What is Tinyurl and why would I want to use this site?

The other people who have responded have said what tinyurl is, what they have not said is the main reason that people use it is to hide the affiliate sub-directory on an affiliate link. You see, it's quite easy for someone to remove the affiliate subdirectory from the link and go directly to the website so that they can sign up directly and avoid paying any downline commission. If you are involved in affiliate programs at all, (and you are, MyLot is an affiliate program) then you need to protect your promotion efforts and income in this way.

Tinyurl is a redirection service that creates a short URL (or link, as a lot of people call them) from a very long, cumbersome URL. There are many valid reasons why people use the service such as creating a URL that is easier to remember, easier to share with others or to use in spaces with character limits (such as signatures). Other people use Tinyurl to create a URL that doesn't "broadcast" the name of the original website (perhaps the URL leads to a site with an off-color or inappropriate name and they don't wish to use that URL on a personal blog, etc...). Tinyurl has its downsides, of course... such as the criticisms that arise because people use it to redirect others to unexpected, sometimes shocking websites, since they cannot use the URL as a gauge of where they are headed. Some sites block the use of Tinyurl entirely.

The primary use is to make a long URL into a short one.