Get Help with URLs

Facebook, Instagram, and Google require you to provide a full URL before running your ad, meaning Ingram iD must adhere to that rule as well. If your ad contains a shortened URL, your ad is at risk of not being seen by the intended audience and you may see an error message during ad set up. 

The URL is the webpage that a user will go to once they click on your ad. If your book is on Bookshop, you would want to use your book’s page on Bookshop instead of the main page, www.bookshop.org.

For example, if we wanted to run an ad for The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, the URL we would use would be https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-berry-pickers-amanda-peters/19712058?ean=9781646221950

Yes, it’s long, but it’s important to lead readers to the right spot where they can buy your book in as few clicks as possible.

💡Tip: The less clicks a user has to take to purchase your book, the more likely they are to buy it. Use a URL that will send users to a webpage where they can purchase your book directly.  

W‍here to find it:

 

 

 

How do I know I have the full URL? You’ll know you have the full URL if it includes the following:

1. 1. The URL you use should have the http:// or https:// preceding the web address.  
2. 2. The domain name, such as “www.Bookshop.org” or “www.Bookfinity.com”.

 

Can I use a URL shortener? No. Shortened URLs, such as bit.ly or tinyurl, are not permitted on Facebook, Instagram, or Google for advertising purposes and the ad platform will not approve your ad.  Because Ingram iD is beholden to Google and Facebook advertising policies, we’ve done our best to identify popular URL shorteners and flag it as an error message during ad set up. But our list is not exhaustive, so if you use a shortened URL during ad set up, your ad will fall into the “needs attention” category and you’ll need to update your URL to a full URL before your ad can go live. If you don’t update your URL before the ad start date, your ad may be cancelled.  

The URL is arguably the most important aspect of your ad, because it’s the way that people who view your ad can buy your book. Getting this step right is integral to having a successful ad campaign, as having the wrong URL can lead readers to the wrong webpage or cause your ad to not run at all.  If you have further questions about choosing the right URL, feel free to reach out to us via our Feedback form.