Convert long URLs into Short URLs - Protect your URLs from Spam

The first intent of this tool was to shorten the long web addresses that were hard to remember. Like the web URL of your mapquest direction page, for example!

When sending long web URLs over emails, many times the link would not work simply because it was too long for the email software to show as one single web address.

These tools, most of them free, convert any website URL address into a small one, making it easy to remember or even send safely in emails. Another place where these tools are heavily used is to redirect websites, or cloaking web links.

There are many reasons for using these free online services to shorten long URLS:

• Short URL’s don’t get broken in emails
• Short URL’s are easier to remember
• Short URL’s are easier to read out on the phone
• Short URL’s are easy to send over Instant Messengers
• Short URL’s can be used to cover up website links from visitors (like your affiliate links)
• Short URL’s can be used to redirect web pages
• Short URL’s can be used to stop search engine bots to not index links
• and simpley because short URL’s look nicer!

For the most part, search engine spiders do not index or follow these short URLs, making it quite safe to use for external links on your websites or blogs. Here is a list of the commonly used free online services that shorten long web addresses into smaller ones.

Tiny URL : This is a free service to make posting long URLs easier, and may only be used for actual URLs. It also lets you create your your custom name if that alias is not already used up.

For example, http://www.mynewdomainnameisagoodone.com/welcome/comevisitmysite.html could be converted into say, http://www.tinyurl.com/2 or if you want it to be http://www.tinyurl.com/visitme , if that alias, visitme , is not already taken up.

You can also add Tiny URL onto your web toolbar, and you’ll be able to make a TinyURL at the click of a button. By clicking on the toolbar button, a TinyURL will be created for the page you are currently at.

SnipURL : I found this website rather useful with many features. You can also add SnipURL to your browser toolbar.

• The foremost is the ability to use different languages. It offers the website in English, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, French & German
• Secondly, it lets you use a custom alias name (if that is available)
• Thirdly, it lets you use a private key upon registering with the website
• Fourthly, it lets you use a custom title to the new short URL
• Fifth, you can convert multiple URLs with one click. This feature is available to registered users

NCANE : NCANE in Zulu means small . This free service will convert any* long URL and create a much shorter (and permanent) URL for you that will take you directly to the original address. There are restrictions on adult links.

You can also add NCANE.COM to your browser’s toolbar by just clicking and dragging a link to your browser.

Sturly : This is also a free online converter of long web URLs into smaller manageable ones. But Sturly requires you to sign up for free before you can use all the features offered by Sturly , like the ability to disable short URL preview & to create stealth mode short URLs.

StartURL : This is a free service that will create a small URL for your long web addresses. Your short URL will go directly to the page of your choice your short URL will last forever.

SmallURLs : This is a free online service that will convert your big urls or links into small and neat smallurls. This webpage has a lot of Google advertisements & you have to look at the bottom of the page for the place to enter & convert your long web address.

URL2It - url2it was is a free service to make publishing long URLs easier, and may only be used for actual URLs. You can also add this tool to your web browser simply by dragging & dropping a button to your browser.

Stopped Services :

BriefURL : This service is temporarily stopped.