Quick Create
The fastest way to shorten a link is through the Quick Create widget on your dashboard home:
- Paste any valid URL into the destination field
- Click the "Shorten" button
- Your short link is created instantly
The system automatically generates a random 6-character code for your link. You'll be redirected to the link details page where you can customize it further.
Advanced Link Creation
For more control, use the full link creation page:
- Navigate to Links → Create New Link
- Enter your destination URL
- Add an optional title (helps you identify the link later)
- Choose tags to organize your links
- Set a custom back-half (Pro only)
- Add password protection (Pro only)
Custom Back-Halves
Pro users can create branded, memorable links with custom back-halves:
Example:
Instead of: shortn.at/a8K9xR
Create: shortn.at/summer-sale
Custom back-halves must be unique and can contain letters, numbers, and hyphens.
Link Titles
Add descriptive titles to your links for better organization. If you don't provide a title, Shortn will automatically fetch the title from the destination page.
Titles are only visible to you in your dashboard and help you quickly identify links in lists and reports.
Tags
Tags help you organize and filter your links. You can:
- Add multiple tags to a single link
- Create tags on-the-fly while creating links
- Filter your links by tags in the links dashboard
- Manage all tags from the tags section
Password Protection
Pro users can protect links with passwords. This is useful for:
- Private content or resources
- Event-specific links
- Members-only content
- Controlled access to sensitive information
When password protection is enabled:
- Visitors are shown a password entry page
- Optional hint text can help authorized users
- Rate limiting prevents brute force attempts
- Passwords are securely hashed and never stored in plain text
Best Practices
- Use descriptive titles for better organization
- Apply consistent tags across campaigns
- Keep custom back-halves short and memorable
- Test password-protected links before sharing
- Review your monthly link quota in your plan