How to Make Money with Short URLs

URL-shortening services allow you to make money when you use them to shorten long URLs from various websites. You can post shortened URLs on your blog, website, Twitter, Facebook or any other social network that you belong to. When your visitors click on the shortened URLs, you can generate income from each click-through. Make sure you have a PayPal account set up, because many URL-shortening services use PayPal to pay you.

Things You'll Need

• twitter

Instructions

1. Sign up with one or more URL-shortening services that will allow you to make money when you use their services. Use websites like iTy.im, AdF.ly, Byb.me and URLShred to help you earn some extra cash in your spare time.

2. Click the "Sign Up" or "Register" button on the URL-shortening service website's homepage, and create a user account.

3. Type your username in the "Username" field. Create a password and type it in the "Password" field. Retype your password in the "Confirm Password" field. Enter your email address in the "Email" field. Click the check box next to "I Agree To The Terms Of Service," and press the "Register Account" button.

4. Return to the URL-shortening service website's homepage. Enter a website URL address in the text field on the Web page that you want to shorten. Click on the "Shrink" or "Shorten" button. In a few seconds, the shortened URL will be displayed on the Web page. Click the "Copy" button, and then paste the shortened URL address anywhere on your blog or website. Each time someone clicks on the URL hyperlink, you will make money and get paid for using the URL-shortening service.

5. Check the status and balance on your user account to see how much money you are earning. Click the "Login" button and enter your username in the "Username" field. Enter your password in the "Password" field, and press the "Login" button.

6. Click the "My URL" button to view your account information. After your account balance reaches the minimum payout level, which could be anywhere from $5 to $10, depending on the service you are using, request a payment. Make certain you enter your PayPal email address in the appropriate field on the Web page, when it is displayed on the URL-shortening service website.

7. Click the "Logout" button near the top of the Web page when you are finished viewing your user account information.

Tips & Warnings

• Similar service you can try: adf.ly; revtwt.com

References

• "Social Networking Spaces: From Facebook to Twitter"; Todd Kelsey; 2010
• "Web 2.0: Concepts and Applications"; Gary B. Shelly and Mark Frydenberg; 2009

Resources

• URL Shred: Earn Money Shortening Your Web Links
• iTy.im: URL Shortener
• Adf.ly: The URL-Shortener Service That Pays You!
• Byb.me: Earn Money From Your Short URLs