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Comment by stephenr | Hacker News Reader

I don't understand the use of URL shorteners for 99% of what people use them for.

Unless you're sending your link over a relatively short fixed-length limited medium like Twitter or SMS, there is no fucking point.

I've seen people post links to download apps, which go from their own site > some random bit.ly/etc URL > dropbox. I'm already seriously doubting if I want to run your app if you can't manage something better than dropbox file sharing, but to then rely on a bit.ly URL that could go fucking anywhere, when you're just putting the link on a webpage is beyond belief.

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1) Let's say I am doing a presentation, the computer has internet connection but can't use USB drives, etc. So I would shorten the url (to, e.g., google drive file) and write down the token. Much better than logging into personal account on shared machine.

2) Analytics. I've seen many times different shortened urls used in different locations for the same campaign. I assume that makes it much easier to track your offline marketing channels.

Analytics Analytics Analytics. Shortened urls automatically have very decent analytics making it WAY easier than setting up UTM params or other campaign identifies.

Add a "+" to any bitly or goo.gl link and see what I mean. https://goo.gl/forms/9fA366pQ1f+

I use goo.gl to see how many people click a link I share on facebook too.

Wow that seems like information that someone might occasionally want to keep private.

Yeah I agree. Anytime I see a bitly or goo.gl I check the stats just for fun. I've seen some other shorteners that track other stuff, one even had ip addresses!

I'll use the shortened Google Maps link over the full URL param mess every single time. Why wouldn't I, article aside?

And bit.ly gives you analytics. That's their service.

Where are you putting that link that you can't just use the full link? Many places let you use <a> tags which lets it look not so ugly.

1. If I'm looking at a complicated webpage with dynamic content, it's quite often that simply copying and pasting the URL will not bring up the exact same state I'm viewing. Indeed, when I go somewhere in Google Maps, the url doesn't change even as I scroll and zoom around the map. But when I click the button to generate a shortened Google Maps URL, I know I'm getting a link to the view is it appears right now.

2. Long urls still sometimes break when handled by some email clients.

I constantly see short URLs used for, e.g., Facebook links, where the URL isn't displayed anyway, but rather a preview. I abhor them, because they add a lot of time to first displayed content on mobile -- on the order of 5 seconds.

I also strongly suspect that a lot of them are being used more for analytics than URL shortening, which also annoys me to no end.

They're good for Rick rolls.

There are services other than bit.ly (like shorte.st and adf.ly) that stick interstitials between clicking the link and reaching the destination. So revenue. That's one reason.

How is that a benefit for the person using the link shortener service?

With adfly you (as the person creating the short link) get a cut of the revenue.

Say i have a facebook page with 100k followers. I can then say "check out this awesome page about ....", put it through one of those services. I'll then get $x per 1,000 clicks. Of course, my facebook page readers will have to sit through a second or two of adverts, but i'll get $$.

if you need to type a URL manually, it could another reason

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