URL Shortening
How to choose a custom alias people will remember
The difference between a link people can retype from memory and one they cannot is usually the alias. Here is how to pick a good one.
By Lumara Links Team
3 min read
A random short code does the job when the link will only ever be clicked. The moment someone has to read it, say it or type it, the alias starts to matter. A good alias turns a link into a small piece of signage.
Start by saying it out loud
The quickest test for an alias is to read the whole link aloud to someone and ask them to type it. If you find yourself spelling it, or explaining where the hyphen goes, it is too complicated.
- Prefer one or two real words: menu, spring-sale, signup.
- Avoid look-alike characters. The letter l and the number 1, or the letter o and the number 0, cause mistakes in print.
- Skip abbreviations only you understand. Q4-promo-v2 means nothing to a customer.
Describe the destination
An alias that tells people what they will find gets more clicks than one that makes them guess. A link ending in /menu on a restaurant window needs no further explanation. The same link ending in /x7k2p needs a sentence next to it.
Describing the destination is also a courtesy. People are rightly cautious about links, and a clear alias is a small signal that you have nothing to hide.
Plan for the future
An alias can only be used once, so think about how long the link should live. A dated alias such as sale-2026 is honest about being temporary. A general one such as sale will be awkward next year if it still points at an old campaign.
For anything printed, such as packaging, signs or business cards, choose an alias you will be happy with for years, and point it at a page you control and intend to keep.
A quick checklist
- Short enough to type on a phone without errors.
- Made of ordinary words, in lowercase.
- Says what is behind the link.
- Still makes sense a year from now.
Try it yourself
Shorten a URL