Help guide · 7 minutes
How to read your link analytics in GoTinyURL
What each GoTinyURL statistic means, how to compare links and channels, why numbers differ from Google Analytics, and how to export reports.
Last checked against the app on
The steps at a glance
Open a link's statistics
From Links, open any link and choose Statistics.
Set the date range
Choose a range that matches your campaign, not just the last 30 days.
Read the breakdowns
Countries, cities, devices, browsers, operating systems, languages and referrers.
Compare links
Give each placement its own link, then compare their totals for the same period.
Export
Download CSV, JSON or PDF for reports.
Every short link, bio page block and QR code in GoTinyURL records anonymous clicks. Here is how to turn those numbers into decisions.
What each statistic means
| Statistic | What it tells you | Use it to |
|---|---|---|
| Clicks over time | When people clicked | Find your best posting times; spot when a campaign took off |
| Countries and cities | Where clicks came from, from IP address | Decide on local offers and language pages |
| Devices, OS and browsers | What people used | Decide where to send app users; check mobile pages |
| Languages | The browser’s language | Justify a translated page |
| Referrers | The site or app that sent the click, if shared | Compare channels |
Compare like with like
A single link’s total tells you little. Two links compared over the same date range tell you a lot. That is why we recommend one short link per placement: the newsletter, the bio, each poster. See UTM parameters for naming that keeps it tidy.
Why numbers differ from Google Analytics
GoTinyURL counts the moment someone opens the short link. Your analytics tool counts a visit only if its script loads and, in many places, only after the visitor consents. Ad blockers, slow connections and consent choices all lower the analytics number. Neither is wrong: GoTinyURL shows reach; analytics shows behaviour on your site.
Bots and previews
Known crawlers and link-preview bots, such as the ones that build a preview card when a link is pasted into a chat, are left out of your statistics by default.
Exporting for reports
Open the statistics, choose the range, and export as CSV for spreadsheets, JSON for scripts, or PDF for client reports.
Making decisions
- One channel far ahead? Put more effort there next month.
- A poster with no scans? Check its placement, size and call to action against the QR checklist.
- Mostly iPhone traffic? Make sure your destination works beautifully on iOS, and consider smart targeting to send iOS users to the App Store.
FAQ
Common questions
Q01Why do GoTinyURL clicks not match Google Analytics sessions?
They measure different moments. GoTinyURL counts the click on the short link; Google Analytics counts a session only if its script loads and the visitor has consented. Ad blockers, consent choices and people who leave before the page loads all make analytics numbers lower.
Q02Are bots counted?
Known crawlers and link-preview bots are left out by default, so pasting a link into a chat app does not count as a click.
Q03How long is my click history kept?
30 days on Free, 365 on Starter, 730 on Pro and 1,825 on Business.
Q04What does an empty referrer mean?
The browser or app did not say where the click came from. Messaging apps, email apps and QR scans often show no referrer, which is why UTM tags and one link per placement help.
Q05How is location worked out?
From the visitor's IP address using a geolocation database. Country is reliable; city is approximate, and VPN users appear where their VPN is.
Q06Can I reset a link's statistics?
Yes. You can delete statistics for a date range from the link's statistics page.
No question matches that. Try another word, or ask us directly.
More help
Try it now in the app
Open GoTinyURL and follow along.
- Free plan, no card
- Cancel any time
- Your data stays yours
