This article explains how to use the Link Shortener feature inside HighLevel’s Social Planner. Link shorteners help keep your social media posts clean and concise by automatically converting long URLs into compact links in your post preview.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• What is the Link Shortener?
• Key Benefits of the Link Shortener
• How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner
• Notes About the Link Shortener
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Next Steps

What is the Link Shortener?

The Link Shortener is a built-in feature within Social Planner that automatically converts long, complex URLs into shorter, more manageable links in your post preview. While the full URL remains visible in your content editor, the shortened link is displayed in the live preview and in the published post itself.

This functionality helps improve the overall readability and visual appeal of your social content, especially when sharing URLs from blogs, landing pages, or external websites.

Key Benefits of the Link Shortener

Shortened links make your posts look more professional and improve readability.

    •    Keeps social posts clean and uncluttered by minimizing lengthy URLs.

    •    Improves user experience with visually concise content.

    •    Automatically generates a shortened version of any long URL.

    •    Preview shows how the final post will appear with the shortened link.

    •    Prepares for future tracking of link clicks (coming soon).

    •    Works across all connected social platforms in Social Planner.

How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner

This step-by-step guide shows how to use the Link Shortener while composing social media posts.

    1.    Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu.

    2.    Click on Create Post.

    3.    In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.

    4.    In the Content input box, type your message and paste the long URL you wish to include.

    5.    Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor.

    6.    Once clicked:

    •    The preview pane will show a shortened version of the URL.

    •    The input field will still display the original long URL.

    7.    Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time.

Notes About the Link Shortener

Understand how the Link Shortener behaves and what features are planned for future release.

    •    Content Input vs. Preview: The long URL will remain in the input box so you can always see the full link you’re sharing. However, the shortened version will appear in the preview and be used in the final post.

    •    Click Tracking Is Coming: Analytics that show how many users clicked on your shortened links are currently in development and will be available in a future update.

    •    Auto Conversion: You don’t need to manually replace the link—just click the shortener icon, and it does the rest for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will my social post show the long or short link?

A: The published post will display the shortened link. The long URL is only visible to you in the content editor.

Q: Can I customize or rename the short link?

A: Not yet. The short links are currently auto-generated and not editable.

Q: Are there analytics available for how many people click the short link?

A: Not yet, but this feature is actively being developed and will be added soon.

Q: Does the Link Shortener work on all social platforms?

A: Yes, the shortened link will appear across all social platforms supported in Social Planner, including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more.

Q: Can I still use my own external link shorteners like Bitly?

A: Yes, you can manually add shortened links from third-party services if preferred.

Next Steps

    •    Try using the Link Shortener when creating your next post in Social Planner.

    •    Keep an eye on updates as click analytics for shortened links roll out.

    •    Learn how to use scheduling and analytics features to make your social strategy more effective.

Let me know if you’d like help gathering or uploading screenshots to complete the article, or if you’d like me to draft similar articles for related features like Post Analytics, Scheduling, or Custom Posting Templates!