Retargeting Pixels & Custom Audiences
Learn how to add tracking pixels to your short links and build retargeting audiences on Meta (Facebook), Google Ads, TikTok, and 10 other platforms.
How It Works
When someone clicks your short link, Short10 briefly loads a tracking page (under 1 second) that fires your pixel before redirecting the visitor to the destination URL. This lets you build retargeting audiences of people who clicked your links — even on websites you don't own.
Supported Platforms
Add a Pixel to Your Link
When creating or editing a link, scroll down to the "Tracking Pixels" section. Click "Add Pixel" and choose your platform. Then paste your Pixel ID.
Where to find your Pixel ID:
- Meta Pixel Events Manager → Data Sources → Your Pixel → Copy the 15-digit ID
- Google Ads Google Ads → Tools → Conversions → Copy the AW-XXXXXXXXX tag ID
- TikTok TikTok Ads Manager → Assets → Events → Copy the Pixel ID
- GA4 Google Analytics → Admin → Data Streams → Copy the G-XXXXXXXXXX ID
Verify Your Pixel is Firing
After adding a pixel, test it using these methods:
Method 1: Meta Pixel Helper (Chrome Extension)
Install the Meta Pixel Helper extension. Click your short link — the icon will briefly flash showing the PageView event was detected. Since Short10 redirects quickly (<1 second), the icon may flash and disappear. This is normal.
Method 2: Meta Events Manager → Test Events
Go to Events Manager → Your Pixel → Test Events. Click your short link. Within a few seconds, you should see a PageView event appear with status "Processed".
Method 3: Pixel Diagnostics Page
Add ?_pd=1 to your short link URL (e.g., short10.app/abc?_pd=1). This pauses the redirect so you can inspect the loaded pixel scripts.
Create Custom Audiences in Meta Ads
Every short link click fires a PageView event with a unique URL (e.g., short10.app/abc123). You can use this URL to build targeted audiences.
Custom Audiences on Other Platforms
The same approach works on all platforms. Here's a quick reference:
| Platform | Where to Create Audience | Filter By |
|---|---|---|
| Google Ads | Audience Manager → Custom Segments | People who visited: URL contains your short code |
| TikTok | Assets → Audiences → Custom Audience | Website Traffic → Visited specific pages |
| Campaign Manager → Matched Audiences | Website → URL starts with or contains | |
| Snapchat | Assets → Audiences → Pixel Custom | PAGE_VIEW event on matching URL |
| Ads → Audiences → Website Visitors | People who visited: URL filter |
Pro Tip: Use a Custom Domain
With a custom domain (e.g., go.yoursite.com), your pixel events will show your own domain instead of short10.app. This makes audience management cleaner and keeps your brand consistent. Learn how to add a custom domain →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Meta show short10.app as the URL?
The pixel fires on Short10's redirect page, so Meta records that URL. The actual destination is sent as the content_name parameter. You can use either the URL or content_name to build your audiences.
Will this work on websites I don't own?
Yes! That's the main advantage. The pixel fires on Short10's page before the visitor is redirected, so you can retarget visitors to any destination URL.
Does the redirect slow down the user experience?
No. Short10 uses a Promise-based system that redirects as soon as all pixel scripts have loaded, typically in under 1 second. There is also a hard timeout so visitors are never stuck waiting.
Can I add multiple pixels to one link?
Yes. You can add one pixel per platform (e.g., Meta + Google Ads + TikTok on the same link). All pixels fire simultaneously before the redirect.
What data is sent with each platform's pixel?
Each pixel sends the destination URL as a custom parameter so you can identify where the visitor was heading:
| Platform | Parameter |
|---|---|
| Meta | content_name |
| Google / GA4 | page_location |
| TikTok | content_name (ViewContent event) |
content_name | |
| Snapchat | page_url |
page_name | |
| GTM | dataLayer.destination |
| Bing UET | page_path |