Let’s talk about something simple that actually works—URL shorteners and smart links.
If you’re a complete beginner and you don’t know how to start making money online, this method is easy to understand, low effort, and it can make you money. But don’t expect to get rich overnight. Let’s keep it real here.
I’ll explain what they are, how they work, how much you can earn, which mistakes to avoid, and how to promote your links the right way.
What Are URL Shorteners?
URL shorteners are websites that take your long link and turn it into a short one. But here’s the catch—when someone clicks your short link, they see an ad for 5–10 seconds before getting redirected to your real link.
That ad time is how you make money.
The company shows ads to the visitor and gives you a small cut for every 1,000 clicks.
This is called CPM (Cost Per Mile = cost per 1,000 clicks).
What Are Smart Links?
Smart links are even easier. You don’t need to shorten any real link. You just share the smart link, and it takes users to random offers or ads based on their country or device.
Sometimes it goes to an app, sometimes to a survey, a video ad, or even a download page. All you care about is that people click. That’s how you get paid.
Smart links are popular in CPA (Cost Per Action) marketing. The payout is small, but the traffic volume can make it work.
How Much Can You Actually Make?
Let’s be real—this depends a lot on the country of your traffic.
Here’s a rough idea of CPM rates for short links:
| Country | Estimated CPM (per 1,000 clicks) |
|---|---|
| United States | $6 to $12 |
| Canada, UK, Australia | $5 to $10 |
| Germany, France | $4 to $8 |
| India, Philippines | $0.5 to $2 |
| Nigeria, Pakistan | $0.3 to $1.5 |
Some sites even offer $15+ CPM for Tier 1 traffic (like USA), but that’s rare unless the ad is high quality or your traffic is super engaged.
If your traffic is mostly from low-paying countries, don’t expect big money. That’s just the reality.
Don’t Just Pick Any Ad Network
This is very important.
Don’t rush and pick a random short link site just because they pay $20 CPM. That’s often fake.
Some platforms promote malware, fake download buttons, shady ads, or even scam surveys that never load. If your audience clicks that kind of stuff, they’ll lose trust in you—and you could lose your account too.
Always check the network on Trustpilot before signing up.
Some reliable ones (check again for yourself before using):
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ShrinkEarn
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AdShrinkIt
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Linkvertise
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Ouo.io
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Exe.io
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CPAGrip (for smart links)
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Adsterra Direct Links
And remember, even if it pays less, it's better to use a clean and safe network than a shady one that ruins your reputation.
Realistic Earnings (No Fake Hype)
If you’re targeting high-paying countries, getting 10,000 real clicks can make you anywhere from $50 to $100+, depending on the network.
If it’s mostly from low-tier countries, 10,000 clicks might only earn you $10 to $30.
That’s why most people fail with this method—they think they’ll earn $500 from 1,000 clicks. That’s not gonna happen unless you’re cheating or lying to users (don’t do that).
Be patient. Build slowly. This is extra money, not a jackpot.
Best Ways to Promote Your Shortened or Smart Links
Now let’s talk about traffic. If no one clicks your links, you earn nothing. Here’s how to get real, legit traffic, especially from high-paying countries:
1. Pinterest (Best Free Method)
Pinterest is full of users from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. If you post catchy Pins with useful content, you’ll get views and clicks.
Example:
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Create a Pin that says: “Top 10 Free AI Tools for Students”
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Shorten the link to your blog or a tool page using a shortener
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Add it to Pinterest with a nice image and good title
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Done
You can learn how to use Pinterest to make money in this guide: [Read Blog Here]
2. Quora + Medium (Smart Strategy)
Answer helpful questions on Quora. Write small guides or lists on Medium. Add your smart link or short link in the body (only if allowed, or link to a landing page first).
Helpful answers or articles can stay online for years and bring in clicks daily.
3. YouTube Shorts or TikTok
Make short videos showing a cool website, trick, or tool. Put your link in the description or bio.
Even if you’re shy, use text-to-speech or screen recordings. People just want value. They don’t care about your voice or face.
4. Create a Simple Blog or Free Website
Use Blogger or WordPress.com to make a basic blog. Write lists like:
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“Top 5 Study Apps”
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“Best Free Courses”
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“Top Tools for Designers”
Add your short links to each item. Then promote the blog on Pinterest, Reddit, or Facebook groups.
Now your traffic is more organic and long-lasting.
5. Facebook Groups or Reddit (Be Smart)
Join groups related to your topic. Don’t spam links. Instead, give value and add your link naturally.
Example: In a group about free online tools, say “Hey I found this list of tools, really useful for students” and share your link.
But if the group bans links, post a screenshot with your blog/website link written on it instead.
Things to Avoid
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No clickbait: Don’t say “Free Netflix for life” just to get clicks. That’s how you get banned.
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Don’t spam: If you post your link 20 times in an hour, you’ll get shadowbanned.
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Don’t use shady sites: As I said, some URL shorteners are just scams or malware hubs.
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No misleading Pins or Posts: If your Pin is about anime and your link is about weight loss, no one will trust you again.
Pro Tip: Combine Methods
Want to make even more?
Use a blog + Pinterest + smart links. For example:
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Write a post on “Top 10 Free Movie Sites”
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Add smart links to each item
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Post a cool Pin linking to that blog post
Now you get Pinterest traffic to the blog and money from smart links inside the blog.
Win-win.
Making money with URL shorteners and smart links is real, but it’s not magic. You won’t become a millionaire, but you can make some decent side cash if you stay smart and patient.
To recap:
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Always use trusted networks
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Promote to high-paying countries
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Create value with your content
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Be real, don’t spam or lie
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Focus on traffic, not hype