Sep 16, 2024 / Go Links®

What are Go Links®? Here's a quick guide

One of the biggest frustrations at work is having to hunt down important information. It's not an easy task in today's workplace.

The average company has 269 SaaS applications.
The average employee has up to 10 tabs open at a time.
The average employee spends 3.6 hours daily searching for information.

Go Links® were designed to address these exact problems.

Let's explore what Go Links® are, how they work, their history, and their benefits.

Go Links® definition

Go Links® are short, human-readable URLs designed to simplify the sharing and accessing of company resources. Unlike traditional URLs that can be long and complex, Go Links® are easy to remember and type into a browser's address bar. For example, instead of sharing a lengthy URL like https://company.com/departments/hr/onboarding, the short link might be simply go/onboarding.

How exactly Go Links® work

In simple terms, they work by redirecting users from a short, memorable URL to a longer, more complex one.

Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

Creation: A user creates Go Links® by mapping a longer URL to a short URL (like go/project)
Usage: When someone types the short URL into their browser\'s address bar, the go/link system recognizes it and redirects the user to the mapped longer URL.
Management: Go/link systems often come with a browser extension or dashboard where users can create, manage, and track their short links.

Brief history of Go Links®

The concept of Go Links® originated in the tech industry and has been around since 2006. They started as internally-built systems used by large companies like Google to manage and share internal resources.

Over time, the utility of Go Links® became apparent, leading to the development of dedicated SaaS platforms that could be used by any organization to streamline their knowledge management.

GoLinks® vs. Bitly

Both GoLinks® and Bitly are URL shortening services, but they serve different purposes:

GoLinks is used within organizations to create human-readable links for internal use. They are designed for easy memorization and quick access to company resources.
Bitly is a public URL shortener that anyone can use to create short links for external purposes, like sharing content on social media or tracking marketing campaigns.

Key differences:

Usage: GoLinks® is primarily for internal use within companies, whereas Bitly is for public use.
Customization: GoLinks® offers more customization and integration with internal systems, while Bitly focuses on analytics and link tracking.
Access: For security, GoLinks® is only available to employees within an organization, whereas Bitly links are accessible to anyone.

Benefits of Go Links®

Efficiency: Quick access to important resources without needing to remember complex URLs.
Consistency: Standardized link formats make it easier for teams to share resources.
Integration: Seamless integration with internal tools and systems like Slack.
Human readability: Easy-to-remember URLs reduce the cognitive load on employees.

Go Links® software

GoLinks® (that's us!) is a SaaS platform that makes Go Links® available to any company. We offer a robust set of features that make knowledge management easier, so your company can save time and boost overall productivity. With GoLinks® you can:

Create short links quickly using the intuitive dashboard or browser extension.
Manage links with advanced permission settings to control who can create and access links.
Search for Go Links® directly within a browser with Omnibox.
Find and share links within tools like Slack using the GoLinks® integration.
Convert bookmarks into Go Links® automatically for streamlined access.
Access workplace apps on the go with an iOS and Android app.
Gain insights with workspace analytics that reveal app usage and popular links.