> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.linkutm.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How redirects work

> How linkutm shortens URLs, what domain options exist, and how the redirect works.

Every link in linkutm gets a short URL: `{domain}/{shortCode}`. Visiting it triggers a redirect to the destination URL with all UTMs appended. The click is recorded with the visitor's location, device, browser, and referrer.

## When to use it

Always - there's no "long-URL only" mode. Pick which short domain to use per link.

## Domain options

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="System default">
    Every workspace gets a default short domain on creation. No setup needed. Useful for ads where the slug isn't visible to humans (Google Ads, Meta Ads).
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Custom branded domain">
    Bring your own domain (`go.acme.com`, `acme.link`, etc.). A quick DNS setup connects it, and we walk you through it. Branded short URLs increase click-through rates and trust on visible channels (email, social, podcasts).

    See [Custom domains](/link-shortening/custom-domains).
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## How the redirect works

<Steps>
  <Step title="Visitor clicks the short link">
    Their browser opens `go.acme.com/q2-launch`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="linkutm validates the link">
    Checks whether the link is active. An expired link redirects to its fallback URL, or shows an error page if no fallback is set. Archived links keep redirecting normally.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click is recorded">
    Country, city, device type, browser, OS, and referrer are captured. This is what populates your analytics.
  </Step>

  <Step title="UTMs are appended to the destination URL">
    The visitor's browser is sent to your destination URL with all UTM parameters attached.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pixels fire (if configured)">
    If you've added pixels (Facebook, TikTok, GTM, etc.) to the link or workspace, they fire before the final redirect.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Real-world example

A podcast sponsor read:

> "Visit go.acme.com/podcast for 20% off."

What happens:

* Listener types `go.acme.com/podcast`.
* linkutm logs the click (country = listener's, device = mobile/desktop, referrer = direct).
* Redirects to `https://acme.com/offer?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=q2_launch`.
* The acme.com landing page sees the UTMs and reports them to GA.

## Common mistakes

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Sharing the destination URL with UTMs hard-coded">
    Defeats tracking - no centralized click count, no per-channel attribution, no easy edit. Always share the short URL.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Using an insecure (http) short domain">
    Some platforms (LinkedIn, Slack) won't show previews for insecure links. linkutm always uses secure `https` links, and the security certificate is set up automatically for verified custom domains.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Pointing a domain that's already in use">
    If `go.acme.com` is already running a real site, pointing it to linkutm will break that site. Use a fresh subdomain instead.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Edge cases

<Note>
  **Bare domain.** Visiting `https://go.acme.com/` with no slug after it shows a not-found page. Always share the full short URL including the slug.
</Note>

<Note>
  **Archived links keep redirecting.** Archiving only removes a link from default list views; the short URL still resolves and clicks are still recorded.
</Note>