Introduction

URL Shortening is the process of shortening the length of an URL such as a Web Page or a Website link. It provides a short URL with reduced number of characters. This helps occupy less text space and easy access.

Short URLs:

• Aid marketing sectors in promoting internet forums and sites.
• Enhance producibility and click-throughs with rich link-level data.
• Offer feasible links which result in more clicks leading to increased brand recognition.

Vtiger Short URL Feature

Short URL is an exclusive Vtiger feature that offers the URL Shortening technique. This process is accomplished by reducing and replacing a Short URL with a Web Page that has a long URL. 
It shortens the length of a long conventional URL to just 30+ characters.

Example 

Twitter on Vtiger Social allows you to post only 280 characters in a Tweet. If you want to add a long URL, without worrying about its length taking over the Tweet you can now easily add a short URL with its reduced URL size.

Benefits of Vtiger Short URL Feature

• The Short URL feature helps users quickly shorten their Website/Source URLs. It reduces the URL character length and utilizes the operative space efficiently and productively.
• The Short URL feature for Google Analytics by default captures the added marketing parameters and includes them in the Short URL.

Feature Availability

Key Terminology 

Installation

To use the Short URL feature in Vtiger, you need to first install the Short URL extension from the Extension Store. 

Note: The Short URL extension is not available by default in the CRM. 

Follow these steps to install the Short URL extension: 

1. Log into your CRM account.
2. Click the User Menu.
3. Click Settings.
4. Click Extensions > Extension Store.
5. Look for the Short URL extension.
6. Look for the Short URL extension.
7. Click Install.

You have now installed the Short URL extension. 

Follow these steps to go to the Short URL module:

1. Login to your CRM account.
2. Click the User Menu.
3. Click Essentials.
4. Look for Others.
5. Select Short URL. 
6. You will be directed to the Short URL module.

Generating Short URL 

Let us now learn how to generate a Short URL for a given Source URL.

Follow these steps to generate a Short URL:

1. Log in to your CRM account.
2. Click the Main Menu.
3. Go to Essentials.
4. Look for Others.
5. Select Short URL. You will be directed to the Short URL module.

6. Choose the category such as General, Marketing, or Promotion based on the type of your website.
7. Type the Source URL in the Shorten your link field. 
8. Click Shorten.

9. The Short URL will be generated as shown above.
10. Once the Short URL is generated the system displays a Success message.
11. Click Copy to copy the URL.
12. Click Add Description if you want to add a description. A description helps you browse the URLs conveniently.
13. Enter a description of the Source URL.
14. Click Save.
15. With this, a record is created and saved in the Short URL module.

You have now successfully generated a Short URL for a given Source URL.

Generating a Short URL for Google Analytics

Did you know you can specifically generate a short URL for Google Analytics using the Short URL feature?

This is especially helpful for Marketing teams, for websites, and campaigns. Google Analytics records and reports the number of clicks and recognition for URLs

Follow these steps to generate a Short URL through Google Analytics:

1. Log in to your CRM account.
2. Click the Main Menu.
3. Go to Essentials.
4. Look for Others.
5. Click Short URL. You will be directed to the Short URL module.
6. Choose the category such as General, Marketing, or Promotion based on your type of website.
7. Click Generate Google Analytics URL. You will be directed to the Generate Google Analytics URL window.

1. Website URL
2. Campaign Id
3. Campaign Source
4. Campaign Medium
5. Campaign Name
6. Campaign Team
7. Campaign Content
8. The Link field will by default capture the above-mentioned details that you have entered to generate the Short URL.

9. Click Shorten.

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10. You will be directed back to the input bar displaying the successfully generated Short URL for the Website URL that you have entered, along with the success message notification.
11. Click Copy to copy the URL.
12. Click Add Description if you want to add a description as it will help you browse the URLs conveniently.
13. Enter a description of the Website URL.
14. Click Save.
15. With this, a record is created and saved in the Short URL module.

You have now successfully generated a Short URL for a given Website URL through Google Analytics.

Short URL - List View

Let us understand the Short URL List View.

The Short URL List View displays a  list of short URL records. 

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Follow these steps to go to the Short URL List View:

1. Log in to your CRM account.
2. Click the Main Menu.
3. Go to Essentials.
4. Look for Others.
5. Select Short URL. You will be directed to the Short URL module.
6. By default, the system displays the Short URL List View. You can view and edit the following in the List View:
   1. Category - Displays the category you have chosen for the source/website URL. You can edit the category from the List View as well.
   2. Website URL - Displays the Website URL that you have entered. Clicking on the same will take you to the related website.
   3. Short URL - Displays the Short URL that has been generated. Clicking on the same will take you to the related website. 
   4. Description -  Displays the description that you have entered while generating the Short URL. You can add, edit, or delete the description from the List View.
7. You can also edit a record using the Edit icon.

1. Hovering the mouse on a Short URL record displays the  Edit icon.
2. Clicking the Edit icon will display the  Editing Short URL window where you can edit the Category and add, edit, or delete the Description.
3. Click Save once you have edited. The edited details for the respective Short URL record will be updated.

Short URL Record - Summary View

Let us understand the Short URL Summary View. 

The Short URL record Summary View displays a short URL record with the short URL displayed on top. As well as details such as the Category, Website URL, Short URL, Description, etc. You can also edit these details in the Summary View. 

Follow these steps to go to the Short URL record Summary View:

1. Log in to your CRM account.
2. Click the Main Menu.
3. Go to Essentials.
4. Look for Others.
5. Select Short URL. You will be directed to the Short URL module.
6. Click a Short URL record. You will be directed to the Summary View of the Short URL record. 

Short URL Record - Detailed View

Let us understand the Short URL Detailed View. 

Short URL record Detailed View displays the short URL on top. As well as details such as all the fields and editable fields same as Short URL record Summary View as shown below.

Follow these steps to go to the Short URL record Detailed View:

1. Log in to your CRM account.
2. Click the Main Menu.
3. Go to Essentials.
4. Look for Others.
5. Select Short URL. You will be directed to the Short URL module.
6. Click a Short URL record.

7. Click the Details icon on the right corner of the screen to go to the Detailed View of the Short URL record.
8. Click the Expand button to expand and view the details. 

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You can edit only the Category and Description field and copy the Website URL and 

Short URL from the Detailed View.