Set up a vanity URL

A vanity URL is a shortened web address that's customized for your brand. Vanity URLs are easy to remember and using them in your social posts is a great way to boost brand awareness. Just like Ow.ly links, you can still track click-through metrics in Analytics. You need to buy a vanity URL from an accredited domain name registrar before you can use it in Hootsuite.

Before you begin

Here's what you need before you can add a vanity URL to Hootsuite:

• An organization in your Hootsuite account that contains teams and social accounts. Only organization super admins can add vanity URLs.
• A domain to use for your vanity URL, purchased from an accredited registrar. Your vanity URL domain can be similar to your brand's website domain, but it must be unique. It cannot currently be in use with an active website, or registered on the HSTS preload list. Vanity URLs do not work with HTTPS connections. To find out more, see Register a domain name for a vanity URL.
• Your own website to use as a root redirect.

If you have a Team plan account but no other team members, see Get started with your Hootsuite Team plan. Create an organization by sharing social accounts but leaving the email address blank. You’ll create a team containing yourself and the social accounts that you’ll use with the vanity URL.

Team plans can add one vanity URL to Hootsuite, Business plans can add five, and there is no limit for Enterprise plans.

Add a vanity URL to Hootsuite

1. Go to My profile, and then select Account settings, preferences, and billing.
   
   
2. Select Vanity URLs from the Account & Settings list.
3. Select Add New Vanity URL.
4. In the first box, enter http:// followed by your vanity URL.
5. In the second box, enter http:// followed by a URL to use as a root redirect. If someone tries to access your vanity URL without a hash on the end of it, they will be taken to this root redirect URL (usually your company website).
6. Select an organization to add the vanity URL to. All organization members can access it in Composer.
7. Select Save.
   Hootsuite will generate one of the following IP addresses:
   • 54.241.242.72
   • 54.241.242.79
8. Copy the IP address to update your Domain Name Server (DNS) settings in step 11.
   This information is also sent to the email associated with your Hootsuite account.
9. Select Finished.
10. Sign into your domain host account to update the A record in the DNS settings:
    • In the Hostname field, enter @.
    • In the IP address field, paste the IP address from step 9.
    How to edit the A record with various domain registrars:
    • GoDaddy
    • Namecheap
    • Enom

Your vanity URL will be ready to use in about 24 hours, pending verification.

All organization members can use the vanity URL to shorten their post links in Composer. You can also add your vanity URL to presets and content campaigns that team members can apply to their posts. To use your vanity URL in the Hootsuite mobile app, add it to a preset. Learn how to create link settings presets.

Delete a vanity URL

1. Go to My profile, and then select Account settings, preferences, and billing.
   
   
2. Select Vanity URLs from the Account & Settings list.
3. Select Delete beside the vanity URL.
4. Select OK.

Now that you have deleted your vanity URL, take a moment to update your DNS settings in your domain host account.