Creating a short link

Start with a destination URL or a site name without a protocol, then choose whether the link should be permanent, start later, expire on a date, stop after a click limit, use a custom slug, require a password, or allow only approved referrers. A referrer is the site that sent the visitor to your short link, for example a partner page or a campaign landing page. After creation, clk.ms shows the short URL, copy action, sharing buttons, and QR download. Entries that are not real links, are too long, point back to clk.ms, duplicate an existing active destination with the same settings, or match blocked and spam sources are rejected with a clear reason.

A short link is useful when a destination is long, temporary, hard to type, or needs additional controls. In clk.ms the short link is not just a redirect: it can have a start date, an expiration date, a click limit, a password, approved referrers, a preview page, a warning page, a custom slug, a branded domain, QR output, analytics, and smart routing. Start by entering the destination. If the visitor should go to a normal website, https is usually the safest default. If the address already includes a protocol, clk.ms respects the entered protocol and hides the selector.

Before creating the link, decide what should happen after sharing. Permanent public links are best for evergreen pages, documentation, profiles, and stable product pages. Links with expiration or click limits are better for limited offers, event invitations, private documents, and one-time promotions. A custom slug helps when the link must be memorable, for example /summer-sale or /menu. If the same active destination with the same settings already exists, clk.ms returns the existing short link instead of creating a duplicate.

Example: a marketing user enters example.com/product, chooses https, sets a custom slug sale-2026, keeps the link permanent, and enables preview for transparency. The result can be copied, placed into a newsletter, printed as a QR code, or shared through a messenger. If the user later needs more control, the link settings can be opened from My links and adjusted without changing the short URL.

Best practice: create the simplest link that satisfies the goal. Add restrictions only when they solve a real problem, because every extra step can reduce conversions. Use clear custom slugs for public campaigns, short expiration windows for temporary materials, and passwords or email codes for private destinations.

How to apply this section

Each topic explains a feature, the user decision behind it, and how to use it without making the link harder to manage. Read the checklist before changing a link that is already shared.

Before you publish or update

Start from the visitor experience: who opens the link, from where, on which device, and what should happen next.
Check that the destination is correct, opens quickly, and shows the expected page for the intended audience.
Choose only the controls that match the goal, such as expiration, password, referrer, QR design, UTM, routing, or analytics sharing.
Save a short note for important changes so future review, rollback, or teamwork stays clear.
Open the short link in a private browser session and, when relevant, test mobile, desktop, QR scan, and protected access paths.
Review analytics after sharing to confirm real visitors, source quality, device mix, and campaign performance.

Practical example

Example: create a test link for an internal page, add a clear slug, set a short expiration, enable preview if the destination is sensitive, scan the QR code from a phone, then check whether the visit appears in the link statistics.

Next step

After this topic is clear, combine it with one adjacent feature. For example, pair UTM with campaigns, QR with print layouts, targeting with fallback, or webhooks with conversion tracking.