Title here
Summary here
External Permalinks
Create posts and pages that automatically redirect visitors to external URLs. The content lives in WordPress for organization and menu purposes, but visitors are seamlessly redirected to the external destination.
Use Cases
- Create navigation menu items that link directly to affiliate products
- Add social media profile links to your site navigation
- Link to partner portals or external documentation
- Create download links that redirect to app stores or file hosts
How It Works
- Enable the module and select which post types can have external URLs
- Edit any post of those types
- Enter an external URL in the sidebar metabox
- When someone visits that post, they’re redirected to the external URL
Where to Find It
Location: When editing a post, look for the “External URL” metabox in the sidebar. Enter any URL to make that post redirect.
Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Post Types | Choose which post types show the External URL metabox |
Setting Up a Redirect
Step 1: Edit Any Post
Go to Posts → Add New (or edit an existing post). You can also use Pages or any enabled custom post type.
Step 2: Find the External URL Box
In the editor sidebar, look for the “External URL” metabox. It appears near the top of the sidebar.
Step 3: Enter the Destination URL
Enter the full URL where visitors should be redirected:
https://example.com/your-destinationStep 4: Publish
Publish or update the post. Now anyone visiting that post URL will be redirected.
The 301 Redirect
This module uses a 301 (permanent) redirect, which means:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| SEO-friendly | Search engines understand the content moved permanently |
| Link equity transfer | Any links to your post pass value to the destination |
| Browser caching | Browsers remember the redirect for faster future visits |
Practical Examples
Affiliate Product Links
Create a post for each affiliate product:
| Post Title | External URL |
|---|---|
| “Our Favorite Camera” | https://amazon.com/affiliate-link |
| “Recommended Hosting” | https://hosting.com/partner-link |
| “Best SEO Tool” | https://seo-tool.com/referral |
Add these posts to your navigation menu. Visitors click “Our Favorite Camera” and land on Amazon.
Social Media Menu
Create pages for your social profiles:
| Page Title | External URL |
|---|---|
| https://facebook.com/yourpage | |
| https://twitter.com/yourhandle | |
| https://instagram.com/yourprofile |
Add these to a “Follow Us” menu. Each click goes directly to your social profile.
Partner Resources
Create links to external partner tools:
| Post Title | External URL |
|---|---|
| “Client Portal” | https://portal.partner.com |
| “Documentation” | https://docs.external-tool.com |
| “Download App” | https://app-store-link.com |
Post Content Matters
Since visitors are redirected, they won’t see your post content. However, the content area is still useful for:
- Internal notes: Document why this redirect exists
- SEO data: Some SEO plugins still use the title/meta for internal purposes
- Organization: Keep track of all your external links in one place
Managing Redirects
Finding Posts with Redirects
Posts with external URLs work like normal posts. To find them:
- Go to Posts → All Posts
- Filter or search as needed
- Edit to see/change the external URL
Removing a Redirect
To stop redirecting a post:
- Edit the post
- Clear the External URL field (leave it empty)
- Update the post
The post now works normally, displaying its content to visitors.
FAQ
What happens if the external URL is broken?
Visitors will be redirected to the broken URL and see whatever error that site shows. There’s no automatic link checking — verify your URLs are correct.Can I redirect to internal pages?
Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. For internal redirects, use a dedicated redirect plugin or the Conditional Redirects module. This module is designed for external destinations.Do redirects work for logged-out visitors?
Yes, redirects work for everyone — logged in or out. The redirect happens before the page loads.Will this affect my post counts or archives?
The post still exists in WordPress and appears in archives, category pages, and post counts. Only when someone clicks through does the redirect happen.Can I use relative URLs?
Use full URLs includinghttps://. Relative URLs may not work correctly since the redirect is meant for external destinations.Create a dedicated category like “External Links” to organize all your redirect posts. This makes management easier as your list grows.
Check Your Links
The module doesn’t validate external URLs. Always test your redirects after setting them up to ensure visitors reach the correct destination.
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