How to Create Your First Link with useclick.io

Welcome to UseClick!

Creating your first link with UseClick is quick and straightforward. In less than 2 minutes, you'll have a professional short link that tracks clicks, provides detailed analytics, and gives you complete control over your URLs.

This guide will walk you through every step of creating your first link, from logging in to sharing your shortened URL with the world.

What You'll Learn

By the end of this tutorial, you'll know how to:

• Create a shortened link from any long URL
• Customize your short link with a memorable slug
• Add tracking parameters for campaign analytics
• Configure link settings (expiration, click limits, passwords)
• Generate and share your link
• View click analytics and performance data

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A UseClick account: Sign up for free at useclick.io/register
• A destination URL: The long URL you want to shorten (e.g., your website, blog post, product page, or any web page)

Step 1: Access Your Dashboard

After logging into your UseClick account, you'll land on the main dashboard. This is your command center for all link management activities.

1. Navigate to useclick.io/login
2. Enter your email and password
3. Click "Sign In"

You'll see your dashboard with:

• Links overview: Total links, clicks, and performance metrics
• Recent links: Your most recently created links
• Create Link button: The big, prominent button to create new links

Step 2: Open the Link Creation Modal

There are two ways to create a new link:

Method 1: Click the "Create Link" Button

1. Look for the "Create Link" button in the top right of your dashboard
2. Click it to open the link creation modal

Method 2: Use the Quick Create

1. If you see a URL input field on the dashboard, paste your URL directly
2. Press Enter or click the create button

Step 3: Enter Your Destination URL

The destination URL is where people will be redirected when they click your short link.

1. In the "Destination URL" field, paste or type your long URL
2. Examples:
   • https://www.example.com/blog/my-very-long-article-title-with-many-words
   • https://shop.example.com/products/category/item?id=12345&ref=email
   • https://docs.example.com/guides/getting-started.html

Step 4: Customize Your Short Link (Optional but Recommended)

By default, UseClick generates a random slug (the part after the domain). You can customize this to make it more memorable and branded.

Auto-Generated Slugs

If you don't enter a custom slug, UseClick creates a random 6-character code:

• useclick.io/a3kD8f
• useclick.io/9mN2pQ
• useclick.io/xY7bR4

Custom Slugs

For better branding and memorability, create a custom slug:

1. In the "Custom Slug" field, enter your preferred slug
2. Examples:
   • useclick.io/blog-post
   • useclick.io/spring-sale
   • useclick.io/webinar-signup
   • useclick.io/free-trial
3. UseClick will check if the slug is available
4. If taken, try adding numbers or hyphens: spring-sale-2025

Custom Slug Best Practices:

• Keep it short: 3-15 characters is ideal
• Make it memorable: Easy to type and remember
• Use keywords: Include relevant words for SEO and context
• Avoid special characters: Stick to letters, numbers, and hyphens
• Be descriptive: /product-demo is better than /demo123

Step 5: Choose Your Domain (Optional)

By default, links use the useclick.io domain. If you have custom branded domains set up, you can select one here.

1. Click the "Domain" dropdown
2. Select from:
   • useclick.io (default)
   • Your custom branded domains (if configured)

Step 6: Add UTM Parameters (Optional - Starter+ Plans)

UTM parameters help you track campaign performance in Google Analytics and other analytics platforms.

If you're on a Starter plan or higher, you'll see the "UTM Parameters" section:

1. Expand the UTM section
2. Fill in the fields:
   • Campaign Source: Where traffic comes from (e.g., "facebook", "newsletter")
   • Campaign Medium: Marketing medium (e.g., "social", "email", "cpc")
   • Campaign Name: Specific campaign (e.g., "spring_sale_2025")
   • Campaign Term: (Optional) Paid keywords
   • Campaign Content: (Optional) A/B test variants

Example UTM Setup for Facebook Ad:

• Source: facebook
• Medium: social-paid
• Campaign: product_launch_jan2025
• Content: video_ad_variant_a

Step 7: Configure Advanced Settings (Optional)

UseClick offers powerful features to control how your links behave. Click "Advanced Settings" to access:

Link Expiration (Starter+ Plans)

Set your link to expire after a certain date:

• Toggle "Set expiration date"
• Choose a date and time
• After expiration, clicks will see a custom message or redirect to another URL

Use Cases:

• Limited-time promotions (Black Friday, flash sales)
• Event registration links (webinars, conferences)
• Temporary product launches

Click Limits (Starter+ Plans)

Limit the total number of clicks your link can receive:

• Toggle "Set click limit"
• Enter maximum number of clicks (e.g., 1000)
• Link stops working after reaching the limit

Use Cases:

• Exclusive access (first 100 customers)
• Limited beta invitations
• Scarcity marketing campaigns

Password Protection (Starter+ Plans)

Require a password to access your link:

• Toggle "Require password"
• Enter a password
• Visitors must enter the password before being redirected

Use Cases:

• Private client portals
• Internal team resources
• VIP-only content

Mature Content Warning (Starter+ Plans)

Show an 18+ age verification warning:

• Toggle "Show mature content warning"
• Visitors must confirm they're 18+ before accessing

Campaigns & Folders (Starter+ Plans)

Organize your links for better management:

• Campaign: Group related links for a specific marketing initiative
• Folder: Organize links into categories or projects

Step 8: Create Your Link

Once you've configured everything, it's time to create your link:

1. Review all your settings:
   • Destination URL is correct
   • Custom slug is what you want (or auto-generated is fine)
   • Domain is selected
   • Optional settings are configured
2. Click the "Create Link" button
3. Wait for the success message (usually instant)

Step 9: Copy and Share Your Link

After creating your link, you'll see several options:

Copy Link

1. Click the "Copy" button next to your new short link
2. The link is automatically copied to your clipboard
3. Paste it anywhere: emails, social media, SMS, documents

Generate QR Code

1. Click the "QR Code" button
2. A QR code appears that links to your short URL
3. Download it for use in:
   • Print materials (flyers, posters, business cards)
   • Presentations and slideshows
   • Product packaging
   • Event signage

Share Directly

Use the share buttons to post directly to:

• Twitter/X
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• WhatsApp
• Email

Step 10: View Analytics

One of the biggest advantages of UseClick is real-time analytics. Here's how to view your link's performance:

1. Go to Dashboard → Links
2. Find your link in the list
3. Click on the link or the "Analytics" button

Analytics You'll See:

• Total Clicks: How many times your link has been clicked
• Unique Visitors: Number of unique people who clicked (24-hour window)
• Geographic Location: Where clicks are coming from (country, city)
• Device Types: Mobile, desktop, tablet breakdown
• Browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc.
• Operating Systems: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
• Referrers: Where traffic is coming from (social media, email, direct)
• Click Timeline: Hourly and daily click patterns

Common Use Cases for Short Links

1. Social Media Marketing

Share clean, professional links on social platforms:

• Twitter/X (character limits make short links essential)
• Instagram bio links
• LinkedIn posts and profiles
• Facebook ads and organic posts
• TikTok profile and video descriptions

2. Email Marketing

Track email campaign performance:

• Newsletter CTAs
• Product announcement emails
• Drip campaign sequences
• Transactional emails with promotional content

3. Print & Offline Marketing

Bridge the gap between offline and online:

• Business cards with QR codes
• Flyers and posters
• Product packaging
• Event signage and banners
• TV and radio ad callouts

4. Content Marketing

Track content performance across platforms:

• Blog post promotions
• YouTube video descriptions
• Podcast show notes
• Guest post author bios

5. Affiliate Marketing

Clean up ugly affiliate links:

• Hide long affiliate URLs
• Track which platforms generate conversions
• Test different promotional strategies
• Comply with platform link policies

Best Practices for Your First Link

1. Test Before Sharing Widely

• Click your link to verify it redirects correctly
• Test on mobile and desktop devices
• Check that analytics are recording clicks
• Verify any password protection or expiration settings work

2. Use Descriptive Slugs

• Good: useclick.io/webinar-jan25
• Bad: useclick.io/w1
• Descriptive slugs build trust and improve click-through rates

3. Add UTM Parameters Early

• Even if you don't use analytics immediately, UTM parameters provide historical data
• It's harder to add them later after sharing links
• Consistent UTM naming helps with long-term campaign tracking

4. Organize From Day One

• Use campaigns and folders to categorize links
• This prevents chaos as your link count grows
• Makes it easy to find and manage links later

5. Monitor Performance Regularly

• Check analytics weekly to understand what's working
• Use data to optimize future campaigns
• Identify top-performing channels and double down on them

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Link Doesn't Redirect

Problem: Clicking the short link shows an error or doesn't redirect.

Solutions:

• Check that the destination URL is valid and accessible
• Verify the link hasn't expired or reached its click limit
• Make sure there's no password protection preventing access
• Try accessing the link in incognito mode

Custom Slug Taken

Problem: Your desired custom slug is already in use.

Solutions:

• Add numbers: spring-sale-2025
• Add your brand: mybrand-spring-sale
• Use abbreviations: spr-sale-25
• Be more specific: spring-sale-electronics

Analytics Not Tracking

Problem: Clicks aren't showing up in analytics.

Solutions:

• Wait a few minutes - analytics can take 1-2 minutes to update
• Make sure you're clicking the UseClick short link, not the destination URL
• Check that JavaScript isn't blocked in your browser
• Try clicking from a different device or network

Next Steps After Creating Your First Link

Now that you've created your first link, explore these features:

• Set up geo-targeting to send users to different pages based on location
• Master UTM parameters for advanced campaign tracking
• Add a custom branded domain for professional-looking links
• Run A/B tests to optimize conversion rates
• Organize with campaigns to group related links
• Create a Link in Bio page for social media

Frequently Asked Questions

How many links can I create?

Free plan: 10 links total. Starter: 300, Growth: 1,000, Pro: 5,000, Business: 25,000. All plans include unlimited clicks (subject to monthly click limits).

Can I edit a link after creating it?

Yes! You can edit the destination URL, UTM parameters, and settings anytime. The short link remains the same, so you don't have to update links you've already shared.

What happens when I delete a link?

The short link stops working immediately and shows a 404 error. Analytics data is preserved in your account history. Deleted links cannot be restored.

Can I create the same slug on different domains?

Yes! useclick.io/sale and yourdomain.com/sale are completely separate links. Slugs are unique per domain, not globally.

How long does it take for a link to become active?

Links are active immediately after creation (usually within 1 second). There's no waiting period or approval process.

Do short links expire?

Links never expire automatically unless you set an expiration date in advanced settings. Your links will work forever as long as your account remains active.

Can I see who clicked my link?

UseClick provides aggregate analytics (location, device, browser) but doesn't reveal personal information about individual users. We're privacy-first and never store IP addresses.