Creating vanity url within HubSpot

[BShukla19]

What is meant by vanity URL?
A vanity URL is a truncated uniform resource locator (URL) that redirects a longer URL, while also extending an organization's brand. The domain name for a vanity URL is usually shorter than ten characters and looks somewhat similar to the organization's regular domain name.

Why use vanity links?
Vanity URLs can be incredibly helpful for your business's online presence. First, they're simply easier to remember than a standard URL. Having a URL that's short and easy to remember will make it much more likely that your audience will actually visit your website.

> raise brand awareness
> works magic for SEO
> easy to share
> looks better in print
> make your links trustworthy
> memorable
> better ads

Implementation

Here I can show you how you can create vanity URL within HubSpot.

Add a new URL redirect

1. In your HubSpot account, click the settings settings icon in the main navigation bar.
2. In the left sidebar menu, navigate to Website > Domains & URLs.
3. Click the URL Redirects tab.
4. In the upper right, click Add URL redirect.
5. In the right panel, select the Standard redirect type. A standard redirect is used to redirect one URL to another.
6. In the Original URL field, enter the full URL or URL path that you want to create as a vanity URL.
7. In the Redirect to field, enter the URL of the page you want to show the contents of target page. When redirecting to an external page that's not hosted on HubSpot, be sure to enter the full URL, including http:// or https:// (e.g., http://www.domain.com/name-of-page).
   • Match query strings: only redirect the page from the exact original URL entered. This means that if the original URL has any additional parameters, the redirect won't be applied. This option is not selected by default.
   • Ignore trailing slash: apply the redirect whether the original URL includes a forward slash / at the end or not. This option is selected by default.
   • Ignore protocol (HTTP or HTTPS): apply the redirect whether the original URL starts with http:// or https://. This option is selected by default.
   • Note: explain why this vanity URL created.

   • Now here game starts, click More options while creating or editing a URL redirect. 

     • Redirect style: sets the conditions under which the URL will redirect.
       
       • Select Proxy Option: This is used to show the content of your live page/target page without changing the URL displayed on the visitor's web browser. This type of redirect we will use for creting vanity URL.
     • Priority: by default, new redirects are assigned the lowest priority. To customize this setting, clear the Assign lowest priority checkbox and enter a custom value.
     • If more than one redirect exists for the original URL, the redirect with the lowest priority will be applied. For example, if there are two URL redirects that apply to a URL - one with a priority of 100 and the other with a priority of 1 - the redirect with a priority of 1 would be applied. 
8. Click Add URL redirect.

When you have edited your redirect's advanced options, click Update URL redirect to apply your changes. 

Vanity URL

[gosteveb]

Looks like what I need but when clicking on settings i do not see Website > Domains & URLs ????

Am I being stupid or has the menus changed. Co-pilot suggested doing the sme thing so maybe it's me - I am using the free version btw.

Thanks in advance

[kmorrow]

I get an error message that says "The destination URL must point to a HubSpot hosted domain." Literally just trying to send an email with a bookings link but I'm running into this problem: https://community.hubspot.com/t5/Email-Marketing-Tool/Outlook-Booking-link-not-working-with-auto-par...

This was the propsed solution but it's not working. Anyone have any ideas?

[DejanC]

I shortened the URL, with any provider and it worked for me. Try that. 

[LQuinn]

Unfortunately I had the same issue trying to point to a Google site of ours. A standard redirect worked but couldn't use "proxy". 

[MiaSrebrnjak]

@BShukla19 do you maybe have any advice for @kmorrow? Have you ever come across a similar error? 

Thank you!

Mia, Community team 

[LQuinn]

This was super helpful thank you! 😊 Really clear and simple instructions. 

[kvlschaefer]

This is great! Thanks for sharing @BShukla19!