BL.INK offers easy, self-service options for importing large volumes of links.
Importing Links to BL.INK
Before getting started, please note that in order to import links, a custom domain must be added to the BL.INK account. For more information on setting up a domain, click here.
BL.INK will allow users to import a batch of links from a comma-separated file (.CSV). This is useful when migrating URLs from another URL shortening platform, when creating a large number of links at one time, or when making large-scale edits to an existing collection of links.
The file may be generated through a text editor, Excel, Google Sheets, or any software capable of creating a .CSV formatted file.
Prior to uploading the links, set up a comma-separated (.CSV) file (with no header row) in the format below. The specified format must be followed exactly or an error message will return during the import process. A sample file is available here.
NOTE:
Only batches of 10,000 links or less may be uploaded at a time. To upload more than 10,000 links, please separate each batch of 10,000 links into separate .CSV files or consider using our API.
Import format
| A (required) | B (optional) | C (optional) | D (optional) | E (optional) | F (optional) | G (optional) |
| Long URL | Keyword | Description | Auto-Delete Date | Auto-Archive Date | Link Owner Email | Redirect Type (301 or 307) |
| If left blank, a random keyword will be assigned. | Format: YYYY-MM-DD If delete and archive dates are both set, the archive date is honored. | Format: YYYY-MM-DD If delete and archive dates are both set, the archive date is honored. | If the user does not exist in BL.INK, we'll use the import owner's email instead. | If left blank, we'll default to the importing user's preference set in their account settings. |
Once the file is ready, export the file as a .CSV file (.txt or .xls will NOT work).
To import links, start by logging in to the BL.INK account. Then select the domain from the dropdown menu at the top of the BL.INK dashboard.
Click Links, then select Import.
From the Import Links page, click the button for Upload .csv file to browse and select the pre-formatted CSV file to upload. Then click Import Links.
Additional options available:
- Choose URL Builder
- This allows you to select the URL Builder to utilize while importing your links. For more information on the URL Builder, check out this article.
- Tags
- By default, BL.INK will tag your import with the timestamp from the import. If you'd like to add additional tags, please type in the tag, and select from the drop-down menu. Any tags selected will automatically be applied to all links in the imported file.
- Groups
- Share these links with a group to allow for multiple link editors to collaborate on link management.
- Validate only
- This function will check the file to ensure it is set up to import properly, but will not actually perform the import.
- Overwrite existing links
- Check this box to use the import function to bulk update existing links or any of the column values. ONLY use this function to overwrite existing link details. If the box is not checked, the import will skip any existing links and only add new links.
The import process can take a while to complete depending on the size of the file and the activity in the import queue. An email will be sent once the import has been completed.
Viewing Import History
To view Import History, click Links > Import in the left navigation. From the Import Links page, click Import History in the upper right corner.
This will display all Import files that have been added to the BL.INK account, the date and time they were added, and their current status.
If there was an error in the import process, a bug icon will show to the right of the import. Click on the bug icon for more information on the errors that occurred. Once the error has been corrected, another import or the remaining links may be attempted.
This page also allows a download of any import file by clicking the Download icon to the right.
Have questions or need a hand? Contact support.