What's this tutorial about?
Reduce number of credits used in an SMS by shortening your links, but avoid using a free link shortening service as these can trigger SMS carrier spam filters and result in your SMS being blocked. Here's how to use your own website domain to create shorter links.
Creating branded short links for SMS campaigns
Why use your own domain for short links?
When sending SMS campaigns through Peptalkr, using free link shortening services (like bit.ly, linkly.link, or tinyurl.com) can cause your messages to be blocked by mobile carriers. These services are frequently used by spammers, which has led carriers to flag them as suspicious.
The solution? Create your own short links using your business domain. Not only does this improve SMS deliverability, but it also builds trust with your patients as they'll recognise your brand in the link.
Example of a shortened link:
If linking to a special offer in Cliniko's online bookings, the URL is very long. You can make it much shorter so that:
Instead of: https://peptalkr1.au1.cliniko.com/bookings?business_id=94317&practitioner_id=148677
You could use: peptalkr.com/special
While it may not be quite as short as a third-party link shortener, it's still much shorter than a full Cliniko booking URL, and significantly more reliable for SMS delivery.
How to create your own short links
You'll create what's called a "301 redirect" - this means when someone clicks your short link, they're automatically redirected to your full Cliniko booking URL.
Option 1: Using your domain provider or web hosting
Most domain providers and web hosting platforms allow you to manage redirects directly. Here's how:
Log in to your domain provider (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, SiteGround, etc.)
Navigate to the DNS or domain management section
Look for "Redirects," "Forwarding," or "URL Redirects"
Create a new redirect:
From:
/special(or your chosen short path)To: Your full Cliniko booking URL
Type: 301 (Permanent Redirect)
Save your changes
The exact location of this feature varies by provider. If you can't find it, search your provider's help centre for "301 redirect" or "URL forwarding."
Option 2: Using WordPress with a redirection plugin
If your website runs on WordPress, you can easily create redirects using popular SEO or redirection plugins.
Using Rank Math:
Go to Rank Math > Redirections in your WordPress admin
Click Add New
Enter your Source URL (e.g.,
/special)Enter your Destination URL (your full Cliniko booking link)
Select 301 Moved Permanently as the redirection type
Click Add Redirection
Using Yoast SEO Premium:
Go to SEO > Redirects in your WordPress admin
Enter your Old URL (e.g.,
/special)Enter your New URL (your full Cliniko booking link)
Select 301 Moved Permanently
Click Add Redirect
Using the Redirection plugin (free):
Install and activate the Redirection plugin from the WordPress repository
Go to Tools > Redirection
Under Add new redirection:
Source URL:
/specialTarget URL: Your full Cliniko booking link
Click Add Redirect
Option 3: Common website builders
If you're using a website builder platform, most support redirect creation. Here's where to find instructions for popular platforms:
Platform | Redirect support | Instructions link |
Squarespace | Yes | |
Wix | Yes | |
Shopify | Yes | |
Webflow | Yes | |
Weebly | Limited | |
GoDaddy Website Builder | Yes |
Best practices for short links
✅ Keep them simple and memorable: Use short, relevant keywords (e.g., /special, /offer30)
✅ Make them relevant to the campaign: This helps you track which promotions are working
✅ Test before sending: Always click your short link to ensure it redirects correctly
✅ Use lowercase: Avoid capital letters to prevent confusion
✅ Avoid special characters: Stick to letters and numbers only