Too often we see references to web pages in emails and newsgroups that span multiple lines and don't work. Learn how to shorten long URLs and make it easier for people to find the page.

Have you ever received an email from a friend with a web link (URL) that spanned several lines, but only the top line was underlined? You clicked the hyperlink only to find that it didn't work. Rather than seeing the requested page, you were greeted with an error such as "Page not Found". Most likely, the link was valid, but broke when it spanned the next line. This often happens with websites where you query a database for information.

Several URL redirection services can solve such problems. Essentially, you provide the long URL and they shorten it considerably. One of our favorite solutions, Snip URL, was recommended by Tara Calashain of ResearchBuzz.

One item that sets Snip URL apart from similar services is you can create a free account to store your shortened URLs. We routinely create links for web pages we refer users to on a frequent basis. For example, the link below references a free PowerPoint viewer from Microsoft. Without this service, we would have to provide the following link:

http://www.microsoft.com/office/ork/xp/appndx/appa13.htm?
FinishURL=%2Fdownloads%2Frelease%2Easp%3FReleaseID%3D29007%26area
%3Dsearch%26ordinal%3D13%26redirect%3Dno

Using Snip URL, we can shorten the 161 characters from the above link to a shorter link such as:

http://snurl.com/a2m

http://snurl.com/Powerpoint

The first link is one automatically created by Snip URL. The second link illustrates the service's nickname feature. The service also offers a toolbar option. This feature makes it easy to capture a URL and shorten the link. The new link can then be pasted into the clipboard or emailed to others.

• Cost: Free
• URL: www.snurl.com/

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