Is Google shortlink permanent? Safe to use it as dotcom domain?

[farmboy]

I decided to ask this question here and find out if someone has knowledge and experience and can answer these questions.

Suppose I used Google's free online tool to create a "short link". Is it safe to use the short URL forever or is there a time limit?

Safe enough to register the short link as a domain?

Thanks,
FarmBoy

[aakk9999]

Safe enough to register the short link as a domain?

I am wondering if you could clarify this question. If you use Google URL Shortener [goo.gl] then this will produce a shortened URL that looks something like this:

http://goo.gl/abcdef

I am confused how can you now register this as a domain, since the top level domain is already goo.gl

Are you asking about creating abcdef.tld based on the shortened URL? If so, am not sure how permanent is the 'abcdef' part of the link (i.e. are they ever re-used and do they redirect to the full URL 'forever', but do not forget that the URL shortener path is case sensitive, but host names are not.

[Kratos]

I would not trust the Google URL shortener for a permanent URL (I'm talking of a shortened URL that is there in 5 years time).

For what is worth you can create your own URL shortener with your own URL. That would be a much reliable way to use a URL shortener that is there for as long as you want.

[farmboy]

For what is worth you can create your own URL shortener with your own URL. That would be a much reliable way to use a URL shortener that is there for as long as you want.

I'm not sure how to do that. Suggestion?

FarmBoy

[farmboy]

aakk9999 & Kratos - Thanks for responding.


FarmBoy

[Kratos]

Hi @farmboy, I've actually never done it so I can't help on the actual details, but there are many guides on how to do it and I think it requires some very basic PHP ie. it is a very easy method. Do make sure that you create a 301 and NOT a 302 in your redirecting! (if you want PR to flow through the redirect)

[lucy24]

you can create your own URL shortener with your own URL

You mean like
example.com/abd
example.com/def
example.com/hij
instead of
example.com/directory/subdir/index.php?long-complicated-query-string-that-would-circle-the-globe-if-you-tried-to-fit-it-all-in-your-browser's-address-bar
?

But, but, splutter, why on earth would you want to? URL shorteners are for use with links to other people's sites, where it is out of your power to change the URL. If it's your own site, why don't you just make short snappy URLs in the first place?

If you're talking about codifying a short snappy link to someone else's site, I have to think that the people who really do own the site are not going to be happy if one of their pages gets to be better known under someone else's domain name.

[tangor]

I'm just curious how the shortened url as domain fairs when it goes through the shortener a second time? (this is humor)

Back to the OP Thread Topic: No

Why?

It's not a url, it's a redirect from a shortened version to a url (not a domain), and most of those wouldn't look pretty as a domain name!