Do You Own Your TinyURL?

File this under “Online Reputation Management”…

You know those handy URL shortening tools like TinyURL, Is.Gd and Bit.ly? Did you know you can also create a custom TinyURL? It’s another small way (pun intended) to stake a claim to your online identity.

As you can see in this image, TinyURL lets you create a custom alias. Just plug in the URL you wish to shorten, assign the desired alias, and hit “Make TinyURL!”

My blog was the logical recipient of the TinyURL.com/ScottHepburn alias. You could just as easily map to your LinkedIn profile, Twitter profile or any other page.

I don’t know if Google indexes TinyURls, but it’s nice to know http://tinyurl.com/ScottHepburn points to my home turf.

http://www.obsessedwithconformity.com Jim Mitchem

I have to tell you, I had this idea about a month ago and was even going to meet with a programmer to discuss branding tiny urls. Wow. I have to move quicker. ;)
http://mediaemerging.com Scott Hepburn

Gotta move quick, Jim ;)

I got the idea about a month ago when a Google search for my name popped up a TinyURL in the top 10 or 15 results. I figured…if a TinyURL directing to a page that includes my name will rank, then a TinyURL that includes my name IN the URL would rank even higher.

We'll see. Even if it doesn't climb the rankings, it's still good brand control.
http://www.obsessedwithconformity.com Jim Mitchem

I have to tell you, I had this idea about a month ago and was even going to meet with a programmer to discuss branding tiny urls. Wow. I have to move quicker. ;)
http://www.obsessedwithconformity.com Jim Mitchem

I have to tell you, I had this idea about a month ago and was even going to meet with a programmer to discuss branding tiny urls. Wow. I have to move quicker. ;)
http://mediaemerging.com Scott Hepburn

Gotta move quick, Jim ;)

I got the idea about a month ago when a Google search for my name popped up a TinyURL in the top 10 or 15 results. I figured…if a TinyURL directing to a page that includes my name will rank, then a TinyURL that includes my name IN the URL would rank even higher.

We'll see. Even if it doesn't climb the rankings, it's still good brand control.
http://mediaemerging.com Scott Hepburn

Gotta move quick, Jim ;)

I got the idea about a month ago when a Google search for my name popped up a TinyURL in the top 10 or 15 results. I figured…if a TinyURL directing to a page that includes my name will rank, then a TinyURL that includes my name IN the URL would rank even higher.

We'll see. Even if it doesn't climb the rankings, it's still good brand control.