diff --git a/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots/link_shortener/link_shortener.py b/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots/link_shortener/link_shortener.py
index 250606f..243e552 100644
--- a/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots/link_shortener/link_shortener.py
+++ b/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots/link_shortener/link_shortener.py
@@ -40,16 +40,18 @@ class LinkShortenerHandler(object):
             ')'
         )
 
+        HELP_STR = (
+            'Mention the link shortener bot in a conversation and '
+            'then enter any URLs you want to shorten in the body of '
+            'the message.'
+        )
+
         content = message['content']
 
         if content.strip() == 'help':
             bot_handler.send_reply(
                 message,
-                (
-                    'Mention the link shortener bot in a conversation and '
-                    'then enter any URLs you want to shorten in the body of '
-                    'the message.'
-                )
+                HELP_STR
             )
             return
 
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ class LinkShortenerHandler(object):
         if final_response == '':
             bot_handler.send_reply(
                 message,
-                'No links found. Send "help" to see usage instructions.'
+                'No links found. ' + HELP_STR
             )
             return
 
diff --git a/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots/link_shortener/test_link_shortener.py b/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots/link_shortener/test_link_shortener.py
index 0073f74..0eb5d2c 100644
--- a/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots/link_shortener/test_link_shortener.py
+++ b/zulip_bots/zulip_bots/bots/link_shortener/test_link_shortener.py
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ class TestLinkShortenerBot(BotTestCase):
 
     def test_bot_responds_to_empty_message(self) -> None:
         with patch('requests.get'):
-            self._test('', 'No links found. Send "help" to see usage instructions.')
+            self._test('',
+                       ('No links found. '
+                        'Mention the link shortener bot in a conversation and '
+                        'then enter any URLs you want to shorten in the body of '
+                        'the message.'))
 
     def test_normal(self) -> None:
         with self.mock_http_conversation('test_normal'):
@@ -26,7 +30,10 @@ class TestLinkShortenerBot(BotTestCase):
         # requests.
         with patch('requests.get'):
             self._test('Shorten nothing please.',
-                       'No links found. Send "help" to see usage instructions.')
+                       ('No links found. '
+                        'Mention the link shortener bot in a conversation and '
+                        'then enter any URLs you want to shorten in the body of '
+                        'the message.'))
 
     def test_help(self) -> None:
         # No `mock_http_conversation` is necessary because the bot will