![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.labourstart.org\/go\/images\/yourls-logo.png\"){kind=logo}
When we promote LabourStart campaigns on Twitter and elsewhere, we often need to shorten the link so that it will fit.<\/p>\nWhen we promote LabourStart campaigns on Twitter and elsewhere, we often need to shorten the link so that it will fit.<\/p>\n
For example, we take this link to the current Morocco call centre campaign —<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.labourstartcampaigns.net\/show_campaign.cgi?c=2217<\/p>\n
— and we shorten it using bit.ly<\/a> to this —<\/p>\n http:\/\/bit.ly\/1hf7XIh<\/p>\n We’ve done this for years, and it’s a great tool.\u00a0 (We’ve used alternatives to bit.ly as well, including tinyurl<\/a>.)<\/p>\n But there are a couple of downsides:<\/p>\n First, the URL created is not instantly memorable<\/strong>, nor would you want to say it aloud<\/strong> at a public meeting, or radio interview or over the phone.\u00a0 (Just try saying “http:\/\/bit.ly\/1hf7XIh”.)<\/p>\n Second, to do this, we rely on external hosts<\/strong> — which we do not pay for — to relay our traffic<\/strong>.\u00a0 So far we’ve had no problems with this, but it would far better if there were a way to do this on our own server.<\/p>\n In other words, LabourStart could use its own URL shortener.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n And now we have one.<\/strong><\/p>\n Thanks to the people who wrote YOURLS<\/a> I’ve now been able to create these shortened URLs easily:<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.labourstart.org\/go\/peru<\/a> -> http:\/\/www.labourstartcampaigns.net\/show_campaign.cgi?c=2198<\/p>\n http:\/\/www.labourstart.org\/go\/ranaplaza<\/a> -> http:\/\/www.labourstartcampaigns.net\/show_campaign.cgi?c=2200<\/p>\n