Guides

Guides and notes on links that land

Practical writing on branded domains, SMS deliverability, QR codes and owning your click data. Every claim sourced, every comparison dated. No fluff.

QR codes

How to print a QR code: size, format and contrast

How big to print it, the quiet zone the standard requires, why a shorter link prints a simpler code, which file to send the printer, and a five-step test before the full run.

September 2026 · 5 min read
Glossary

What is a vanity URL? Meaning, examples, and how to create one

The definition, how it differs from a short link and a custom domain, real examples, why it matters for SMS deliverability, and the 15-minute setup on a domain you own.

September 2026 · 7 min read
SMS compliance

10DLC and URL shorteners: why public short links get campaigns rejected

What 10DLC is, what The Campaign Registry reviews, the shortener rule quoted from Twilio and the CTIA, and a pre-submission checklist for your sample messages.

September 2026 · 8 min read
Comparisons

Bitly pricing explained (September 2026): plans, link limits, and what a custom domain costs

Every Bitly tier from its own pricing page, which one includes a custom domain, when Bitly is the right choice, and where we differ. Dated, sourced, no rounding.

September 2026 · 6 min read
QR codes

Dynamic vs static QR codes: which one should you print?

Static codes are free and permanent, dynamic codes are editable and trackable. When each one is right, the reprint math, and the domain trap to check before anything goes to the printer.

July 2026 · 6 min read
SMS deliverability

Why SMS links get blocked, and how to fix it for good

Carriers filter texts before your customer sees them, and the link in your message is one of the first things they judge. How filtering works and why your own domain is the fix.

July 2026 · 6 min read
How-to

How to set up a branded short link domain in 15 minutes

Pick the right subdomain, add the two DNS records, and put every campaign link on a domain you control. A practical walkthrough with the exact records to add.

July 2026 · 5 min read
Comparisons

Bitly alternatives: an honest guide for marketers

Bitly is fine for casual shortening. If you send SMS campaigns or care who owns your click data, the calculus changes. A fair look at the options, including where we lose.

Updated September 2026 · 7 min read