Links

How to Create a Link Destination with TacTile

A Link destination sends anyone who taps your NFC card or scans your QR code straight to a single web URL, while TacTile logs every open. Paste in an existing link (Link path), connect a link-shortener account (Connect path), or build a branded landing page around the link (Build path). Most people paste a URL and are live in minutes.

Create your link free →

Time2-5 minutes

DifficultyBeginner

PathsBuild · Connect · Link

Best forSending taps/scans to one specific existing web page with tracking attached

Works withURL shorteners, link-analytics tools (e.g., Bitly-style connectors)

What is a link destination?

A Link destination is a TacTile-hosted redirect that points an NFC tap or QR scan to a single external URL while capturing analytics on every visit.

Over 94% of smartphones are now equipped with NFC, and the number of NFC-enabled devices worldwide is projected to approach 4.5 billion by the end of 2025 — making a single tappable link one of the most universally compatible tools a card or countertop display can carry.

— ElectroIQ, 2025

How to create a link destination

Build Connect LinkRecommended

Build

Wrap the link in a branded landing or interstitial page before the redirect.

In the TacTile app or dashboard, tap Create, then Link, then Build.
Choose a wrapper template — a simple headline-and-button layout or a branded interstitial page that redirects after a few seconds.
Enter the destination URL your wrapper page will send visitors to once they tap "Continue" (or after the auto-redirect timer).
Customize the headline, button text, and colors to match your brand.
Save and publish. TacTile generates the hosted wrapper page and assigns it to your NFC/QR destination.

Connect

Route through a third-party link shortener or analytics tool you already use.

In the TacTile app, tap Create, then Link, then Connect.
Select the third-party link tool you want to connect — for example, a URL shortener or link-analytics platform — and tap Authorize.
Log in to that service when prompted and approve the connection request.
Choose which existing shortened link or tracked link from that account you want this destination to point to.
Confirm and publish — TacTile will now route taps/scans through the connected service before landing on the final URL.

Link

Paste a URL you already have and get a health-checked, trackable destination.Recommended

In the TacTile app, tap Create, then Link, then Link.
Paste the destination URL into the URL field.
TacTile automatically runs a health check on the URL — confirming it returns a 200 status and is reachable, and flagging the link if it's broken, redirected unexpectedly, or unreachable.
Once the link passes the health check, TacTile auto-extracts the page's favicon and title to generate a preview card for your destination, so you don't have to upload an image or type a title manually.
Review the auto-generated preview, edit the title if you'd like something more descriptive, and save.
Publish — your NFC card or QR code now opens this exact URL, with the health check re-run periodically so you're alerted if the link ever goes down.

Which path should I use?

If you're unsure, start with Link — it's the fastest path, and the built-in health checker means you'll know immediately if the URL you pasted is broken. Use Build if you want a branded landing/interstitial before the redirect, and Connect if you already manage links through a third-party shortener/analytics tool.

Common use cases

Real estate agent

Puts their MLS listing URL behind an NFC yard sign insert so buyers can tap and view the listing instantly, with TacTile reporting how many people tapped versus walked past.

Conference speaker

Links their slide deck's Google Drive URL to a QR code on the final slide, tracking exactly how many attendees pulled it up during or after the talk.

Retail brand

Links a limited-time landing page for a product drop to an NFC tag on in-store shelf talkers, then swaps the URL when the promotion ends without reprinting anything.

Wedding invitation

Includes a QR code linking to the couple's registry page, letting the couple see redirect volume in the days leading up to the event.

Podcast host

Adds a QR code to physical merch that links to their latest episode, updating the destination URL each time a new episode drops.

Link + analytics

Every tap and scan is logged with timestamp, device type, and location region. For Link destinations specifically, TacTile also tracks link health status over time, so you can see at a glance whether the destination URL has stayed live or started returning errors since you created it.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if my linked URL goes down after I publish?

TacTile's health checker periodically re-verifies the URL and will flag the destination in your dashboard if it stops returning a 200 status, so you can update it before visitors hit a dead link.

Can I change the destination URL later without reprinting my QR code or NFC card?

Yes — because the physical code points to a TacTile-hosted redirect rather than the URL itself, you can swap the destination URL anytime and the same card or code will immediately point to the new location.

Does the Link path support any URL, or only certain websites?

The Link path accepts any publicly reachable URL; the health checker simply confirms it resolves and returns a valid response before activating the destination.

Where do the favicon and title come from when I paste a URL?

TacTile automatically pulls the favicon and page title metadata directly from the destination page at the time you create the link, so your preview card matches the actual site without manual entry.

Is there a difference between using Link and just typing my URL into a QR generator?

Yes — a generic QR generator only encodes the URL, while TacTile's Link path adds tap/scan analytics, a health checker, and the ability to change the destination later without changing the physical code.

Can I password-protect or restrict who can open a Link destination?

Access controls depend on your plan tier; check your account settings for available restriction options.

What's the difference between a Link destination and a Link Hub?

A Link destination sends every tap or scan to one single URL, while a Link Hub opens a page listing multiple links at once — use Link Hub when you have more than one place you want visitors to choose from.

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