Getting started
How do I make my first CTAurl link?
Sign up free, open Create, paste the page you want people to reach, pick a domain such as buy-it.now or ctaurl.me, and type a back-half. Save, and the link works straight away. Tick the QR option to get a dynamic QR code for the same link; the Free plan includes three new QR codes a month.
Which CTAurl domain should I choose?
Choose the domain that names what happens next: buy-it.now for a product page, book-it.now for a booking, read-it.now for an article, sign-up.now for a form. People can see the action before they tap. Use ctaurl.me when no action fits. Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Thai versions exist for reading, buying, booking and signing up. See all 22 domains.
What can a back-half contain?
A back-half is the part after the domain, such as autumn-drop in buy-it.now/autumn-drop. It can be 3 to 31 characters of lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens, and it cannot start with a hyphen. The same rule applies on every domain, including the Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Thai ones. For example, buy-it.now/summer-sale uses a valid back-half. If the back-half is already taken on that domain, saving tells you so and you can pick another.
Links and QR codes
How do I change where a link or QR code goes?
Open the link, paste the new address in Destination and save. The very next tap or scan goes there, with no propagation delay. The printed QR pattern stays the same, so nothing needs reprinting.
Which file formats can I download a CTAurl QR code in?
SVG and PNG. SVG stays sharp at any print size, so use it for anything printed. You can also set colours, patterns and a centre logo; which design options you can use depends on your plan. Read the print guide before a large run.
Can I use my own domain with CTAurl?
Not yet. Custom domains are in development and not open to customers. Today every CTAurl link uses one of the 22 CTA domains, which name the action, or the general domain ctaurl.me. Branded links explains what works today and how a readable link is built.
Reports and numbers
Why do my CTAurl numbers not match my web analytics?
CTAurl counts requests that reach the redirect, including bots, link previews, security scanners and repeat taps. Web analytics counts visits that loaded your page, and Google Analytics removes known bots without showing how many (Google Analytics Help). Both are right about different things. UTM tags on your destination let you line the two up.
How long does CTAurl keep detailed reports?
CTAurl keeps detailed click records for about 90 days, and reports show breakdowns by city, device, source and campaign from that window. What your reports show depends on your plan. Every count is a count of requests, not people, because bots and link previews request links too.
Plans and account
What happens when I reach my monthly allowance?
You cannot create more new links or QR codes until the next calendar month starts or you upgrade. Allowances count new creations each month and reset monthly, on yearly billing too. Nothing you already published is switched off: existing links keep redirecting and printed codes keep scanning. There is no overage charge, and clicks and scans are never billed.
What happens to my links if I stop paying for CTAurl?
Your published links and QR codes keep working after you stop paying, and nothing is deleted for inactivity. The exceptions are abuse of the service, a legal requirement, or CTAurl ceasing to operate, in which case we give advance notice and an export.
How do I get an invoice or change my plan?
Open Settings in the CTAurl app and choose Plan. You can change plan, switch between monthly and yearly billing, and download invoices there. If a charge looks wrong, write to support@ctaurl.com: support is by email on every plan.
Is CTAurl down?
A CTAurl link is not working. What should I check?
Check the address is typed exactly, including the back-half. A link that was disabled, removed or never existed shows a not-found page. If several links stop at once, write to support@ctaurl.com with one example link and the time it failed, so a person can check the right records.
Does CTAurl have a status page?
Not yet. CTAurl does not run a public status page today and does not publish uptime figures. If you think the service is down, write to support@ctaurl.com with an example link and the time you tried it.