# Shorten URL — Holdout

Botize method — `holdout.shorten` (action).

Take a long URL and shorten it with holdout.link in the channel you choose (Amazon links open in the app). Fill in the offer fields too: they build your channel's stats and suggestions.

This is an action: it runs as a step of a task. Several can be chained.

## Fields you set

The field's internal name, its type and the values it accepts. These fields accept `{{...}}` tags from earlier steps.

- `long_url` *(string)* — Long URL. Must start with http:// or https://
- `channel` *(string)* — Channel. The Holdout channel this link belongs to: its clicks and stats go there. Pick it from the list, or write its exact name.
- `title` *(string)* — Offer title. Optional but recommended. Product or offer name; with Amazon Associates use its "Title" output. Private to your Holdout account: used only for your channel's stats and suggestions.
- `post_text` *(string)* — Post text. Optional but recommended. The message exactly as you publish it (up to 4096 characters; longer text is cut).
- `price` *(string)* — Price. Optional but recommended. Offer price as a number, e.g. 19.99; with Amazon Associates use "Current Price" (not the formatted one).
- `list_price` *(string)* — Original price. Optional. Price before the discount, as a number; with Amazon Associates use "Original Price". Holdout calculates the discount.
- `currency` *(string)* — Currency. Optional. 3-letter ISO code, e.g. EUR; with Amazon Associates use "Current Price:Currency".
- `category` *(string)* — Category. Optional. Product category (up to 60 characters); with Amazon Associates use "Product Group".

## Output variables

Data this step makes available. Reference them in later steps with the double-brace tag.

- `{{short_url}}` *(text)* — Short URL. Holdout links last 1 year. After that the link is removed and stops working, so plan accordingly

## Account

Needs a connected Holdout account in Botize: https://botize.com/en/app/holdout/authenticate

## This app

Every trigger and action for Holdout: https://botize.com/en/app/holdout.md

## How to build this

An AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor…) can create and edit these tasks in the user's account through the Botize MCP connector, included in every plan:

    https://webhook.botize.es/mcp

- Connection guide: https://botize.com/en/mcp
- Agent map: https://botize.com/llms.txt
- New account: https://botize.com/en/join (500 free operations, no card)

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Machine-readable summary for AI assistants. Human version: https://botize.com/en/method/holdout/shorten