While Flowcode QR codes are the gold standard for connecting the physical world to the digital, Flowcode's short urls, FlowURLs, are their essential digital counterparts. A FlowURL is a unique, condensed web address designed to drive traffic into your conversion flows from any digital platform.
In this guide, we will break down the three key components that allow you to customize and track your FlowURLs: Custom Domains, Slugs, and PURLs. Understanding how these work together will help you build a more professional and data-driven digital strategy.
1. The Custom Domain (The "Identity")
The Custom Domain is the foundation of your FlowURL. While a standard FlowURL might use a default prefix, a custom domain allows you to use your own branded address. This tells your audience exactly who is sending the link before they ever click.
The Flowcode Default: By default, all FlowURLs created in our platform use Flowcode's custom domain: www.flowsto.com.
Our Recommendation: While
flowsto.comis our standard, we encourage brands to set up a custom domain of their own. When you replace the default with your own brand name (e.g.,links.yourbrand.com), you ensure that the consumer experience is branded as you at every stage of the journey.The Value: A branded FlowURL reinforces brand recognition and increases trust, which can significantly improve click-through rates.
2. The Slug (The "Intent")
The Slug is the text that appears after the forward slash (/) in your FlowURL, essentially signaling where the link is going.
Whether you can customize your slug depends on your domain setup:
Flowcode's default domain (
flowsto.com) or no custom domain: Your slug will be a randomly generated 9-character code, automatically assigned.Custom domain (e.g.,
links.yourbrand.com): You can set a custom slug when you create a FlowURL. This is a one-time action though—slugs cannot be edited after the FlowURL is created.
3. The PURL (The "Individual")
A PURL (Personalized URL) is a specialized slug created for a specific individual. By using a unique slug for every recipient in your database, you can create a one-to-one connection at scale.
Example:
www.links.yourbrand.com/jane-doeThe Value: PURLs are the ultimate tool for high-intent data. When a customer clicks their personalized short URL, you can track their specific journey and even greet them by name on the destination page.
Understanding the Layers
Feature | Role | Example |
Custom Domain | Establishes who is reaching out. |
|
Slug | Defines what the content is. |
|
PURL | Identifies whom the link is for. |
|
Slug & PURL Parameters:
Max character length: 80
Allowed characters: letters (a-z, A-Z), numbers (0-9), hyphens (-), underscores (_), and periods (.)
The Big Picture: Just like a QR code bridges the gap in the physical world, your FlowURL—built with a Custom Domain, a clear Slug, or a personalized PURL—is the bridge to your digital conversion.