August 11, 2023

Shortlink by BestWebSoft Plugin

Replace external WordPress website links with Google shortlinks and track click stats.

Shortlink plugin is a useful tool to get short links from Google URL Shortener service without leaving your WordPress website. Generate short links by direct input and/or automatically. Replace all external links on your website with short links, restore or delete them from database, and manage statistic.

Install, activate, and save your time!

View Demo

Features

Firebase Dynamic Links API
Automatically generate short links
Generate short links by direct output
Add unlimited number of fields for direct links input
View list of links with additional info:
- Page URL
- Short link
- Number of total clicks
- Articles that contain link
Manage your links manually with the following options:
- Replace
- Restore
- Delete
Manage all external links automatically:
- Scan website for new links
- Replace
- Restore
- Restore all links and clear database
Compatible with latest WordPress version
Incredibly simple settings for fast setup without modifying code
Detailed step-by-step documentation and videos

If you have a feature suggestion or idea you’d like to see in the plugin, we’d love to hear about it! Suggest a Feature

Documentation & Videos

Help & Support

Visit our Help Center if you have any questions, our friendly Support Team is happy to help — https://support.bestwebsoft.com/

Translation

Russian (ru_RU)
Ukrainian (uk)

Some of these translations are not complete. We are constantly adding new features which should be translated. If you would like to create your own language pack or update the existing one, you can send the text of PO and MO files to BestWebSoft and we’ll add it to the plugin. You can download the latest version of the program for work with PO and MO files Poedit.

Recommended Plugins

Updater – Automatically check and update WordPress website core with all installed plugins and themes to the latest versions.

Installation

Upload the google-shortlink folder to the /wp-content/plugins/ directory.
Activate the plugin via the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress.
Plugin settings are located in “Shortlink” -> “Settings”.
Plugin page is located in main menu.
Enter your API key for goo.gl account on plugin options page.

View a Step-by-step Instruction on Shortlink Installation

Screenshots

'Table of links' page.
'Add links' page.
Plugin settings page in WordPress admin panel.
Plugin settings page in WordPress admin panel.

FAQ

Where can I get API key for this plugin?

Please complete the following:

You must go to Google developers console and create a new project (set fields “Project name” and “Project ID” as you wish).
After creating the project go to the “APIs & auth” tab.
Find in the list of available APIs “URL Shortener API” and set it ON.
After that go to “Credentials” tab and click “CREATE NEW KEY” button in “Public API access” area.
Choose “browser key” in pop-up window. The generated key will appear on the page, and you can regenerate it anytime.

Can I get a shortlink for any link I need?

Yes, just paste it to one of the fields below “Type long links here:” title on “Direct input” tab at plugin’s main page and press a button “Get short links”. A short link will appear beside and also be saved in the database.

How to replace all external links on my website with shortlinks.

Please complete the following:

Go to the plugin main page Shortlink by BestWebSoft” in the main menu (Dashboard).
Go to Additional options tab.
Set “Scan web-site for new external links” option on and click the button “Apply” below. Scanning your website may take some time, don’t be afraid, it’s normal.
Now you can manage those links as your wish with options on the main page. In a particular case, to replace all external links to short links set “Replace automatically all external links” option on and press “Apply button”.

I have some problems with the plugin’s work. What Information should I provide to receive proper support?

Please make sure that the problem hasn’t been discussed yet on our forum (https://support.bestwebsoft.com). If no, please provide the following data along with your problem’s description:
1. The link to the page where the problem occurs
2. The name of the plugin and its version. If you are using a pro version – your order number.
3. The version of your WordPress installation
4. Copy and paste into the message your system status report. Please read more here: Instruction on System Status

Changelog

V1.6.2 – 26.04.2022

Bugfix : Deactivation feedback fix.

V1.6.1 – 24.03.2022

Update : Functionality updated for wordpress 5.9.
Update : BWS plugins section was updated.

V1.6.0 – 29.06.2021

Update : All functionality was updated for wordpress 5.7.2
Bugfix : The issue with display Firebase error 403 has been fixed.

V1.5.9 – 01.04.2021

Update : Adding links manually moved to a separate page.
Update : Scan of the website for new external links and performing actions with external links has been moved to the settings page.
Update : Added warning about deprecated functionality goo.gl API.
Update : BWS plugins section was updated.
Update : All functionality was updated for wordpress 5.7.

V1.5.8 – 15.01.2020

Update : Plugin was renamed.
Bugfix : Vulnerabilities and security issues were fixed.

V1.5.7 – 14.11.2019

Bugfix : Minor bugs were fixed.

V1.5.6 – 04.09.2019

Update : The deactivation feedback has been changed. Misleading buttons have been removed.

V1.5.5 – 15.01.2019

NEW : Ability to switch to Firebase Dynamic Links API has been added.
Bugfix : The bug with the links search has been fixed.
Bugfix : The bug with the incorrect error displaying during website scanning has been fixed.

V1.5.4 – 05.05.2017

Bugfix : The bug with incomplete short links replacement was fixed.
Bugfix : The bug with empty post title displaying was fixed.

V1.5.3 – 23.03.2017

Bugfix : We fixed bug with short links.

V1.5.2 – 12.10.2016

Update : BWS plugins section is updated.

V1.5.1 – 12.07.2016

Update : Instruction on How to get API key has been updated.

V1.5.0 – 25.04.2016

Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 4.5.

V1.4.9 – 09.12.2015

Bugfix : The bug with plugin menu duplicating was fixed.

V1.4.8 – 02.11.2015

Update : BWS plugins section is updated.
Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 4.3.1.

V1.4.7 – 27.07.2015

Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 4.2.3.

V1.4.6 – 20.05.2015

Bugfix : We fixed bug with displaying the list of links.
Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 4.2.2.

V1.4.5 – 01.04.2015

Bugfix : Plugin optimization is done.
Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 4.1.1.

V1.4.4 – 30.12.2014

Update : BWS plugins section is updated.
Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 4.1.

V1.4.3 – 09.09.2014

Bugfix : The misprint in the code was fixed.
Bugfix : Check ajax referer is added.
Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 4.0.

V1.4.2 – 12.08.2014

Bugfix : Security Exploit was fixed.
Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 4.0-beta3.

V1.4.1 – 20.05.2014

Bugfix : Bug with replacing, restoring, deleting of links was fixed.
Bugfix : We fixed a bug which created a database when you first start the plugin.
Update : BWS plugins section is updated.
Update : We updated all functionality for wordpress 3.9.1.
NEW : The Ukrainian language file is added to the plugin.

V1.4 – 31.03.2014

Update : We added support for custom types.
Bugfix : Plugin optimization is done.
Update : BWS menu and screenshots are updated.

V1.3 – 10.02.2014

NEW : New interface of the plugin page was created.
NEW : Ajax support for main plugin’s functions was added.

V1.2 – 30.01.2014

Bugfix : The bug for incorrect scanning for new links was fixed.
NEW : Pagination for links table was added.
NEW : Translation into Russian ( ru_RU ) was added.

V1.1 – 25.01.2014

NEW : Ability to get short links automatically was added.

V1.0 – 20.01.2014

NEW : Ability to get short links by direct input was added.