Bit.ly Pro provides custom URL shorteners to publishers, starting with some major sites

Filed under: Web services, Beta

Bit.ly is the reigning champion of URL shorteners, largely thanks to its position as the default shortURL provider for Twitter. Twitter isn't the only bigtime site that will be relying on Bit.ly now, though. A new Pro version of the service, currently in beta, provides custom URL shorteners for web publishers, and it's starting with The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, and even The Onion.

These custom URLs are more transparent than regular bit.ly links, because each site's custom shortener is unique and lets you know that you're following to that site. A nyti.ms link will always take you to the New York Times. The other advantage of Bit.ly Pro is its stats package. On your dashboard, you can see how your content is being distributed across different services on the web, in real time.

If you're a blogger or publisher and you'd like to get your hands on your own custom bit.ly pro URL, you can fill out this handy form and hope for the best. Bit.ly doesn't seem to have announced any special criteria for being allowed into the Pro beta, so it's at least worth a shot.

Bit.ly Pro provides custom URL shorteners to publishers, starting with some major sites originally appeared on Download Squad on Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments