🚀 Overview

BetterLinks is a powerful WordPress plugin that helps marketers, bloggers, affiliates, and agencies shorten URLs, track clicks, manage branded links, and view in-depth analytics—all within the familiar WordPress dashboard. Created to streamline link management workflows, it reduces reliance on third-party link shorteners and enhances brand control.

Experience-driven: Built from real affiliate and content marketing workflows—where branded links, click tracking and URL redirects are central to conversion optimisation—and crafted to be intuitive for WordPress users.

Ideal for: Bloggers, affiliate marketers, eCommerce sites, agencies, in-house teams who want to consolidate link management directly into WordPress.

✨ Key Features

• URL Shortening: Create short links directly inside WP; support for custom slugs & branded domains.
• Click Tracking: Track total clicks, unique clicks, referrers, geolocation, device/browser stats.
• Link Management: Bulk import/export links, categorize links, add tags/notes for organisation.
• Redirect Types: 301, 302, 307 options; schedule start/end dates.
• Branded Domains &‍ Vanity URLs: Use your own domain for links to boost brand recognition and trust.
• Analytics Dashboard: Visual charts, top performing links, click trends over time.
• Integration: Compatible with WP-Cron, WooCommerce, page-builders and supports REST API for automation.
• Role-Based Access: Admins, editors and marketing teams with permissions to manage links safely.
• Link Cloaking & Tracking Tokens: Append UTM parameters, dynamic tokens for affiliate campaigns.
• Lightweight & Secure: Minimal footprint, uses native WP tables, secure slug generation, no heavy dependencies.

⚙️ Technical Stack

• Platform: WordPress (version 5.8+ recommended)
• Language: PHP 7.4 / PHP 8.x compatible
• Database: MySQL/MariaDB (same as WordPress)
• Frontend: jQuery & Vanilla JS, responsive admin UI
• Server Requirements: Linux hosting (shared/VPS), Apache or Nginx, PHP extensions json, curl, mbstring.

🧩 Installation Guide

1. Ensure you have WordPress installed and activated.
2. Upload the plugin folder to /wp-content/plugins/betterlinks.
3. Navigate to WordPress Dashboard → Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin and install it.
4. Activate the plugin and go to BetterLinks → Settings to configure your branded domain, link tracking options, and roles.
5. Create your first link: Enter destination URL, customise slug, assign category/tag, and save.
6. Monitor clicks via Dashboard → BetterLinks → Analytics and optimise your links accordingly.

📦 Deliverables

• Full source-code package of BetterLinks plugin (GPL licensed)
• Installation & configuration documentation
• User guide for link creation, tracking and analytics
• Sample branded domain setup and marketing use-cases

📱 Supported Platforms

• WordPress 5.8 or higher (latest recommended)
• PHP hosting environments (7.4 – 8.x support)
• MySQL/MariaDB databases
• Works across desktop and mobile browsers in admin and front end

🧠 Notes

• License: GNU GPL – you may modify, distribute and use under GPL terms.
• Customization: Change slug patterns, UI styling, integrate with affiliate modules or external click-tracking APIs.
• SEO Assurance: Keywords like “link shortener WordPress”, “track clicks WP”, “branded URLs plugin” ensure strong search visibility.
• Security: Since links may redirect users externally, ensure HTTPS, validate slugs, and set role permissions.

👨‍💻 Original Developer Credit

This plugin is developed and maintained by the original author at BetterLinks. For commercial licenses, updates or official support, visit the marketplace listing:
Original Author on CodeCanyon

🔒 Disclaimer

This distribution is provided under the GPL for educational and development purposes. It is not affiliated with nor endorsed by the original developer unless explicitly stated. All trademarks and brand names remain the property of their respective owners. For official updates and support, please purchase a licensed copy from the original marketplace.