Goo.gl: How to Shorten a Google URL

Table of Contents

Google once offered a popular URL shortening service, but the need to shorten URLs for various Google platforms persists. This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to shorten URLs across all Google platforms and services.

What Happened to the Goo.gl URL Shortener?

Google URL Shortener, also known as goo.gl, was a free service that provided short links that were easy to share and measured traffic online. It was particularly favored for its simplicity and reliability.

In 2018, Google announced the discontinuation of this service, shifting focus towards Firebase Dynamic Links (FDL) that allow the creation of powerful links intended for mobile platforms.

Google Platforms with Long URLs

Google offers a wide array of platforms that often generate long URLs, including:

  • Google Drive: For file storage and synchronization.
  • Google Sheets: For spreadsheet editing.
  • Google Docs: For document editing.
  • Google Forms: For surveys and quizzes.
  • Google Maps: For maps and directions.
  • Google Scholar: For academic articles and literature.
  • Google My Business: For managing a business’s online presence.
  • Google Search: For everyday internet queries.

If you’d like to share a URL from one of these Google platforms, you’ll soon learn that they tend to be extremely long. Fortunately, shortening these links is easy with Sniply.

Let’s take a look at how to shorten these Google URLs.

How to Shorten a Google Maps URL

To shorten a Google Maps URL:

  1. Open Google Maps and find the location.
  2. Click on ‘Share‘ and copy the link provided.
  3. Paste the URL into Sniply’s free URL shortener, then click ‘Generate‘.

How to Shorten a Google Drive URL

To shorten a Google Drive URL:

  1. Open your Google Drive and right-click the file or folder.
  2. Choose ‘Get link‘ and copy the long URL.
  3. Paste the URL into Sniply’s free URL shortener, then click ‘Generate‘.

How to Shorten a Google Scholar URL

To shorten a Google Scholar URL:

  1. Go to your Google Scholar Profile.
  2. Copy the URL from the address bar.
  3. Paste the URL into Sniply’s free URL shortener, then click ‘Generate‘.

How to Shorten a Google Search URL

To shorten a Google Search URL:

  1. Perform a search on Google and copy the URL from the search bar.
  2. Paste the URL into Sniply’s free URL shortener, then click ‘Generate‘.

How to Shorten a Google My Business URL

To shorten a Google My Business URL:

  1. Go to your Google My Business profile and copy the link in the address bar.
  2. Paste the URL into Sniply’s free URL shortener, then click ‘Generate‘.

How to Shorten a Google Forms URL

To shorten a Google Forms URL:

  1. Open the Google Form in your browser.
  2. Copy the URL in the address bar.
  3. Paste the URL into Sniply’s free URL shortener, then click ‘Generate‘.

How to Shorten a Google Sheets URL

To shorten a Google Sheets URL:

  1. Open the Google Sheets spreadsheet you want to share.
  2. Copy the URL from the browser’s address bar.
  3. Paste the URL into Sniply’s free URL shortener, then click ‘Generate‘.

How to Shorten a Google Docs URL

To shorten a Google Docs URL:

  1. Open the Google Docs document and copy the URL in the address bar.
  2. Paste the URL into Sniply’s free URL shortener, then click ‘Generate‘.

Summary

By following the specific steps for each Google service, users can easily share shortened Google URLs across various platforms, enhancing accessibility and improving user engagement.