Short Link FAQs

Answers to common Ours Privacy short link questions: why a link is not resolving or recording clicks, renaming, reprinting QR codes, scan counting, limits, permissions, and consent.

Common questions about short links and QR codes. For the walkthrough, see Creating a short link.

Setup and publishing

Why is my short link not resolving?

Almost always because it has not been published. Saving a link stores it; publishing a version is what makes it live. Open the link and check the readiness pill in the header. If it reads Draft, publish.

The other two causes are a link with no destination set, and a link that has been disabled.

Why does my link go to the Ours Privacy website?

That is what a link forwards to when it has no destination, has never been published, or has been deleted. It is not an error page, so an unexpected landing is the signal that a link is unfinished.

Why is my short link not recording clicks?

Work through these in order:

Is it published? Unpublished links record nothing.
Did you edit the URL? Copy the link from the editor rather than typing it out. A mistyped code does not match your link.
Is your account restricting event names? If your account uses an allowed events list, the link's name has to be on it. See Allow listing events.
Are you looking at the right event name? The event is named after the link, not Short Link Click.
Is it just bots? Reporting excludes automated traffic. A link that only a link previewer has touched shows zero.

Do I have to publish every time I edit a link?

Yes. Changing the destination, campaign tags, their forwarding choice, the name, or the enabled status takes effect on the next publish. QR design changes affect what you export immediately and do not need a publish to take effect on the file.

Naming and organization

Can I choose my own short URL?

Yes. Set a custom code in the editor's Link details card, or via the code parameter on the create/patch API. Leave it blank and one is generated for you. Codes are immutable once the link is published. A branded domain is the way to make the link read as your brand on top of the code.

What happens if I rename a link?

The event name changes for clicks recorded from that point on. Events already recorded keep the old name, so your history splits across two names. Rename before you publish, or accept the split.

Are there tags or folders?

No. Organization is by name and by campaign value, with search on the list page. Use a naming convention with a consistent prefix and a shared campaign value across a set of links.

How many short links can I have?

There is no cap. The list shows 25 links per page, with Next and Previous controls. Search matches names, destinations, and codes across your full collection. The Platform API also supports pagination.

QR codes

Do I have to reprint a QR code when the destination changes?

No. The code encodes the short link, not the destination, so repointing a published link redirects every printed code immediately.

You do have to reprint if the link is deleted, because that is permanent.

Can I put my logo in the middle of the code?

Yes. Drop a PNG, JPG, SVG, or WebP into the logo dropzone. QR codes here are generated at the highest error-correction level, which is what makes a centered logo safe. Scan a printed proof anyway.

Why does my code fail to scan?

The usual causes, in order of frequency:

Not enough contrast between the modules and the background. The editor warns you when the ratio is low.
Printed too small. Roughly one inch square is the floor for a hand-held scan, and anything read at a distance needs to be much larger.
Artwork crowding the code. Keep the quiet space around it clear.
A logo scaled up too far, or a photographic logo that muddies the center.
A glossy or reflective surface under overhead light.

What size and format should I send to a printer?

Send the SVG. It scales without softening. Both formats export at 2048 by 2048 pixels, which is more than enough for a raster placement, but print vendors generally prefer vector.

Can I make a WiFi, vCard, or PDF QR code?

No. Every code here points at a short link.

Reporting

Are QR scans counted separately from clicks?

No. The code encodes the same URL as the copy button, so the two are indistinguishable. Create two links, one for the printed placement and one for the digital one, when the split matters.

Why is the click count lower than I expected?

Reporting excludes bots by default, and link previewers in messaging apps and email security scanners follow redirects in volume. The filtered number is the one to trust. An unfiltered query in Web Analytics will show more.

Why can I not see the Analytics tab?

It requires the View Short Link Reporting permission, which is granted separately from short link management because click analytics can carry protected health information. Ask your account administrator.

Can I report on a whole campaign at once?

Not from the dashboard, which reports one link at a time. Filter on the campaign property in Web Analytics, or request a campaign report through the Platform API.

How far back can I look?

The date picker allows a window of up to 90 days. Clicks are kept for your account's normal retention period, so use Web Analytics for longer-range analysis.

Is referrer captured?

No. Use one link per placement to distinguish where traffic came from.

Data and compliance

Yes. The click is recorded in your own account, and it is sent to your destinations only when the visitor's consent choices allow it, the same as every other event. See Cookie Consent.

Can I use short link clicks to build an audience?

Yes. The link's name is the event name, so add it as an event condition. See Event conditions, and read Compliance for audiences before syncing anything to an advertising platform.

Are the UTM tags passed to my landing page?

Yes, by default. Your campaign tags are added to the destination URL when you publish. Turn off Forward campaign tags to destination to stop this. See Forwarding UTM tags.

Is the location data precise?

No. Country, region, city, postal code, and coordinates are approximations derived from the network, not from device GPS. Country is reliable; city is indicative.

Management

What is the difference between disabling and deleting?

Disabling takes a link out of service and can be reversed, keeping its reporting history. Deleting is permanent, removes the link and its design, and breaks every printed code for good. Disable unless you are certain nothing is in circulation.

Can I import links from another tool?

Not through the dashboard. There is no CSV upload. Create them through the Platform API and repoint the old tool's links at the new ones so existing material keeps working.

Why does the same link appear under Sources?

Older links can appear under both Sources and Short Links. Open the link in the Short Links editor and save it, and it is managed from Short Links only.

Need help?

Reach out to support@oursprivacy.com with anything not covered here.