Import Short Links in Bulk

Trimlink's Bulk URL Import feature allows you to scale your marketing efforts instantly. Instead of creating links one by one, you can upload large lists of destination URLs and apply shared branding, custom QR codes, tracking parameters, and security rules to every link in a single mass-creation operation.

Watch the quick demonstration video below or continue reading for a complete walkthrough of the bulk import workflow.

Video Demonstration

Getting Started

To access the Bulk Import tool:

1. Sign in to your Trimlink account and select your active workspace.
2. Navigate to Short Links from the left sidebar menu.
3. Click the Bulk Import button located at the top of the dashboard.

Important System Note: By configuring your settings on the bulk import screen, Trimlink will automatically apply those shared rules (such as tags, passwords, UTMs, or QR styles) across every single URL detected inside your uploaded CSV file.

Phase 1: File Upload & CSV Preparation

Begin by providing your spreadsheet of long destination URLs.

1. Download the Sample CSV

If you do not already have a properly formatted file, click Download Sample CSV. To ensure a successful upload, your file must contain the following specific columns:

• Destination URL (Mandatory): The long, original URL you want visitors to be redirected to.
• Title (Optional): An internal descriptive name to help you easily identify the campaign link inside your dashboard.
• Alias (Optional): The custom URL slug you want to use (e.g., summer-sale).
  • Formatting Rules: Must be between 3 and 30 characters. Only letters, numbers, hyphens (-), and underscores (_) are allowed. Spaces will cause validation to fail.

2. Upload the File

Click Choose File and upload your populated CSV file. Ensure the file upload reaches 100% completion before scrolling down to the configuration section.

Phase 2: Apply Shared Link Settings

Configure your global campaign rules once to automatically apply them to hundreds or thousands of records simultaneously.

1. Select Base Domain

Open the Domain Dropdown to select the base short URL domain for this entire bulk batch (e.g., trimlink.ai or your branded custom domain like go.yourbrand.com).

2. Custom Header (Brand Identity)

Enable the Header option to inject a consistent brand identifier immediately after the domain and before the Alias/Slug. This maintains brand transparency with your audience across all links (e.g., trml.in/YourBrand/alias).

• Formatting Rules: Maximum of 20 characters. Only letters, numbers, hyphens (-), and underscores (_) are allowed. Spaces are strictly prohibited.

3. Organization (Tags & Collections)

Keep your massive link library clean and searchable as your campaigns scale up.

• Tags: Apply searchable keyword tags (e.g., marketing, email-blast, q3-promo) to easily filter these imported links later in your analytics.
• Collections: Assign all imported links directly into an existing collection (folder), or instantly create a new collection specifically designated for this import batch.

4. Automated QR Code Generation

Enable QR Code creation to ensure every imported short link automatically generates its own dynamic QR code. You can visually modify the QR style, eye shape, corner style, and precise brand colors. You can also upload your company logo to be automatically centered inside every generated QR code in the batch.

5. Advanced Security & Tracking

• Password Protection: Lock all imported destination URLs. Visitors will be prompted to enter a secure password before the redirect executes. (Rules: Password must be between 6 and 255 characters).
• Link Expiration: Automatically disable all imported links after a specific promotional event. You can configure the exact End Date and Time for when these links should expire and become inactive.
• GPS Tracking: Enable GPS to collect highly accurate visitor location data. (Note: This requires explicit browser location permission from the visitor; otherwise, it falls back to IP geolocation).
• UTM Parameters: Inject strict tracking tags into every destination URL. You can globally define the Source, Medium, Campaign, Term, and Content to perfectly categorize this mass traffic inside Google Analytics.

Phase 3: Start Import & Monitor Progress

After thoroughly reviewing your shared settings, confirm your configurations and click the Start Bulk Import button. Trimlink will immediately queue and process the file.

You can track the progress of your batch directly on the dashboard. The system updates the status in real-time through four distinct processing phases:

1. Pending: Your CSV file is in the secure queue waiting to be picked up by the server.
2. Processing: The system is actively reading your CSV rows, applying your shared settings, generating QR codes, and running mandatory security verifications.
3. Completed: The batch has finished processing. (Note: some individual links may have failed validation, which will be detailed in the summary phase).
4. Failed: The entire file upload failed (usually due to a severely corrupt file format or systemic server error).

Phase 4: View Imported Link Results

When processing successfully reaches the Completed status, Trimlink provides a detailed, highly transparent import summary screen.

Reviewing the Summary Dashboard

• Total Records: Displays the total number of valid rows found inside the uploaded CSV file.
• Successful Records: Shows how many destination URLs passed security checks and were successfully converted into active short links.
• Failed Records: Displays the total number of rejected records.

Download Audit Reports

Trimlink provides downloadable CSV reports for complete data transparency and error correction:

• Original File Download: Download the exact file originally uploaded during the import process for your own auditing records.
• Failed Records Report: If any rows were rejected, download this detailed failure report. It contains the Failed URL, Validation message, Processing error, and the exact Failure reason. This makes it easy to correct the specific formatting or data issues and re-import only the affected records.

Phase 5: Access Your Generated Links

After a successful import batch is processed:

1. Click on Short Links from the left sidebar navigation.
2. Review your newly generated links populating the main listing.

All successfully imported URLs immediately appear in your Short Links library and are ready to be deployed.

Every setting configured during the import phase—including Domains, Headers, custom QR Codes, GPS Tracking, UTM Parameters, Tags, and Collections—is automatically and permanently applied to every imported short link.

Phase 6: Automated Security Verification

To protect end-users and maintain the highest platform reputation, every single imported destination URL passes through Trimlink's automated security validation system during the active Processing phase.

The security infrastructure automatically scans and blocks:

• Malicious URLs and Malware
• Phishing attempts and scams
• Unsafe or blacklisted destinations
• Restricted adult content
• Invalid or broken URL structures

Critical Security Note: URLs that fail this automated security validation are immediately excluded from the import batch and are securely logged in your downloadable Failed Records Report.

Frequently Asked Questions