# Social Planner - Link Shortener

> Learn how to use the Link Shortener in GHL Customer Care’s Social Planner to turn long URLs into clean, concise links and improve the readability of your social posts.

- Source: https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/marketing/social-planner/social-planner-link-shortener
- Section: Marketing / Social Planner
- Reading time: 4 min
- Images: 9, each explained below

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This article explains how to use the **Link Shortener** feature inside GHL Customer Care’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.

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**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

-   [What is the Link Shortener?](#what-is-the-link-shortener)[](#key-benefits-of-the-link-shortener)
-   [Key Benefits of the Link Shortener](#key-benefits-of-the-link-shortener)[](#how-to-use-the-link-shortener-in-social-planner)
-   [How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner](#how-to-use-the-link-shortener-in-social-planner)[](#notes-about-the-link-shortener)
-   [Notes About the Link Shortener](#notes-about-the-link-shortener)[](#frequently-asked-questions)
-   [Frequently Asked Questions](#frequently-asked-questions)[](#related-article)
-   [Related Article](#related-article)

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# **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.

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## **Key Benefits of the Link Shortener**

-   **Clean posts:** Keeps social posts uncluttered by shortening long URLs.
-   **Better experience:** Improves user experience with concise, easy-to-read links.
-   **Auto-shortening:** Automatically generates a shortened version of any long URL.
-   **Post preview:** Shows how the final post will look with the shortened link.
-   **Cross-platform support:** Works across all connected social platforms in Social Planner.

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## **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.
    
    
![Step 1 of 10: Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu](https://jumpshare.com/share/b1ZXKDftABEAhhOikZbZ+/Screen+Shot+2025-12-02+at+7.39.12+PM.png)

**Step 1 of 10: Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu**

This screenshot accompanies step 1 of 10 in the "How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". At this point in the walkthrough you navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu. The navigation path used here is Marketing > Social Planner. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. The next step is to click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.

- Path: Marketing > Social Planner
- Where to go: Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu.
- Fields: Setup Tracking Details:, Once inserted:
- Controls: Marketing > Social Planner, New Post > + Create New Post, post composer, Content, URL Shortener, Name of the Link, Target URL, Tracking, Details, Generate and Insert Link, preview pane, input field
- Next: Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.

Full procedure:

1. Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu.  <- this image
2. Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.
3. In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.
4. In the Content input box, add your content.
5. Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor.
6. Add Name of the Link & Target URL.
7. Setup Tracking Details:
8. Click on Generate and Insert Link button.
9. Once inserted:
10. Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time.

    
2.  Click on + **New Post > + Create New Post** button.  
    
    
![Step 2 of 10: Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button](https://jumpshare.com/share/iWI7C3dnjflumftzjcVT+/Screen+Shot+2025-12-02+at+7.49.36+PM.png)

**Step 2 of 10: Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button**

This screenshot accompanies step 2 of 10 in the "How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". At this point in the walkthrough you click on + New Post > + Create New Post button. The navigation path used here is Marketing > Social Planner. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. The next step is to in the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.

- Path: Marketing > Social Planner
- What to click: Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.
- Fields: Setup Tracking Details:, Once inserted:
- Controls: New Post > + Create New Post, Marketing > Social Planner, post composer, Content, URL Shortener, Name of the Link, Target URL, Tracking, Details, Generate and Insert Link, preview pane, input field
- Next: In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.

Full procedure:

1. Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu.
2. Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.  <- this image
3. In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.
4. In the Content input box, add your content.
5. Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor.
6. Add Name of the Link & Target URL.
7. Setup Tracking Details:
8. Click on Generate and Insert Link button.
9. Once inserted:
10. Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time.

    
3.  In the **post composer**, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.
    
    
![Step 3 of 10: In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d…](https://jumpshare.com/share/5hSj34CyXcMiqRySlEV0+/Screen+Shot+2025-12-02+at+7.54.28+PM.png)

**Step 3 of 10: In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d…**

This screenshot accompanies step 3 of 10 in the "How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". At this point in the walkthrough you in the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post. The navigation path used here is Marketing > Social Planner. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. The next step is to in the Content input box, add your content.

- Path: Marketing > Social Planner
- What to choose: In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.
- Fields: Setup Tracking Details:, Once inserted:
- Controls: post composer, Marketing > Social Planner, New Post > + Create New Post, Content, URL Shortener, Name of the Link, Target URL, Tracking, Details, Generate and Insert Link, preview pane, input field
- Next: In the Content input box, add your content.

Full procedure:

1. Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu.
2. Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.
3. In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.  <- this image
4. In the Content input box, add your content.
5. Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor.
6. Add Name of the Link & Target URL.
7. Setup Tracking Details:
8. Click on Generate and Insert Link button.
9. Once inserted:
10. Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time.

    
4.  In the **Content** input box, add your content.
5.  Click the **URL Shortener** icon located next to the content editor.
    
    
![Step 5 of 10: Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor](https://jumpshare.com/share/euvMbIoCqEyslX4Sa3zA+/Screen+Shot+2025-12-02+at+9.14.14+PM.png)

**Step 5 of 10: Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor**

This screenshot accompanies step 5 of 10 in the "How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". At this point in the walkthrough you click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor. The navigation path used here is Marketing > Social Planner. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. The next step is to add Name of the Link & Target URL.

- Path: Marketing > Social Planner
- What to click: Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor.
- Fields: Setup Tracking Details:, Once inserted:
- Controls: URL Shortener, Marketing > Social Planner, New Post > + Create New Post, post composer, Content, Name of the Link, Target URL, Tracking, Details, Generate and Insert Link, preview pane, input field
- Next: Add Name of the Link & Target URL.

Full procedure:

1. Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu.
2. Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.
3. In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.
4. In the Content input box, add your content.
5. Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor.  <- this image
6. Add Name of the Link & Target URL.
7. Setup Tracking Details:
8. Click on Generate and Insert Link button.
9. Once inserted:
10. Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time.

    
6.  Add **Name of the Link** & **Target URL**.
7.  Setup **Tracking** **Details**:
    -   UTM Campaign (utm\_campaign) - select or create a campaign.
    -   Add Custom UTM Parameters like source, campaign, etc.
8.  Click on **Generate and Insert Link** button.
    
    
![Step 8 of 10: Click on Generate and Insert Link button](https://jumpshare.com/share/FwmggfzC0ZzUxkhb5QCH+/GIF+Recording+2025-12-02+at+9.18.40+PM.gif)

**Step 8 of 10: Click on Generate and Insert Link button**

This animation accompanies step 8 of 10 in the "How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". At this point in the walkthrough you click on Generate and Insert Link button. The navigation path used here is Marketing > Social Planner. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. The next step is to once inserted.

- Path: Marketing > Social Planner
- What to click: Click on Generate and Insert Link button.
- Fields: Setup Tracking Details:, Once inserted:
- Controls: Generate and Insert Link, Marketing > Social Planner, New Post > + Create New Post, post composer, Content, URL Shortener, Name of the Link, Target URL, Tracking, Details, preview pane, input field
- Next: Once inserted:

Full procedure:

1. Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu.
2. Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.
3. In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.
4. In the Content input box, add your content.
5. Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor.
6. Add Name of the Link & Target URL.
7. Setup Tracking Details:
8. Click on Generate and Insert Link button.  <- this image
9. Once inserted:
10. Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time.

    
9.  Once inserted:   
      
    -   The **preview pane** will show a shortened version of the URL.  
        
    -   The **input field** will still display the original long URL.
10.  Review your post, and then choose **Publish** or **Schedule** to send it out at a later time.
     
     
![Step 10 of 10: Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out…](https://jumpshare.com/share/MODtwW74YaNJUcx54M8p+/Screen+Shot+2025-12-02+at+9.27.00+PM.png)

**Step 10 of 10: Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out…**

This screenshot accompanies step 10 of 10 in the "How to Use the Link Shortener in Social Planner" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". At this point in the walkthrough you review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time. The navigation path used here is Marketing > Social Planner. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below.

- Path: Marketing > Social Planner
- What to choose: Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time.
- Fields: Setup Tracking Details:, Once inserted:
- Controls: Publish, Schedule, Marketing > Social Planner, New Post > + Create New Post, post composer, Content, URL Shortener, Name of the Link, Target URL, Tracking, Details, Generate and Insert Link

Full procedure:

1. Navigate to Marketing > Social Planner from the left-hand menu.
2. Click on + New Post > + Create New Post button.
3. In the post composer, select the social media accounts where you’d like to publish the post.
4. In the Content input box, add your content.
5. Click the URL Shortener icon located next to the content editor.
6. Add Name of the Link & Target URL.
7. Setup Tracking Details:
8. Click on Generate and Insert Link button.
9. Once inserted:
10. Review your post, and then choose Publish or Schedule to send it out at a later time.  <- this image

     

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## **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.

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## **Link Tracking in Social Planner Statistics**

Social Planner provides Link level performance analytics directly inside the Statistics page. This means that in addition to shortening links inside your posts, you can now track how those links perform after publishing.

The Link Shortener continues to shorten long URLs in your post preview and final published post. With URL Tracking, you can:

-   Shortened links and long URLs both appear in your performance analytics
    
-   Every link you publish becomes trackable automatically
    
-   You do **not** need to do anything extra for click tracking, it starts as soon as the post goes live
    
-   Campaign Names help you group multiple posts that share the same link
    

**Note:** Only the link created via Social Planner will be displayed in the statistics page.

### 

![Link Tracking in Social Planner Statistics (image 7 of 9)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155064027112/original/vRdf9op-UL62LcouqA9IQqo-Q8eo_AQjSg.png)

**Link Tracking in Social Planner Statistics (image 7 of 9)**

This screenshot appears in the "Link Tracking in Social Planner Statistics" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". The text alongside this image reads: Note: Only the link created via Social Planner will be displayed in the statistics page. Immediately after, the guide continues: Every URL you share through Social Planner is now measurable. You can track.
- What this covers: Note: Only the link created via Social Planner will be displayed in the statistics page.
- Next: Every URL you share through Social Planner is now measurable. You can track:

### **L****ink Click Analytics**

Every URL you share through Social Planner is now measurable. You can track:

-   Total clicks on each shortened or original URL
    
-   Platform-wise performance (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
    
-   Trends over time
    

![Link Click Analytics (image 8 of 9)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155064027182/original/lYr6EJeFMIR9LndS7JUG-HORObUbEW2T3w.jpeg)

**Link Click Analytics (image 8 of 9)**

This screenshot appears in the "Link Click Analytics" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". The text alongside this image reads: Total clicks on each shortened or original URL Platform-wise performance (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) Trends over time. This part of the guide covers 2 fields, listed below. Immediately after, the guide continues: When composing a post, you can assign a Campaign Name to your link. All posts using that same link + campaign are grouped together in analytics, helping you compare and understand performance across posts and channels.
- What this covers: Total clicks on each shortened or original URL Platform-wise performance (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) Trends over time
- Fields: Total clicks on each shortened or original URL, Trends over time
- Next: When composing a post, you can assign a Campaign Name to your link. All posts using that same link + campaign are grouped together in analytics, helping you compare and understand performance across posts and channels.

Example values (illustrative, not read from the screenshot):

- Total clicks on each shortened or original URL: https://northgatedental.com

Full procedure:

1. Total clicks on each shortened or original URL
2. Platform-wise performance (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
3. Trends over time

### **Campaign Tracking**

When composing a post, you can assign a **Campaign Name** to your link. All posts using that same link + campaign are grouped together in analytics, helping you compare and understand performance across posts and channels.

![Campaign Tracking (image 9 of 9)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/155064027201/original/t5C3wqeoszEUkOxb9jxesYmINTVc4l04dQ.png)

**Campaign Tracking (image 9 of 9)**

This screenshot appears in the "Campaign Tracking" section of "Social Planner - Link Shortener". The text alongside this image reads: When composing a post, you can assign a Campaign Name to your link. All posts using that same link + campaign are grouped together in analytics, helping you compare and understand performance across posts and channels. Immediately after, the guide continues: Inside Marketing → Social Planner → Statistics → URL Tracking, you can now filter Top performing and low performing.
- What this covers: When composing a post, you can assign a Campaign Name to your link. All posts using that same link + campaign are grouped together in analytics, helping you compare and understand performance across posts and channels.
- Controls: Campaign Name
- Next: Inside Marketing → Social Planner → Statistics → URL Tracking, you can now filter Top performing and low performing.

### **Filters & Sorting**

Inside **Marketing → Social Planner → Statistics → URL Tracking**, you can now filter Top performing and low performing.

### **Quick URL Preview**

Selecting any URL will show a preview panel so you can see exactly which link you are analysing.

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## **Frequently Asked Questions**

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

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

**Q: Why UTMs matter when using a shortener?**

When you use a link shortener **without** UTMs:

-   Analytics might just show traffic as “direct” or generic “referral”  
    
-   You can’t easily distinguish performance between:
    
    -   Facebook ad vs. Facebook organic post
        
    -   Email header link vs. footer link
        
    -   One influencer vs. another
        

When you use a link shortener **with** UTMs:

-   You can:
    
    -   Track campaigns properly in GA/other tools
        
    -   Compare performance of different channels and creatives
        
    -   Prove which specific link/placement is working
        

The shortener makes the long UTM-heavy URL look clean and clickable, but the UTM tags do the important reporting work.

**Q: Can I customize or rename the short link?**

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

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

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?**

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

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## **Related Article**

-   [Getting Started - Setup Social Planner](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/getting-started-w-ghl-customer-care/marketing-and-lead-generation/getting-started-setup-social-planner)
-   [Best Time to Post Feature in Social Planner](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/marketing/social-planner/best-time-to-post-feature-in-social-planner)
-   [Social Planner - Track Social Performance Using Advance Analytics](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/marketing/social-planner/social-planner-track-social-performance-using-advance-analytics)
-   [Social Planner - Discover Trends with Social Listening](https://docs.ghlcustomercare.com/docs/marketing/social-planner/social-planner-discover-trends-with-social-listening)

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Documentation for GHL Customer Care. Support: support@ghlcustomercare.com