Hootsuite Adds New URL Shortener Options

Today Hootsuite made some changes to the way they shorten URLs. Now they give the user the option between Ow.ly and Ht.ly as shorteners. Ow.ly has been updated to remove the social bar (high jacked browser frame and URL!) If the user prefers to use the social bar the user simply goes into their preferences and chooses to use the Ht.ly shortener.

Ow.ly example - image via hootsuite.com

Ht.ly example - image via hootsuite.com

How Do I Change My URL Shortener?

In order to change your URL shortener, you will need to go  into Settings > Preferences > and select in the drop down menu Ow;.ly or Ht.ly. The first time you go into the preferences you will have a popup with an example of the two shorteners and you can check the check box and choose the one you want. If you decide to change your mind, then the next time you go in you will get the drop down menu options.

First time check box option – image via hootsuite.com

URL shortener drop down menu

Final Thoughts

Although I haven’t had much time to test this new feature, I will be testing this overt he next few days to see if Ow.ly works better and I get more clicks using it now that they removed the social bar from it. I will not use Ht.ly because I do not like the social bar and find it to be an issue because most readers do not want to click on a link that will highjack their browser.