shortcut for Google's home page is "www.google.com," but the shortcut for their search page is "www.google.com/search."

Just think of how much time you spend typing in URLs! A custom URL can help you get where you're going faster and with less effort.

This article explains how to create custom, short URLs with OSlash. We'll also explain what branded links are, the benefits of using them for content marketing, and how to make the most of them.

What is a custom URL?

A custom URL is a unique and personalized address for your website or online content. It's also sometimes called a branded link, custom short URL, vanity URL, or short link.

Basically, a custom URL is a shortcut to a website. Instead of typing the full URL every time you want to visit a website, you can just use the shortcut. This can be a real time-saver, especially if you visit the same websites often. And it's not just productivity fans benefitting from custom URLs. In fact, anyone who spends a lot of time online can find them useful.

You can use a custom URL to brand your online presence, make it easier for people to find and remember your website, and create links that are easy to share and track. 

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For example, if you're promoting a new product or service, you might create a custom URL that includes the product name or some other relevant keyword. People who click through the link will go directly to your website or landing page. Using custom URLs can ensure your links stand out and get noticed — which can result in more traffic and more customers.

Recommended reading: How to shorten Google Drive links the smart & easy way

What is a URL shortcut?

A URL shortcut is a custom domain that links to a website or specific web page. For example, typing "goo.gl" takes you to Google's homepage. URL shortcuts are often used for social media websites like Facebook and Twitter. For example, you can type "fb.me" to go directly to Facebook's homepage. The LinkedIn URL shortcut is "lnkd.in." Similarly, you can type in "t.co" to go to Twitter's homepage. URL shortcuts can be a useful way to save time when trying to access your favorite websites.

What are the benefits of custom URL shortcuts?

Shortcuts are the best. Why waste time typing a whole URL when you can just use a shortcut? Here are some of the benefits of URL shortcuts:

• They save time. Instead of typing www.google.com, you can just type in goo.gl/shortcut. Shortcuts can also help you find documents faster.
• They're easy to remember. No need to memorize a long URL with an endless string of random characters — a shortcut is easy to remember and share with others.
• They keep you organized. Use a URL shortcut to keep all of your frequently used websites in one place. This extra functionality can be especially helpful if you're trying to access a website from a mobile device with a small screen and keyboard.
• They help you brand your online presence. Make your brand name stand out. A custom domain name and branded URLs can make your website or online content look more professional and polished.
• They're easy to track. You can use shortcuts with Google Analytics to track how many people click on your links. This information is valuable for digital marketing and advertising purposes.
• They're stylish. Impress your friends with a cool, custom URL shortcut. 
• They help with search engine optimization (SEO). Using keywords in your URL can help your website or landing page rank higher in search results by making it more relevant to the search query.
• They make you look smart! Using a URL shortcut shows that you know your way around the internet — and that you're not afraid to show it off. So go ahead and share your favorite shortcuts with the world!

How to create a custom URL shortcut

Forget messing around with the IP address and configuring DNS settings. With OSlash, creating a short URL is easy!

Let’s explore how to set up your first custom URL using OSlash. You can use the OSlash plug-in extension to easily create custom URL shortcuts. With OSlash, you can create a new custom URL for your website or online content in just a few clicks.

Here's a tutorial on how to do it: 

1. Download the OSlash extension

Download the OSlash browser extension for your preferred web browser: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Brave Browser, or Safari.

2. When you’re on the page you want to shortcut, click the OSlash extension

Now it’s time to create your own custom shortcut. Go to the webpage you want to shortcut. We suggest starting with a webpage you visit often. The address bar on the top will show the long URL you can OSlash into a shortcut that’s easy to remember.

Start by clicking on the OSlash extension. If you’re having trouble finding the extension, try pinning it. Learn how to do that here.

3. Name your shortcut

Next, add the shortcut name and save. Try a short, memorable, and easy-to-recognize custom name. You can also add an optional description. It’s a good idea to add one so your team can understand what your short link accesses. For example, you could name a short link to your YouTube channel studio dashboard “o/channel-dash.” A good description would be, “My YouTube channel’s Creator Studio dashboard.”

Keep in mind that your custom URL shortcut will be set to public by default and accessible to others in your workplace. You can change the access to private or create your own custom sharing option.

4. Click “save” and start using the shortcut 

Click “Save,” and you’re ready to start using your short URL. We’re so proud! You made your very first custom URL shortcut with OSlash.

Now, how can you put that shortcut to work?

A link management tool like OSlash can help with internal communications by making it easy for employees to share links to websites and documents. Share the good news of custom URLs with your co-workers so they can create their own URL shortcuts, too. They save time, make it easy to find the information you need, and help communication move a lot faster.

Recommended reading: What is link management & why you need it

Work smarter with shortcuts through OSlash

OSlash is more than just a URL shortening service. It’s a link management tool and text expander app that can help you and your team work smarter by improving communication and collaboration.

Are you shopping around for the best link shortener for your business? Maybe you’ve seen other services that offer branded URLs like Bitly and Rebrandly. Learn why OSlash slashes the competition when it comes to pricing, functionality, and more.

By using OSlash, you can:

• Share links with your team through a central repository
• Get insights into how your team is using links
• Control access to links with permissions and security settings
• Automatically generate easy to remember shortcuts such as o/roadmap or o/daily-standup for all your URLs

And much more! Get started with OSlash today.