When you create a link in **Link Shortener**, you can type your own name into **Custom name** instead of getting a random one. The name becomes the part after tatb.link/, so my-new-book gives you tatb.link/my-new-book.

## The rules

- 3 to 40 characters.
- Letters, numbers and hyphens only. No spaces or other symbols.
- It can't start or end with a hyphen, or have two hyphens in a row.
- Capital letters are turned into lowercase, so My-New-Book becomes my-new-book.

## Names you can't use

- **Reserved names**, such as words used for the site itself (for example help, login, settings or pricing) and the Author's Toolbox name.
- **Brand names that could make a link look official**, such as names of retailers, payment companies and big tech companies, or words like verify or password. Any name containing one of these words is unavailable.
- **Names already in use** anywhere on tatb.link, including names other authors are using and names used by forms.

Every tatb.link name is permanent once it's taken, so names that were used before stay unavailable.

## Tips

- Short, readable names work best in print, such as the book title or a series name.
- If you leave **Custom name** blank, the random name avoids characters that are easy to confuse, like 0 and o or 1 and l, so it's safe to type by hand.