Using Shortened Links (through URL shorteners) An SEO NO NO?

[morestar]

So I'm having a little discussion in another post about linking to internal search results page on a site and the OP (ozsubasi) made a reference to creating URLs of his website, shortening them through a URL shortener and placing those shortened links on his website.

Now, instinctively this doesn't sound like an OK tactic - he doesn't like the LONG URLs of some of his pages, specifically the search result URLs, but if I'm correct, there may be some issues with doing this related to PageRank or a close cousin of it.

I haven't ever really put too much thought into the effect of a shortened internal link on one's website - sure we do shorten our links all the time when we're social sharing and so forth but would other SEOs consider using a shortened URL as a link on one's website a no no?

Let me know!

[Tiggerito]

Most shorteners use a 301 redirect so there is a small leakage of page rank and an extra request/delay before the page is rendered.

Not major issues, but it is sub-optimal.

A better move would to use url rewriting to create short search urls. Then there is no redirect and no issues.

[ozsubasi]

Most shorteners use a 301 redirect so there is a small leakage of page rank and an extra request/delay before the page is rendered.
Not major issues, but it is sub-optimal.
A better move would to use url rewriting to create short search urls. Then there is no redirect and no issues.

Thank you, I did look at the rewrite possibility but frankly it is beyond my capabilities. I tried using an on-line rewriter but what it produced wasn't appreciably shorter than the original.

[claybutler]

Thank you, I did look at the rewrite possibility but frankly it is beyond my capabilities. I tried using an on-line rewriter but what it produced wasn't appreciably shorter than the original.

Two problems with shorteners.

1. As pointed out it's a redirect which in an unnecessary step to add.
2. If the company ever goes under, there go all the links.

Always use full urls to link.

[Doc]

Two problems with shorteners. 1. As pointed out it's a redirect which in an unnecessary step to add. 2. If the company ever goes under, there go all the links. Always use full urls to link.

I have to agree with Tony and Clay. While the juice leak is minimal, it's still a consideration. And putting a quantity of links out there, dependent upon the continued existence of an independent business like ow.ly or bit.ly is near the top of the Bad Idea List. I'd use rewrite. A little searching and you can learn how to do it pretty quickly... bang! Two birds down!

[weegillis]

I would see one more problem with shorteners--they pass less juice than what they get. They need your links more than you need them.

[ozsubasi]

Just for clarification, I was using google's own url shortener, but thanks for the advice which I've taken and have reverted the links to the full urls.

[davidweb]

If I own domain ABCD . com then I would prefer to install some coding which will allow me to shorten my urls using my own Domain urls. I would prefer to avoid using external websites.

Sometimes these websites can go out of business and your whole website can go haywire.

Just my thoughts.

[ozsubasi]

If I own domain ABCD . com then I would prefer to install some coding which will allow me to shorten my urls using my own Domain urls. I would prefer to avoid using external websites.
Sometimes these websites can go out of business and your whole website can go haywire.
Just my thoughts.

I would prefer that too but without knowing what that coding is, to be honest that doesn't really help me very much. I have looked into it, and it isn't a simple process.

[Tiggerito]

I would prefer that too but without knowing what that coding is, to be honest that doesn't really help me very much. I have looked into it, and it isn't a simple process.

You can set up bitly to use your own domain. If bitly go under you will at least control the short URLs.

I have my own URL shortner which is not much more than a file of redirects. It gives me full control but I do miss out on the fancy stats.