Apr 21, 2022 2 min read 🪄 Tips & tricks

Improve your app's shareability with a shorter URL

So you've...

followed the tutorials.
created a fantastic app that you're proud of.
made a difference with it.

Now, you can't wait to share it with everyone.

Problem? The URL is a series of characters and numbers that make no sense 😵‍💫. It is difficult (tough!) to remember and share, other than copying/pasting the link.

I'll let you in on a great resource I often use that will take the shareability of your work to the next level: TinyURL.

✂️

Find other URL shorteners here.

✅ The benefits of using a shorter URL are:

Easier for users to type out and thus improve the user experience.
Fewer mistakes when typing.
Your app will rank better in internet search results.
You can track the number of visualisations.
You can add a personal touch or brand to the URL.

TinyURL's paid plan offers additional functionalities, but the free plan seems to be quite enough for the rest of us.

Some examples of how I have been using short URLs are:

https://arcg.is/0e9Su4 👉 tinyurl.com/bemorelikefrenchy

allthatgeo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/countdown/index.html?appid=93829394022f4158a418a6c382aaeae2 👉 tinyurl.com/womennationalparliaments

allthatgeo.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/3dviewer/index.html?appid=bdb1c9e3770046d08a9b9a92f8d7d606 👉 tinyurl.com/hikinggeneva

You are now on your way to making your app reach even more people!

🤔

Update: Lately, I have been experiencing a downside to using TinyURL. It seems some email providers consider them suspicious, causing issues with email delivery. Also, Reddit does not like them. So my advice is to use short URLs mainly for verbal communication and messaging apps (e.g. WhatsApp). This is how I've been sharing my apps with friends, and, in my opinion, it is still the best way to do it.

P.S. Do you want to create your own apps and share them? Then, you might find these tutorials helpful.

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