What Is a Link Code — and Why Does It Matter?

The problem with links today

Every organisation shares links. On leaflets, in emails, on slides, in social media posts, and spoken aloud at events. The moment that link is shared, it becomes permanent — printed on paper, saved in someone’s notes, cached in a search engine.

When the destination changes — a page moves, a ticketing platform updates its URL structure, a document gets reorganised — that shared link breaks. The leaflet now points to a 404 error. The QR code on the menu leads nowhere. The link spoken on stage last month sends people to an outdated page.

Traditional short links attempted to solve half this problem. Services like Bitly compress long URLs into shorter ones. But those short links are typically random strings of characters — fine for pasting into a message, useless when spoken aloud or read from a printed page.

What a link code actually is

A link code is a short, human-readable URL built on a branded domain. Instead of a random string, the slug is a meaningful word or phrase chosen by you.

For example, rather than bit.ly/4tQU9zg, a link code might be linkcode.is/spring-gala or detai.ls/portfolio. The difference is immediate: one is a string of characters that requires careful letter-by-letter dictation; the other is a phrase you can say in a sentence.

Three properties define a link code:

1. Meaningful. The slug is a word or phrase your audience already understands. It describes what they’ll find when they arrive.
2. Editable. The destination URL behind the link code can be changed at any time, without breaking any printed material, QR codes, or shared posts that reference it.
3. Trackable. Every click and scan is logged with device, location, referrer, and timestamp data, giving you full visibility into how your audience engages.

How link codes differ from short links

URL shorteners have been around for over fifteen years. They solve the problem of length — a long URL becomes a short one. But they introduce new problems.

First, the slug is random. A link like bit.ly/4tQU9zg carries no meaning. You cannot read it on a poster and remember it. You cannot say it aloud on a podcast and expect anyone to type it correctly.

Second, most short links are not editable after creation. Once the link is generated, its destination is fixed. If you need to change where it points, you need to create a new link — which means reprinting, resharing, and losing all existing traffic.

Third, the domain is not yours. Your audience sees the shortener’s brand, not yours.

Link codes solve all three problems. The slug is chosen by you. The destination is editable forever. And the domain is a branded one — either one of EditableLinks’ purpose-built domains (linkcode.is, detai.ls, selectmeet.ing, editable.link, webstre.am, clicktodownlo.ad) or your own custom domain.

When the spoken test matters

Consider these scenarios:

1. A keynote speaker says “For the full report, go to linkcode.is/annual-report.” The audience hears it, remembers it, and types it later.
2. A council prints 10,000 leaflets with a QR code and the text “linkcode.is/local-plan” underneath. When the consultation page moves, the council updates the destination. The leaflets still work.
3. A podcast host tells listeners: “The link code is episode-42.” Listeners remember it. Random characters would be lost.

The spoken test is simple: if you can say a link aloud once and your audience can type it from memory, it passes. Random short links fail this test every time. Link codes are designed to pass it.

The six branded domains

EditableLinks provides six purpose-built domains, each designed for a different context:

1. linkcode.is — general-purpose link codes for any URL
2. detai.ls — landing pages, portfolios, and detailed content
3. selectmeet.ing — events, meetings, and calendar links
4. editable.link — links that emphasise the editable nature
5. webstre.am — live streams, webinars, and video content
6. clicktodownlo.ad — file downloads and document sharing

All six are included with every account, including the free plan. You can also connect your own custom domain for full brand control.

Why “editable” is the critical feature

Every link you share has a lifespan longer than you expect. A leaflet sits in a drawer for months. A social media post resurfaces when someone shares it again a year later. A QR code on a window sticker stays there until the shop redecorates.

If the destination behind that link changes — and destinations always change — the link breaks. With a link code, you simply update the destination. The printed code, the QR image, the shared post — they all continue to work.

This turns every link from a fragile, one-time redirect into a permanent, controllable asset.