Correct.  Short URL clicks are for sharing on FB, Twitter, Google +, etc.  If someone created the short URL and shared, then that count is the clicks on that short URL for your post.

More that 10 people followed a link that you or someone else posted.

It means you shared it via the short url, and - yes,  10 people have clicked through to see what you posted. I usually use the short url on twitter so I can measure the success of my  tweet. Sometimes I use it on a FB post also. It is a great tool for instant gratification if you watch your numbers

10 people clicked on it from other places the short URL was posted outside of AR - on Facebook for example

I post the Short URL on Social Media , so if I have 35 , it shows they came from that source  

I post the short url to my Facebook and Twitter posts, so the clicks tell me how many people from those sites followed the link.

As you can see there are many smart people on AR.  Membership does have its advantages.

I use this link when doing my social media.

Ryan's got the answer. 

What Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA said...

 Several reasons.

1 Social media sites have character limits. e.g. Twitter

2. more professional appeal easier to type in.

3. shorteners come with traffic monitors. Get more respect.

Great question, will wait to see answers...

I hope you won't mind my linking to a couple of blog posts.

short url

what is the short URL and why I use them.

Matt Berman it simply means 10 people viewed or clicked on your post.

(Now it will have a different meaning compared to shared on Facebook.)

Yes.

The others have answered.

My guess, you shared it and people clicked on it. If you share via AR widgets, you do not get short url click result just views. 

Bill has the answer. 

It means that someone clicked on the short version link of your blog post.

The Liz and Bill Spear team has your answer!

It looks like more than one person has responded with the correct answer. 

I believe those track clicks from outside sites.

Matt - Thanks for asking. Looks like you got some great answers that I can't really answer any better.

If you share a 'short url' to certain sites, you can track where your blog views are coming from, or see how well they show on outside platforms

You had 10 clicks on the short URL.  It the the same concept as bit.ly and its competitors.

Short url's are to post elsewhere

You have to use your short URL to get those clicks. For example. you might use your short URL when posting on Facebook.

Easy to track, less characters to type.

Don't they make it easier to share on Twitter and Facebook?

It is just a tracking method. You can learn how effective your posts are.

Short urls are a way for us to track the progress of the posts that we share on other social media.

great question - thank you!