Are short URLs better than long ones? Is less REALLY more?

What do affiliate marketers need to know about the war of URL shorteners?

Google recently announced the launch of its URL shortener, goo.gl, which rivals Betaworks Studio’s Bit.ly URL shortener.

The Bit.ly URL shortner offers a free shorten, share and track program that’s available on the web.

Google’s URL Shortener is also shorten, share, track … and free … but it’s available only through the Google Toolbar and FeedBurner. (You have to download Google Toolbar or get access through FeedBurner by signing into your Google account.)

If you’re an affiliate who isn’t using a URL shortener, why not?

If you’re using social media sites like Twitter and FaceBook, you know they limit the length of posts. Since every character counts, a shorter URL leaves more characters available for your sales pitch.

If you do a LOT of marketing using social networking sites, take the time to get URLs shortened before using them in your posts. Make your pitch better.

So which URL shortening service is best for affiliates, Gog.le or Bit.ly? It’s probably too early to tell.

Let’s hope Google’s service evolves into something with sophisticated tracking that gives other URL shorteners a run for their money.

Until then, it’s a toss-up.

Google Gog.le Announcement

Bit.ly