Bit.ly is a URL shortener with powerful analytics originally designed for web marketing. This tool can be easily repurposed for classroom and professional communication use. We often use free online tools such as Google slideshow and SurveyMonkey. These tools often create long complicated URLs which are inconvenient to type so emailing or posting a link becomes necessary. bit.ly takes a long link like this:
“https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/travel/writers-favorite-hotels.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news”
and creates something like this: nyti.ms/2KP8o0z
Imagine writing a link on the board for students to visit on their smartphones.
I used tinyurl in the classroom a lot. Bit.ly is even shorter and the analytics are potentially more useful.