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The Startup Founder’s Link Strategy: How to Use Smart URLs from Day One

In our last post, we talked about how short links can give startup founders more control, better data, and a more professional edge when sending out decks, demos, and more.

Now let’s get tactical.

This guide shows you exactly how to set up and use short links—from your very first pitch to your early hiring funnel—without adding overhead or complexity.

🔗 Step 1: Set Up a Branded Short Domain

Before you start sending out links, grab a short domain that matches your brand.
Examples:

  • go.yourstartup.com
  • pitch.getloop.io
  • demo.withnimbus.co

You can usually get a short domain for ~$10/year. Once connected to your link service, all your short links will use it—so your links always look clean and trustworthy, even in cold emails.

📤 Step 2: Use Unique Links for Each Investor or Outreach List

You’re probably sending the same pitch deck or demo page to multiple people. Don’t use the same link for everyone.

Instead:

  • Create a separate short link for each investor or firm (e.g., go.yourstartup.com/a16z).
  • Create grouped links for outbound rounds (e.g., go.yourstartup.com/seed-round).
  • Use short links for different platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter DMs, or cold emails.

Now when someone clicks, you’ll know where the interest is coming from—and when it’s time to follow up.

🧪 Step 3: Run A/B Tests Without Extra Tools

Short links can help you A/B test:

  • Two different versions of your pitch deck
  • Two different demo pages (one “feature first,” one “value first”)
  • Different CTAs or subject lines in your cold email

Just generate separate short links and track the click rates. No code needed. You’ll start learning what resonates—and fast.

🧹 Step 4: Keep Control Over Your Links

One of the most powerful features of short links is the ability to change the destination later.

You can:

  • Fix typos or broken demo links
  • Switch out your deck for a newer version
  • Redirect to your launch announcement after fundraising is complete

This is essential if you’re moving fast and want to avoid legacy decks floating around with outdated info.

👩‍💻 Step 5: Use Short Links in Early Hiring and Growth Experiments

Short links aren’t just for investors. You can also use them to:

  • Track which job boards actually get clicks (go.yourstartup.com/jobs-hackernews vs. /jobs-linkedin)
  • Compare early signup interest by channel (/waitlist-tiktok vs. /waitlist-email)
  • See which referral partners or ambassadors are actually driving traffic

And because short links work in SMS, DMs, and printed QR codes, they’re great for scrappy growth hacks.

🧠 Step 6: Review the Data (But Don’t Overcomplicate It)

Most short link tools show you:

  • Click counts
  • Device types
  • Time of day
  • Referring source or location

That’s all you need early on. You don’t need Mixpanel on day one—just enough visibility to make smarter decisions and spot warm leads before they go cold.

TL;DR: You Don’t Need to Be Big to Act Like It

A solid link strategy helps you:

  • Look more professional
  • Learn faster from every round of outreach
  • Stay in control of your materials
  • Get better results from the same effort

The best part? It’s easy to set up, and it scales with you. Whether you’re pre-seed or post-Series A, smart links let you track and tweak everything you’re sending out into the world.