Measuring the amount of clicks you generate is simple using shortlink services like Ow.ly, Bit.ly or Goo.gl. They work a little bit like Google Analytics and you get insights about the clicking behavior of the people who follow you on Twitter or Facebook. But how do you measure the amount of clicks someone else generates? Like Google Analytics you can’t log into their account without committing a crime. But there is a simple solution when you competitors are using Bit.ly or Goo.gl shortlinks. This simple solution is the “+” sign.
While you can measure your own stats using Bit.ly or Goo.gl, the statistics of these shortlinks are public. To learn how many clicks a Bit.ly or Goo.gl link has generated you simply add a “+” sign at the end of the link.
Take for example this Bit.ly link:
By clicking on the link you will be directed to the place on the web I want you to go. But when you simply copy and paste the link in your browser and add the “+” sign like this:
You will discover how many times my link has been clicked, how many people put my shortlink on Facebook, shared it on Facebook or tweeted about it. You often even see your own contribution of total Bit.ly links linking to this page. This simple trick also works using Goo.gl.
From now on you will never wonder about the clicks a Bit.ly or Goo.gl shortlink has generated. You will know how you are doing in comparison to your competitors and if you need to step up your game. So start checking those stats of useful social media CTR information!