How to Use the WordPress Plugin, Redirection

The Redirection plugin is WordPress’s most popular plugin when it comes to redirects. Redirect plugins and redirects are helpful in maintaining the flow of your site so that your pre-existing links take your viewers to the right page either temporarily (i.e you are doing maintenance on a page) or permanently (i.e you combined two of your pages into one). Unfortunately, deleting or moving a page doesn’t delete that previous link, it still exists. It is kind of like if you have a route memorized to get to your favorite movie theater, but your movie theater moves or goes out of business. That route still exists even if the destination is no longer there. You need updated information to redirect you which is exactly what the WordPress plugin Redirection does, just for your website.

Here are the steps to follow to add redirects to your site

1. From your Dashboard scroll down to Tools > Redirection. If this is your first time opening the plugin there will be a few set up questions for you to answer. Otherwise, your screen will look something like the second image below.

2. Click Add New at the top of the page.

3. In the Source URL you need to type in the old URL that you are wanting to redirect the traffic from. The Target URL is where you type in the new URL that your visitors will be directed to when they click on that old link. Once done, click Add Redirect.

4. OPTIONAL: If you click on the gear icon next to Add Redirect / Close you will be given additional options to further customize your redirect. 

1. More information on URL options / Regex and Query Parameters here.
2. Title – you have the option to type in an explainer or label to describe the reason or purpose of the redirect.
3. More information on Match here.
4. More information on When matched here.
5. Exclude from logs – this redirect will not be logged.
6. More information on Group here.
7. Position – sets an order to process redirects. The lower the number, the higher the priority of the redirect.