Embedding URL links in Send a Message

I have asked this before, but still no good answer… In Send a Message, there is a link that allows you to shorten a URL and embed it in the text of the newsletter. When you click on this link, a window will open with 2 slots available, one where you paste the url, and the other where you type the substitute. For example, I often link to conference talks, so I paste the link to the talk in the top slot, and then usually the speakers name in the other slot. This makes the name a live link to the talk. The problem is that many times, there is only one slot available. I often have to repeat the process several time to get 2 slots. Is there a trick to this that I am not using?

From a little bit of testing, it seems that the "Text to display" field doesn't show if the current text selection (before clicking the link button) includes a paragraph break or formatted text (bold, italic, etc.).

The "trick" I use is to write out the text of the message.

Select/highlight the word or phrase that has some sort of description for the link.

Then click on that link thing. The bottom part is filled in--- all you have to do is add the link to the top part. I generally do copy-pate for that