Comments on: uTag: Make Money from Shortened URLs

By: ferrari_chris

ferrari_chris — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:31:08 +0000

I added a URL shortening service to my website, and when I found out how much people were using it (I was amazed, and it’s still the most heavily trafficed part of my site) I thought about adding some advertising, similar to uTag have done.

I never went through with it, but it’s nice to know I was thinking along the same lines as some other people in the industry. :)

By: stef25

stef25 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:45:12 +0000

if some one uses this service to link out to an adult / pr0n site, you’d be violating adsense TOS. wonder how they’ll handle that.

By: PatrickSamphire

PatrickSamphire — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 09:45:15 +0000

I’ve got to say, about.com makes me furious, and just clicking on the sample links you provide here gives me exactly the same reaction. I can’t stand this framing of other people’s content with adverts. I won’t click on anything that does it.

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:17:16 +0000

The problem with shortened urls is that you can’t see where you’re going. Since a url like http://ut.ag/00k7C doesn’t tell you much about where you’re headed after you click it. How do I know I’m not being redirected to http://domain.com/virus/ridden/page?

Until a secure, cross browser solution is found, I don’t think that this type of thing will take off with people who are relatively internet savvy. And the un-savvy are unlikely to know what url shortening is so it seems like a very limited market. Even if the technology is improved, I don’t think people would find it convenient to have to visit a third party site if they simply want to share a link. Its not like most quality links are that long anyway.

It seems this “technology” would only be helpful for someone who is intentionally trying to mask a true url for exploitation purposes.

By: kimheras

kimheras — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:31:08 +0000

Hey Josh

Thanks for the coverage.

We’re firmly committed to the idea that it’s the people who filter the noise, and recomend content to their social networks/audience, who are creating much of the web’s value.

In many instances, that value is going unrewarded.

We plan to change this in a way that benefits the noise filterers as much as possible, while inconveniencing their audience as little as possible.

The service isn’t perfect ATM, but it’s improving by the hour as we get more and more feedback. Rest assured everyone, we’re listening to what you have to say and are working hard on improving both the front and back-end components of the service.

Give the service a try and tell us what we need to do to make it perfect for you.

We won’t let you down.

By: M

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:54:04 +0000

That highlight effect from the above comment is IE only. pass. :/

Dunno how I feel about these uTag adds, either…I guess we’ll see?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:44:57 +0000

There is a better service I discovered last week. They allow you to HIGHLIGHT the page before you share it. e.g. The URL to this page is http://shinyurl.com/SeeThis