A custom URL shortener lets you create short links on a domain you own, such as go.acmeplumbing.com/spring, instead of a shortener's generic domain. You set it up by pointing a domain or subdomain you already own at the shortener with one DNS record, then picking that domain when you create links. The plan doesn't include buying the domain itself. On BioLink.page, custom domains start with the Starter plan at $1 a month or $10 a year for one domain, and Pro includes five.
Years of phishing texts have taught people to be careful with links they can't read. A short link on your own domain puts your business name in front of people before they click. It doesn't prove a link is safe, and careful customers will still check unexpected messages, but it helps them recognize you. This guide covers when that's worth it, how to connect a domain to BioLink.page, and how to name and test your links. We checked the setup screens and plan limits on October 19, 2026.
Branded short links on a shared domain or your own domain
There are two levels of branding.
| Shared short domain | Your own domain | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | biolink.love/acme-spring | go.acmeplumbing.com/spring |
| Plan | Free, up to 100 short links, 30 days of statistics | Starter (1 domain, 90 days of statistics) or Pro (5 domains, 180 days) |
| What people see | A neutral, readable address with your name after the slash | Your business name before the slash |
| Setup | None | One DNS record at your domain provider |
For many small businesses, a readable link on a shared domain is enough to start with. A custom domain is most useful when links go out in text messages, on vehicles and yard signs, or in emails where customers check the address before they click.
Do branded links really get more clicks?
Shortener companies publish figures saying branded links get more clicks than generic ones. Those numbers come from companies that sell branded links, not from independent studies, so treat them as marketing claims. What holds up without a statistic is simpler. People decide quickly whether to tap, and a domain they recognize helps them place your business, especially when a message shows no link preview.
You can measure it for your own audience. A fair test sends both versions at the same time, for example to two random halves of an email list, with the same offer and message and only the link changed, then compares the share of people who click. Automated link checks can add opens, so look at the overall pattern rather than a handful of clicks.
How to connect your own domain to BioLink.page
- Choose the address. A subdomain such as go.yourbrand.com or link.yourbrand.com is the usual choice, because your main website stays where it is.
- In BioLink.page, open Custom Domains and select Connect domain.
- The page shows the DNS record you need. Your domain or subdomain must have either an A record pointing to the IP address shown, or a CNAME record pointing to biolink.page.
- Add that record at the company where you manage your domain's DNS. A subdomain normally uses the CNAME. For a root domain such as yourbrand.com, use the A record, because standard DNS doesn't allow a CNAME at the root, although some providers offer workarounds such as CNAME flattening. If the hostname already has an A, AAAA or CNAME record, check what it's used for before you replace it.
- Enter the domain in BioLink.page and submit it. The panel says it's submitted for approval and processing, and the domain shows as Pending until it's active.
- Once it's active, pick it from the domain menu when you create a short link.
Two optional settings are worth filling in. Custom index URL sends people who visit the bare domain, such as go.yourbrand.com with nothing after the slash, to a page you choose. Custom 404 not found URL sends people who mistype a link to a page of yours instead of an error.
DNS changes can take a while to show up, because resolvers cache records for a set time. Approval and HTTPS setup on the domain can also take extra time. Wait until the domain shows as active, then open a test link with https:// on your phone and on a computer before you print anything.
Where to use branded links in a small business
- Text messages and appointment reminders, where a recognizable address helps people identify you, especially when no preview is shown. Keep the message short with the character counter.
- Vehicle wraps, yard signs and storefronts, where people type the link from memory. go.acmeplumbing.com/quote is easier to remember than a random string.
- Flyers and mailers, next to a QR code made from the same short link.
- Email signatures and newsletters, where readers hover over the link and see your domain.
How to name branded short links
Agree on a pattern if more than one person makes links. Campaign first, then placement, keeps the statistics readable months later, for example /spring-tuneup-postcard and /spring-tuneup-sms. If you reuse a link for a later campaign, its statistics are combined with the earlier one.
- Use lowercase and hyphens. The slug generator turns a phrase into a clean one.
- Name the offer, not the date, so the link still makes sense if you reuse it.
- Keep it short enough to read aloud.
- Don't rename a link once it's printed. Change where it goes instead.
If the destination is on your own website, add UTM tags with the UTM link generator before you shorten it. If Google Analytics is set up on your site, those visits can then show under the right campaign. Test the finished link with the URL redirect checker.
Pairing branded links with QR codes
On printed material, put a QR code next to the link and print the link as text under it. Make the code from the short link, not from the final destination, so you can change the offer later. Scans and typed visits then land in the same statistics, so if you want them counted separately, give the QR code its own short link. Our guide to QR codes for restaurants and food trucks covers sizing and placement, and it applies to a yard sign as much as a menu.
One of the easiest places to use a branded link is your email signature. Professional email signatures for Gmail and Outlook shows where it fits.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a domain I already own?
Yes, on Starter and Pro. Point a subdomain at BioLink.page with a CNAME record, or the domain itself with an A record. You need access to the domain's DNS settings.
Will connecting a subdomain affect my main website?
No. The DNS record for go.yourbrand.com only affects that subdomain. Your website at yourbrand.com stays where it is.
Can I create branded short links for free?
Yes, on the shared biolink.page and biolink.love domains, with a name of your choice after the slash. Using your own domain needs Starter or Pro.
Do I need to buy a new domain?
No. If you already own yourbrand.com, a subdomain like go.yourbrand.com works and costs nothing extra at most domain providers.
Is biolink.page branded enough on its own?
It's neutral and readable, and your slug is unique on it, which may be enough for basic sharing. Your own domain adds your name before the slash.
Do branded links help search rankings?
Not by themselves. Search engines can follow a short link's redirect to the destination, and how they treat it depends on the redirect type and other signals. The main benefit is that people recognize the link.
Can I change where a branded link points?
Yes, any time. The address stays the same, so a link printed on a truck can point to this season's offer and then the next one.
Ready to put your own name on your links? Compare BioLink.page plans.
