Create easy to remember Web Addresses that redirect to long URLs using Blogger.

In the search for a suitable URL Shortener, I enjoyed two:

I still do. Goo.gl truly is a URL Shortener. I enjoy the analytic data and the generated QR Code. However, it is difficult to remember and type. Is it a 0 or O, and l, I, or 1? and the “Remember, it is case sensitive,” with the reply, “Sir, what does that mean?”
So, I started looking for a Mnemonic URL Shortener. Bit.ly did the trick. I was able to change the ending of it from bit.ly/1ROw0TB to bit.ly/mnemonicurl However, now I wanted branded URLs. Bit.ly does offer branding with limitations or at a cost. But the case sensitive problem still persists. One of the major problems I wanted solved was that I wanted my branded URL to go to my homepage not to bit.ly
Then, I decided to create my own… but how? Before I start, the main difference between Branded Mnemonic URLs and Mnemonic URL Shortener is the short part.

Create Branded Mnemonic URLs

Step 1: Select a Domain

To make things easier, I’ll explain it using Google Domains. If you want something short, find a domain name that has one or two characters with a top level domain (i.e: .com, .net, .cab) that has two or three letters. Most opt for shortening instead of branding. I opted for branding. Since I deal with Educational Google & Android (hence eduGoogDroid), I selected as my domain:

Step 2: Create an Empty BlogSpot

When creating the BlogSopt (blogger.com), make sure you create a sub-domain under the blogspot.com domain. We’ll change it later.
Most of the following sub-steps are not necessary. But if you want, strip down the blog by removing the unnecessary info by going to your controll pannel and:

  • Google+: Select Disable Google+ link
  • Layout: Turn off Navbar, remove gadgets, save arrangements.
  • Template > Customize
    • Templates: Use the most Simple and basic one.
    • Background: Remove image if any.
    • Layout: No sidebar, no footer (or single).
    • Apply to Blog
  • Settings
    • Basic: Privacy both set to No, HTTPS set to No
    • Posts and comments: Show at most 1 comment, Showcase image with Lightbox set to No, Comments Location set to Hide, Who can comment set to Only members of this blog, Comment moderation set to Never, Show word verification set to No, Show back links set to Hide.
    • Email: Disabled
    • Search preferences: Set the three that you can to disabled.
    • Other: Allow blog feed set to None, the other two set to No

Step 3: Change the Blog Address to your new domain.

It may take about 72 hours to register your domain after purchase. Thus, you may need to do this step later that day or a few days later.

  • Return to Google Domains.
  • Next to your domain, under Website click + (Add website).
  • Look for Blogger and click on the drop down arrow next to create.
  • Select Connect existing blog
  • Verify that www is the sub-domain to your domain and the redirect check-box is selected.
  • Click on the drop-down arrow and select the Mnemonic URL blog.
  • Click on Connect blog.

Step 4: Creating Mnemonic URLs

There are two ways to create content in Blogger: Posts & Pages. Be familiar with both, but we will be using Pages to achieve this task. Also, this code is needed:

LOADING...<br />
<script type="text/javascript"> window.location = "URL STARTING WITH HTTP BETWEEN QUOTES"; </script>
<a href="URL STARTING WITH HTTP BETWEEN QUOTES">Link Name</a>

When someone types GoogleAndroid.Education, I want them to go to eduGoogDroid.com. We need to create a post. It should be your only post. The name or title will not matter at this point.

Copy the code. At the top left, select HTML and paste the code. Change the text stating URL STARTING WITH HTTP BETWEEN QUOTES to the website of your choice. In my case https://www.edugoogdroid.com/ and Publish it.

Let’s do a generic Error page of items not found. From Control Pannel go to Settings > Search preferences > Custom Page Not Found > Edit. Now type some thing similar to

  • Not found. Please check for spelling and capitalization (case sensitive).

Now save changes.

Time to create a Mnemonic URL. I will create one that links to this article as an example.

  1. Copy the code.
  2. Create a new page but keep the name simple.
    • In this example, I’m calling it Easy URL
  3. In HTML mode, paste the code.
  4. Copy the URL of the destination.
    • In this case: https://www.edugoogdroid.com/2016/04/from-short-urls-to-mnemonic-web.html
  5. Paste it by replacing URL STARTING WITH HTTP BETWEEN QUOTES and change the Link Name to the title or the destination.
    • In this example, it should look like this:
    • LOADING…<br /> <script type=”text/javascript”> window.location = “https://www.edugoogdroid.com/2016/04/from-short-urls-to-mnemonic-web.html”; </script> <a href=”https://www.edugoogdroid.com/2016/04/from-short-urls-to-mnemonic-web.html”>From Short URLs to Mnemonic Web Addresses</a>
  6. Publish the page.
  7. Mouse over, but do NOT click, View under the new page, next to Edit.
  8. Make a note of the URL that was created usually in the format of http://www.domain.com/p/page-name.html
    • In this example: http://www.googleandroid.education/p/easy-url.html
  9. Click on Settings > Search preferences > Custom Redirects > Edit
  10. Click on New redirect
  11. In From, type the Mnemonic URL you want them to type starting after “/” (no quotes)
    • In this example, I want GoogleAndroid.Education/EasyURL
    • I will just type: /EasyURL
  12. In the To part, type the last portion of the page that contains the code starting with “/p/” (no quotes)
    • In this example, http://www.googleandroid.education/p/easy-url.html
    • I will just type: /p/easy-url.html
  13. Check the box for Permanent.
  14. Click the Save link but do NOT click the Save changes button.
  15. Repeat steps 10 to 14 for different variations of the Mnemonic URL
    • Because it is case sensitive, different caps styles should be created.
    • In my case, I will need /easyurl, /Easyurl, /EASYURL, also. So, I will do this 3 more times.
    • In other cases, I may even include a common misspelling of the word for ease of access. I will only do this one with out variations as an example: /EZurl
  16. When you are done with variations, click Save changes.

Now you can give this URL to anyone who wants to learn about Mnemonic URLs

By Mr.G, M.Ed.

I am Carlos Garza (Mr.G), a Family Man first, then a Teacher at LJISD. My passion in educational technology has lead me to become a Google for Education Certified Trainer & Innovator (#VIA20). I am the former host for the ACEd Tech podcast. Masters in Educational Technology (maybe I should go by Master G).

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