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How to Create Redirect Links in WordPress ​

You create redirect links in WordPress with Link Manager Pro by mapping a custom slug on your domain to a destination URL. Open Link Manager Pro → Links → Add New, paste the destination, set the slug (for example go/sale), pick 301, 302, or 307, and save. Visitors who hit yoursite.com/go/sale land on something like https://shop.example.com/spring-sale?ref=you. You can add a password, limit active dates, forward query strings, and branch traffic with conditional rules. 301 marks a permanent move and passes link equity; 302 suits temporary promos; 307 matches 302 but keeps POST as POST for forms and APIs.

The problem ​

Raw long URLs look ugly in email and social posts, and you cannot change the destination later without editing every placement. Plain WordPress does not give you a single place to manage slugs, HTTP status codes, schedules, and routing logic for outbound hops.

The solution ​

Link Manager Pro treats each managed link as a redirect: your branded path on your site forwards to the real target. You control the HTTP semantics, timing, and optional gates from the admin UI.

Redirect types you choose ​

  • 301 Permanent — Search engines treat the short URL as the canonical hop to the destination long-term. Use this for stable affiliate or partner URLs you expect to keep.
  • 302 Temporary — Signals a short-lived move; the original URL stays more prominent in search indexes. Use this for flash sales and seasonal pages.
  • 307 Temporary — Like 302, but intermediaries preserve the HTTP method. Use this when submissions or API clients must not turn POST into GET.

Extra capabilities ​

  • Password protection — Visitors enter a password before the redirect runs.
  • Scheduling — You set active_from and expires_at so the slug only works inside that window.
  • Parameter forwarding — Query parameters on the masked URL carry through to the destination.
  • Conditional routing — You send clicks to different destinations by country, cumulative click count, or date range (see the conditional rules feature docs).

Diagram placeholder: browser requests yoursite.com/go/sale and receives a 301/302/307 response toward the merchant URL

How a masked slug on your domain resolves to the final destination through Link Manager Pro.

  1. Go to Link Manager Pro → Links → Add New.
  2. Enter the destination URL.
  3. Set the slug (for example go/sale).
  4. Choose the redirect type: 301, 302, or 307.
  5. Optionally set a password, schedule, and parameter forwarding, and configure conditional routing if you need split destinations.
  6. Save.

When to use which type ​

Pick 301 for permanent affiliate or evergreen partner links where you want equity to consolidate on the destination. Pick 302 for temporary promotions you plan to retire or swap. Pick 307 when method preservation matters—think checkout callbacks, form posts, or API clients that must not downgrade to GET.

Password, schedule, and parameters in practice ​

Password protection helps when you share a hop in a private community or a paid cohort: only people who know the passphrase reach the merchant page. Scheduling fits coupon windows and launch sequences—you set active_from when the deal goes live and expires_at when the slug should stop resolving, which beats editing posts at midnight. Parameter forwarding matters when you append tracking on the short URL (for example ?src=ig) and you need those keys to survive on the final landing page for your partner’s reporting. Pair forwarding with UTM templates when you also run campaign analytics.

Conditional routing at a glance ​

When a single slug should send US clicks to one merchant path and EU clicks to another, you lean on conditional routing instead of maintaining two public URLs. You still measure totals on the short link, but each segment lands on the right regional offer. The same idea applies when you cap a bonus URL after N clicks or switch destinations mid-campaign—configure those splits in the conditional rules UI and retest with a private browser session before you broadcast the link.

Verify before you ship ​

After you save, open the short URL in an incognito window and confirm the status code, final address bar, and any forwarded query keys. If you use a cache plugin or CDN, purge caches so visitors do not see stale destinations. When you change a live 301 target, expect search engines to relearn the mapping over time; document the old destination if partners audit historical hops.

Screenshot placeholder: Link edit screen showing slug field, destination URL, and redirect type dropdown

The link editor ties your public slug to the outbound URL and HTTP status.

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