Donuts Launches BL.INK: Unprecedented Branded Short Link Solution

First-Ever Value-Added Service for Registrars and Resellers; Embraced by Leading Brands and Digital Marketing Thought Leaders

Seattle – June 7, 2018 –  Donuts Inc., the global leader in high-quality, new top-level Internet domains, today announced the general availability of BL.INK – an exciting new short link solution that uniquely leverages the power of real words for creating branded and custom short links.

BL.INK is the evolution of BudURL, a best-in-class link management platform that serves top-tier digital marketers in leading companies such as Patagonia, Airbnb, Target, and many others in the Fortune 1000.

“We use the BL.INK across all our social channels,” said Jared Muscat, social media content producer at Patagonia. “We are able to track metrics with great detail, and with the branded short link, we’re able to maintain our brand standard while doing so.”

“Short links are a digital marketing essential – for any size business. Every digital interaction should reinforce your brand or convey your message. At Donuts, we saw an opportunity to offer a better product: links that use real words,” said John Pollard, executive vice president, Donuts Registry. “We found the best link management platform, and for the first time ever, customers can create custom links using brands and other meaningful, memorable, real words.”

Concurrent with the launch of BL.INK, Donuts also announced the formation of the BL.INK Advisory Board, a group of influential thought leaders in digital marketing, branding, and online communications. The purpose of this group is to provide guidance on BL.INK’s product strategy and innovations, act as important conduits to digital marketers throughout the world and offer advice and commentary on best practices for short linking and link management. Founding BL.INK Advisors include:

• Joel Comm: New York Times bestselling author, blockchain enthusiast, professional keynote speaker, social media marketing strategist, live video expert, technologist, brand influencer, futurist, and eternal 12-year old  
• Jeremy Goldman: best-selling author, speaker, and digital disruptor
• Stephanie Carls: digital strategist, brand ambassador, and tech YouTuber
• Tim Hayden: author, speaker, and digital marketing consultant
• Leonard Kim: branding expert and TEDx speaker
• Brian Massey: SEO expert, and co-founder of Conversion Sciences
• Chad Pollitt: author, international speaker, and marketing professor
• Neal Schaffer: social media speaker, consultant, author, educator, and innovator
• John White: journalist and founder of Social Marketing Solutions

About BL.INK

BL.INK is a leading link management platform, ideal for people and businesses of all sizes who want to connect more effectively with their target audiences. With BL.INK, our customers can create custom short links using real words to convey memorable, meaningful messages and brand impressions. We founded BL.INK in 2008, because we believed that simplicity should also mean power, sophistication, and flexibility. We’re always adding new features to help our customers thrive in a quickly-changing world. In 2017, we were acquired by Donuts Inc., the largest new top-level domain name registry in the world. Together, we’re passionate about fueling customers’ ingenuity, and we’ve got the track record, resources, and moxie to deliver.