Shorter URLs are possible with Bitly!
Not sure how to shorten your links? Here's how to do it with Bitly!
What exactly is Bitly?
In a nutshell, Bitly is a URL shortener. In other words, it makes your links shorter and lets you view and track their statistics: the number of clicks and how they break down by country and by site.
To make the most of the service, all you need to do is create an account and the click count for your welcome book is all yours.
Here's the link below to get to Bitly.
Bitly links are great, and handy too!
You might be thinking: right, I've got a shortened link... but what do I actually do with it?
Here are a few ways to put it to work.
- You send an email before your guests check in and you want to know how many of them clicked on the link to your welcome book. With Bitly, you can!
- You want to sell add-ons through the welcome book, so do point people towards your Boutique using Bitly links. That gives you your conversion rate between the number of clicks and the number of purchases made.
- To showcase one or more partners, create Bitly links. That way you can tell them how many potential customers you have sent their way.
As a bonus, here's an example of a welcome email you could send. It's on us: "Hello dear guests!
It's finally time to relax! Your stay in Biarritz is about to begin! We can't wait to welcome you properly. Below you'll find everything you need for a smooth stay:
First of all, here is the link to your digital welcome book: https://bit.ly/3oQOB8u
In this welcome book you'll find all the information you need for a smooth trip, both about the flat itself and about everything you can do nearby. We've tried to think of everything so you have the very best stay!
Fancy taking home a few souvenirs from the Basque Country? In the mood for a thrilling activity? Or a cultural visit? We offer all of that in our Boutique, so do take a look: https://bit.ly/3INaWeY"
Depending on where you place the shortened link, the data Bitly gives you back is not the same.
| Use case | Where to place the link | What you learn |
|---|---|---|
| Before arrival | Welcome email | How many guests opened the welcome book |
| Upselling | Link to your shop | The conversion rate between clicks and purchases |
| Promoting a partner | Link to the partner | The number of potential customers you send them |
| General tracking | Any shortened link | The number of clicks and their breakdown by country and by site |
Frequently asked questions
What does Bitly actually tell me about my welcome book? Bitly counts the clicks on your shortened link and shows how they break down by country and by site. So you know how many people opened your welcome book, where they were and which page they came from. Nothing more, but that is already what matters: whether your link gets read.
Do I need an account to use Bitly? Yes, if you want the numbers. Creating the account takes a moment and it is what unlocks the tracking of your welcome book openings. The sign-up link is given earlier in the article.
How many Bitly links should I create? One per use. What Bitly reports depends on where you place the link, so a single link for everything mixes your emails, your shop and your partners into one counter. One link for the welcome email, one for the shop, one per partner, and every figure finally means something.
How do I know whether guests open the welcome book before they arrive? Put the shortened link in the email you send before the stay, then watch the click count. You will know how many guests looked at the book before dropping their bags. If the counter stays low, it is the email that needs rewriting, not the book.
How do I measure what my shop brings in? Point to your shop with a dedicated Bitly link, then compare the number of clicks with the number of orders. The ratio between the two gives you your conversion rate. It is the simplest way to see whether your upselling really goes through the welcome book.
What is the point of a Bitly link for my partners? Create one shortened link per partner featured in the welcome book. You can then tell them how many potential customers you sent their way, with a figure to back it up. Talking about what you get in return is much easier with a counter than with an impression.
