# Zulink

## Quickstart

> Category: Getting started

---

## Pages


### Getting started

- [What is Zulink?](https://docs.zulink.co/getting-started/what-is-zulink)
- [Quickstart](https://docs.zulink.co/getting-started/quickstart)
- [Custom domains](https://docs.zulink.co/getting-started/custom-domains)

### Links

- [Creating links](https://docs.zulink.co/links/creating-links)
- [Targeting](https://docs.zulink.co/links/targeting)
- [A/B testing](https://docs.zulink.co/links/a-b-testing)
- [Link security](https://docs.zulink.co/links/link-security)
- [Social previews](https://docs.zulink.co/links/social-previews)

### Design and analytics

- [OpenGraph Designer](https://docs.zulink.co/design-and-analytics/opengraph-designer)
- [Analytics](https://docs.zulink.co/design-and-analytics/analytics)

### Team and plans

- [Members and invitations](https://docs.zulink.co/team-and-plans/members-and-invitations)
- [Roles and permissions](https://docs.zulink.co/team-and-plans/roles-and-permissions)

### AI agents

- [MCP Server](https://docs.zulink.co/ai-agents/mcp-server)

---

# Quickstart

From an empty account to a working short link takes four steps. Only the second one involves waiting for anything.

## 1. Create a project

Open the project switcher in the sidebar and choose **Create project**. A name is enough; the slug is derived from it and can be changed later in project settings.

Everything you do from here on belongs to this project: its domains, links, designs, members and plan.

## 2. Connect a domain

Short links need a hostname of yours. Go to **Project settings → Domains**, choose **Add domain** and enter the domain or subdomain you want to use, for example `go.example.com`.

Zulink then shows you the DNS record to create at your domain provider. Add it exactly as shown and leave it in place. It is not a one-time check at the door; it is what keeps the domain working.

The domain shows one of three states:

- **Checking** means the record has not been looked at yet.
- **DNS configured correctly** means the domain is verified and can be used for links.
- **DNS not configured correctly** means the record was not found, or points somewhere else.

Unverified domains are re-checked automatically every few minutes, so a record that needs time to propagate will be picked up on its own. Details and edge cases are on [Custom domains](https://docs.zulink.co/getting-started/custom-domains).

## 3. Create your first link

Open **Links** and choose **Add link**. The button stays disabled until at least one domain is verified.

In the dialog:

1. Pick the **domain** the link should live on.
2. Enter the **short link** path, or use **Randomize** for a five-character one. Availability is checked while you type.
3. Enter the **destination URL** the link should lead to.
4. Optionally add tags, a note, or an expiration date.

Save, then use **Copy link** in the row's action menu to put the finished short URL on your clipboard.

## 4. Watch what happens

Every visit is recorded. The link list shows the click count and a fifteen-day trend per link, and **Analytics** breaks the traffic down by country, device, browser, referrer and campaign over the range you pick.

## Where to go from here

- Add campaign parameters or an expiry date: [Creating links](https://docs.zulink.co/links/creating-links)
- Control how the link looks when shared: [Social previews](https://docs.zulink.co/links/social-previews)
- Bring in your team: [Members and invitations](https://docs.zulink.co/team-and-plans/members-and-invitations)
- Let an agent do it for you: [MCP Server](https://docs.zulink.co/ai-agents/mcp-server)