Argyle rolled out full support for custom domains tonight.  That means that you can easily replace generic URLs – bit.ly, tinyurl.com, ar.gy, et al – with a domain that is unique to you and reflects your brand. 

Lots of companies are creating custom short URLs for their social efforts, but you can also set aside an exclusive “social” sub-domain on your existing domain.  For example, the New York Times shares through nyti.ms – a custom short URL.  Starting tomorrow, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School – one of our first alpha users – will begin sharing social content through biz.unc.edu, a sub-domain they configured from the unc.edu domain.

Why do you need a custom domain for your social URLs?  Glad that you asked:

Trust

There are lots of short URLs floating around…and lots of spammers using them to route traffic to not-so-good places.  You’ll be the only person that uses your custom domain, so all of your readers will know that the link is legit.

Brand

You wouldn’t put use a bit.ly address for your website or on your business card – so why are you content to share your social media content through a bit.ly address?  A custom domain creates another branding touchpoint in your social media marketing program.

Expertise

If you share through a custom domain, you’ll look like you know what you’re doing.  If you share via bit.ly, tinyurl.com, et al – you’ll just look like everyone else.  :)

To set up your domain, click on Settings, Account Info, then follow the instructions under URL settings.  Email support@argylesocial.com if you have questions.  Note that you can change your custom domain and it won’t affect any previously created urls.

If you don’t set up a custom domain, your traffic will continue to redirect through http://ar.gy – which is short, functional, and (we think) quite lovely.

This is just another tiny step in the right direction for the Argyle platform.  We look forward to sharing what’s next.