What is a URL Short link and how to use URL Short links on CallHub?

Want to send a link in a text campaign without it eating up your message length or getting flagged by carriers? This guide shows you how to shorten a URL right inside your campaign, and optionally track who clicks it.

Why shorten your link with CallHub

Sending a raw or third-party-shortened link (like a bit.ly or goo.gl URL) in a text campaign creates real problems: carriers often flag those generic shorteners as malicious and filter the message before it reaches anyone, long URLs eat into your character limit, and once the link is sent you have no way to see who clicked it.

Shortening your link with CallHub solves all three at once:

• Fewer carrier issues. Your link points to CallHub's own domain instead of a generic third-party shortener, so it's less likely to be flagged or filtered.
• Lower cost. A shorter link uses fewer characters, which helps keep your message within a single SMS segment and can save you credits on a large send.
• Better click-through. A clean, short link makes a better impression than a long, jumbled URL, so more contacts trust it enough to click.
• Built-in tracking. Turn on Contact Tracking and you'll know exactly who clicked, so you can run a follow-up campaign targeted at just the people who engaged, instead of re-messaging your whole list.

By the end of this guide, you'll have a shortened link live in your campaign message, ready to send and, if you choose, ready to track.

Before you start

• Access: admin or collaborator access to the campaign you're setting up.
• Supported campaigns: Text Broadcasting, Peer to Peer Texting, and Call Center Texting. You can shorten links in the Script section, in Saved Replies (Peer to Peer Texting), in Automated Responses to keywords (Text Broadcasting), and in Automated or Manual Texting (Call Center Texting).
• Have your link ready: the full destination URL you want to shorten.
• Time: takes about 2 minutes per link.

⚠ You can't edit a shortened link once you confirm it. Double-check the destination URL before you click Confirm. If it's wrong, you'll need to shorten a new link rather than fix this one.

Shorten your link

1. During campaign setup, go to the message area for your campaign type: Script, Saved Replies, Automated Responses, or Automated/Manual Texting.
2. Click Shorten URL.
3. Enter the link you want to shorten.

4. (Optional) Turn on Contact Tracking if you want to see which contacts click the link.

ⓘ Personalizing the link with merge tags is only available on links with Contact Tracking turned on.

5. Click Next.

CallHub shows you the Target URL (your original link) and the Shortened URL (what your contacts will actually receive).

6. Review both URLs, then click Confirm.

7. Finish setting up the rest of your campaign, then click Start to send your messages.

Notes & limits

⚠ A shortened link can't be edited after you confirm it. Because contacts may already have received it once a campaign starts, treat the destination URL as final at the Confirm step.

ⓘ Short links are only available in Text Broadcasting, Peer to Peer Texting, and Call Center Texting campaigns, in the Script, Saved Replies, Automated Responses, and Automated/Manual Texting areas.

ⓘ Merge tag personalization only works on links that have Contact Tracking turned on.

FAQs

Can I edit a shortened link after I create it?
No. Once you click Confirm, the shortened link is final. Double-check the destination URL before confirming; if it's wrong, shorten a new link instead.

Which campaigns can I use short links in?
Text Broadcasting, Peer to Peer Texting, and Call Center Texting. You'll find the option in the Script, Saved Replies, Automated Responses, and Automated/Manual Texting areas depending on the campaign type.

Does shortening a link cost extra credits?
No. If anything, it can save you credits, since a shorter link uses fewer characters and helps keep your message within a single SMS segment.

How do I see who clicked my link?
Turn on Contact Tracking when you shorten the link. Once your campaign runs, see URL Short links and Click-through tracking Reports to pull the click and conversion data.

Can I personalize the link for each contact?
Yes, but only for links with Contact Tracking turned on. Add merge tags the same way you would in the rest of your message.