Now that Twitter auto-shortens URLs (and expands them in the UI), is there really a use left for URL-shorteners? Are there any other major platforms where text length matters?
In print: I like how net magazine uses netm.ag/description-123 for any links so it's easy to type and doesn't take up too much space. This also gives analytics for print articles where you normally can't watch whether anyone followed a link
You don't need to rely on routing through Twitter. Works when Twitter blocked or down. Branding.
Also tracking.
Also you can modify where the link points after distributing it in case you notice a mistake.
The biggest advantage of URL shorteners, outside of the length, is the ability to quickly generate URLs that are track-able, instead of constantly adding campaigns with something like grasswire.com/1234?refid=twitter, which is how a lot of marketers track where their clicks come from.
