How to Track Product Sales Using Short Links (Free Tools)

Why Use Short Links to Track Sales

Short links do more than save space. They help you understand your customers. With short URLs, you can track who clicks, when they click, and from where. That’s powerful data to improve your sales.

Top Free Tools for Tracking Sales with Short Links

Let’s explore the best tools that won’t cost you anything and still give excellent tracking features.

1. Bitly – Reliable and Simple

Bitly is one of the most popular link shorteners. It allows you to track:

  • Total clicks

  • Referring websites

  • Location of your audience

You just need to sign up for a free account. From there, you can generate links and see live performance.

2. TinyURL – No Account Needed

TinyURL works even without signing up. It’s fast and user-friendly. While it offers basic analytics, you can still:

  • Monitor the number of clicks

  • Customize your short URL

It’s perfect for quick campaigns.

3. Rebrandly – Custom Domain with Insights

Rebrandly lets you create branded short links. It’s great for brand trust and tracking. You get:

  • Click data

  • Traffic source analysis

  • Device type and browser info

Its free plan offers generous tracking limits.

4. Google Analytics with UTM Links

Google Analytics doesn’t shorten links, but it helps track them. Use UTM parameters with any link shortener. This combo helps you track:

  • Source of the traffic

  • Campaign performance

  • Sales conversion

Use Google’s Campaign URL Builder to add UTM tags to any URL.

How to Create and Use Trackable Short Links

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Choose Your Link Shortener

Pick from Bitly, TinyURL, or Rebrandly depending on your needs. If branding matters, go with Rebrandly.

Step 2: Add UTM Parameters

Use UTM codes to mark your source, medium, and campaign. For example:
?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=summersale

Step 3: Shorten Your Link

Paste your UTM-tagged URL into the link shortener. It will create a neat, trackable link.

Step 4: Share and Monitor

Share your short links in ads, emails, or social media posts. Then monitor performance through the tool’s dashboard.

What Metrics Should You Watch?

When tracking sales using short links, keep an eye on:

  • Click-through rate (CTR): Higher CTR means strong interest

  • Geography: Helps you understand where buyers are

  • Devices used: Optimize based on mobile or desktop usage

  • Conversion rate: Tells how many users actually buy

Tips to Improve Tracking Accuracy

  • Always use different short links for different platforms

  • Add UTM tags for every marketing campaign

  • Monitor weekly to adjust strategies

  • Combine link tracking with heatmaps or session recordings

Benefits of Tracking Sales with Short Links

  • Data-driven decisions: You know what works

  • Better marketing ROI: Focus on what converts

  • Time-saving: No need to guess anymore

  • Customer behavior insights: Spot patterns quickly

Final Thoughts

Tracking sales using short links is smart and simple. Free tools like Bitly, TinyURL, and Google Analytics give you all the data you need. Start using these tools today and get full control over your product performance.

Don't waste another click—track it, study it, and turn it into profit.

 

Published on: 6/10/25, 7:44 AM