How to Create Short URLs and QR Codes for Your E-Commerce Products (and Actually Track What Works)
Here's how e-commerce brands use short links, QR codes, and click analytics to drive more traffic from social media, packaging, and ads. (You don't need a mobile app to start sharing smarter. )
If you run an online store: on Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or your own custom platform—you already share product links every day. Instagram bio, Facebook posts, WhatsApp broadcasts, Google Ads, packaging inserts, email newsletters. Links are the bridge between your marketing and your revenue.
But here’s the problem most e-commerce brands face:
- Your product URLs are ugly and long:
yourstore.com/collections/summer-2026/products/premium-cotton-tee-navy-blue-xl?variant=4829103847doesn’t exactly inspire trust in a WhatsApp message. - You have zero visibility into which links get clicked, from where, and on what device.
- You’re printing static URLs on packaging and flyers with no way to update them after they’re out.
- You’re not using QR codes on physical products, even though 89 million smartphone users in the US alone scanned a QR code in 2024 (Statista).
The fix isn’t building a mobile app. The fix is using smarter links.
The fix isn’t building a mobile app. The fix is using smarter links.
What Is a Short Link (and Why Should E-Commerce Brands Care)?
A short link (also called a short URL or branded link) is a compact, clean version of any URL. Instead of sharing:
https://yourstore.com/collections/summer-2026/products/premium-cotton-tee-navy-blue-xl?variant=4829103847
You share:
link.yourstore.com/navy-tee
That’s it. Same destination, cleaner delivery, and you own the data.
Why Short Links Matter for E-Commerce
| Problem | How Short Links Solve It | |
|---|---|---|
| Long URLs look spammy on social media | Clean, branded URLs build trust | |
| No way to track link performance | Built-in click analytics per link | |
| Can't A/B test product pages | Create multiple short links to compare | |
| Links break when you update your site | Redirect destinations without changing the link | |
| Character limits on SMS/Twitter | Short URLs save space and look professional |
When you **create a short URL** with a tool like [ChottuLink](https://chottulink.com), you're not just shortening a link—you're unlocking analytics, branding, and control over every link you share.
When you create a short URL with a tool like ChottuLink, you’re not just shortening a link—you’re unlocking analytics, branding, and control over every link you share.
How to Generate QR Codes for Your Product Links
QR codes have made a massive comeback. From restaurant menus to magazine ads to product packaging, QR codes are the fastest bridge between the physical world and your online store.
Where E-Commerce Brands Use QR Codes
- Product Packaging: Print a QR code on the box that links to setup guides, warranty registration, or a “re-order” page.
- Business Cards & Flyers: Instead of a long URL, show a scannable code that takes people directly to your store.
- Trade Shows & Pop-Up Shops: Let visitors scan and browse your catalog instantly.
- Print Ads & Billboards: Turn offline impressions into online traffic with a single scan.
- Thank You Cards: Include a QR code linking to a discount code for repeat purchases.
How to Create a QR Code for Any Link
With ChottuLink, every short link you create automatically gets a downloadable QR code—no separate tool needed. Here’s how simple it is:
- Paste your product URL into ChottuLink
- Customize your short link (e.g.,
link.yourstore.com/summer-sale) - Download the QR code (PNG, ready to print)
- Use it on packaging, social posts, or in-store signage
The QR code links to the same short URL, so you get all the same click tracking and analytics whether someone types the link or scans the code.
Pro Tip: If you need to generate QR codes at scale (for example, a unique QR per product or per order), ChottuLink’s API lets you programmatically generate short links and QR codes in bulk.
Link Click Analytics: Know Exactly What’s Working
This is where things get powerful. When you create short URLs through ChottuLink, every click is tracked and broken down by:
What You Can Track
| Metric | What It Tells You | |
|---|---|---|
| **Total clicks** | How many people engaged with your link | |
| **Geographic location** | Which countries/cities your audience is in | |
| **Device type** | Mobile vs. desktop (critical for e-commerce) | |
| **Operating system** | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac | |
| **Browser** | Chrome, Safari, in-app browsers | |
| **Referrer source** | Did they come from Instagram, WhatsApp, email, QR scan? | |
| **Click over time** | When your links get the most traffic | |
Why This Matters for E-Commerce
Scenario 1: Social Media Product Drops
You share a new product on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter simultaneously. With separate short links for each platform, you can see exactly which social channel drove the most traffic—and double down on what works.
Scenario 2: Influencer Campaigns
Give each influencer a unique short link (e.g., link.yourstore.com/promo-sarah, link.yourstore.com/promo-james). Now you have precise, link-level performance data for every influencer—no UTM confusion.
Scenario 3: Offline-to-Online Attribution
You print QR codes on flyers distributed at two different events. Each flyer has a different short link. You can now see exactly how many scans each event generated, from which devices, and whether those visitors actually converted.
Custom Domains: Make Every Link Reinforce Your Brand
By default, many link shortening tools give you generic URLs like bit.ly/3xK2f or tinyurl.com/y8mf. These links are functional but:
- They don’t build trust — users can’t tell where the link goes
- They don’t reinforce your brand — you’re promoting Bitly’s brand, not yours
- Social platforms sometimes flag generic short links as spam
The Custom Domain Advantage
With ChottuLink, you can connect your own branded domain (or subdomain) to your account. Your short links look like:
link.yourstore.com/summer-sale
go.yourbrand.com/new-arrival
shop.yourcompany.com/promo| Feature | Generic ShortLink | Branded Links | |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Trust** | `bit.ly/3xK2f` — where does this go? | `link.yourstore.com/tee` — instant recognition | |
| **CTR** | Lower click-through rates | Up to **34% higher CTR** ([Rebrandly research](https://www.rebrandly.com/blog/branded-links-increase-click-through-rate)) | |
| **Brand recall** | Zero brand equity | Every link is a branding touchpoint | |
| **Deliverability** | May be flagged as spam on some platforms | Branded domains have better deliverability | |
| **Portability** | Locked to the tool provider | You own the domain—switch tools anytime |
Setting up a custom domain with ChottuLink takes less than 15 minutes. You add a DNS record, verify it in the dashboard, and every link you create from that point forward uses your brand.
Real Use Cases: How E-Commerce Brands Use ChottuLink (Without a Mobile App)
You don’t need a native mobile app to benefit from ChottuLink. Here are real scenarios:
🛍️ Shopify / WooCommerce Store Owner
- Create short URLs for each product collection and share them on Instagram Stories
- Generate QR codes for product packaging that link to reviews or re-order pages
- Track which products and promotions drive the most clicks from social media
📦 D2C Brand with Physical Packaging
- Print branded QR codes on every package insert with a unique short link
- Track scan rates to measure how many customers engage after purchase
- Link to post-purchase surveys, loyalty programs, or referral offers
📢 Social Media Marketer Managing Multiple Channels
- Create unique short links per platform per campaign
- Compare Instagram vs. Facebook vs. TikTok performance at a glance
- Use link-level analytics to report ROI to clients or stakeholders
🎪 Pop-Up Shop or Trade Show Exhibitor
- Print QR codes on banners and table displays
- Track real-time scans during the event
- Update the link destination on-the-fly (e.g., swap from catalog to limited-time offer)
ChottuLink vs. Other Link Shorteners: What’s Different?
| Feature | Bitly (Free) | Rebrandly (Free) | TinyURL | **ChottuLink (Free)** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short link creation | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | |
| Click analytics | Basic (limited history) | Basic | ❌ | ✅ Detailed | |
| QR code generation | ❌ (paid only) | ❌ (paid only) | ❌ | ✅ Included | |
| Custom domain | ❌ (paid only) | 1 domain | ❌ | ✅ Included | |
| Branded link previews | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ OG tags supported | |
| Link management dashboard | Limited | Limited | ❌ | ✅ Full dashboard | |
| API access | Paid | Paid | ❌ | ✅ Available | |
| Unlimited links | ❌ (10/month) | ❌ (25/month) | ✅ | ✅ Unlimited |
ChottuLink’s free tier includes features that competitors charge $29–$99/month for—including custom domains, QR codes, and detailed analytics.
Getting Started: Create Your First Short Link in 60 Seconds
- Sign up at app.chottulink.com/register — free, no credit card
- Paste your product URL — any URL from your website, marketplace listing, or landing page
- Customize the slug — choose a memorable, branded path like
/summer-saleor/best-seller - Download the QR code — ready to print or share digitally
- Share and track — watch clicks roll in on your analytics dashboard
Want branded links? Set up your custom domain in under 15 minutes.
FAQ
How do I create a QR code for a link?
With ChottuLink, every short link automatically generates a downloadable QR code. Just create your short link, and download the QR code from your dashboard. It’s free and requires no additional tools.
Can I create a short URL for free?
Yes. ChottuLink’s free plan includes unlimited short links, QR code generation, click analytics, and even custom domain support. No credit card required.
What’s the difference between a QR code and a short link?
They do the same thing—send someone to a URL—but QR codes are designed for physical-to-digital use cases (scanning with a phone camera), while short links are for digital sharing (social media, email, SMS). With ChottuLink, every short link comes with a QR code, so you’re covered for both.
Do I need a mobile app to use ChottuLink?
No. ChottuLink works entirely through a web dashboard. You can create short links, generate QR codes, track analytics, and manage custom domains—all from your browser. ChottuLink also offers deep linking features if you do have an app, but they’re completely optional.
How can link analytics help my e-commerce business?
Link analytics show you exactly which marketing channels, campaigns, and content drive traffic. You can identify your best-performing social platforms, measure influencer ROI, track offline-to-online conversions from QR codes, and make data-driven decisions about where to invest your marketing budget.
Start Sharing Smarter Today
You don’t need a mobile app, a developer, or a big budget to start using smarter links. Every product URL you share is an opportunity to build your brand, track your results, and optimize what works.
Create your first short link →
Stop sharing naked URLs. Start creating short links, generating QR codes, and tracking every click—for free with ChottuLink.