Someone is ranking first with a bitly shortlink ???

[Zweistein]

While doing in-depth keyword research and manually checking keywords on SERPs, I stumbled upon something that appeared strange to me. I did not know that you can rank a bitly or a short-link for that matter. And it is not a bitly article or something from their blog. It redirects to a Youtube video which makes me wonder. Could it be a Google serp glitch? Never seen such. Wondering if it can apply as a redirect to a real website.

What are your thoughts on this?

Check out the screenshot below.

 

[JasonS]

Now google will fix this error just because someone reported it here.
My sincere condolences to the poor youtuber.

 

[tazarbm]

I've not seen this, either.

It could be a glitch, or could be one of google's numerous tests, or it could be a loophole that will be patched soon. Weird...

 

[chimatim]

Interesting

 

[9orao5br]

strange !!!!

 

[referral]

I know about this trick too and saw some even able to get over 1k (estimate) traffic

 

[Zweistein]

I know about this trick too and saw some even able to get over 1k (estimate) traffic

Woah, you seem to be killing it with the trick. I did a little research and realized that some people have been doing it even from 2015.
My question is whether there is an advantage to this. I mean do you find it easier to rank as compared to usual websites?
And considering that there are two versions, the bitly and your site both ranked, do they rank different on the serps, or how does this go? Honestly I never seen this before.

 

[MgicalaEarner]

I know about this trick too and saw some even able to get over 1k (estimate) traffic

Which tool you use to track this link?

 

[phoenix9]

There's nothing wrong about it.

Google rank page.

The page contain keyword. The page maybe (i'm not checking it yet) have backlinks stronger and relevant than other page.

Google algo said, "put it in the top".

 

[john.cenna]

That is awesome. But technical question, why can this page be ranked so high?

 

[TechEinstien]

There are people who can rank this type of links.

 

[Hawkeye Digital]

Strange , it could not happen , the link would be deranked soon

 

[Steptoe]

People have been spamming link shorteners for at least a decade now, but it's nice to see some still out there in the wild. They were popular because you can spam the shit out of the shortened url, and have the ability to switch whatever url it redirects to if need be.

 

[Zweistein]

People have been spamming link shorteners for at least a decade now, but it's nice to see some still out there in the wild. They were popular because you can spam the shit out of the shortened url, and have the ability to switch whatever url it redirects to if need be.

Yeah it sure sounds like a good way to get away with heavy black hat links. Pretty sure can rank super fast for long tails. Perhaps a good churn and burn strategy.

 

[referral]

Woah, you seem to be killing it with the trick. I did a little research and realized that some people have been doing it even from 2015.
My question is whether there is an advantage to this. I mean do you find it easier to rank as compared to usual websites?
And considering that there are two versions, the bitly and your site both ranked, do they rank different on the serps, or how does this go? Honestly I never seen this before.

A lot is due to luck (Sorry but I have to say that).. Website is much easier and you can see how your ranking progress.
Shortlink - you either make it (0.05%) or you missed it (99.95%). Even if you able to ranked some keywords, I doubt you can improved the ranking from there..

Which tool you use to track this link?

Semrush

 

[MisterF]

People have been spamming link shorteners for at least a decade now, but it's nice to see some still out there in the wild. They were popular because you can spam the shit out of the shortened url, and have the ability to switch whatever url it redirects to if need be.

Yeah it's nothing new, but it's no longer the shiny object I guess, so it's not often talked about.

 

[charles133]

This its strange and maybe its just a temporary rank who knows

 

[Kinu Actaz]

Now google will fix this error just because someone reported it here.
My sincere condolences to the poor youtuber.

The video is 2 yrs old and the total views are 4.6 k that means less than 200 views per month!

 

[Matta28]

Never seen this before

 

[thegoatppc]

interesting..