How to Set an Expiry Date for Short URLs in URL Shortify
Overview
Setting an expiry date for your short URLs in URL Shortify is a great way to manage time-sensitive links, improve security, and streamline link management. This guide will show you how to set up and manage expiration settings for your short URLs and explain what happens when a short link expires.
Why Use Expiry Dates?
Time-Limited Campaigns - Expiry dates are perfect for short-term promotions, product launches, or event-specific pages that should only be accessible for a defined period.
Link Management - Keep your URL library organized and prevent users from accessing outdated links.
Security - Reduce the risk of old URLs being used for malicious purposes or shared beyond the intended timeframe.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Access Your WordPress Dashboard
Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
In the left-hand menu, navigate to URL Shortify > Links.
Step 2: Edit an Existing Link or Create a New One
To set an expiry date for an existing link, locate the link you want to edit and click on Edit.
To create a new short URL, click on Add New Link.
Step 3: Scroll to the “Expiration Date” setting
Once in the link editor, scroll down to the Expiration Date section.
Step 4: Set the Expiry Date and Time
In the Expiration Settings, you’ll find options to specify a date and time for the expiration link.
Step 5: Choose What Happens After Expiry
After setting the expiry date, you can also define what happens once the link expires:
Redirect to a specific page: Set a custom URL where the user will be redirected after the short link expires. This could be a campaign ended page, your homepage, or another active offer or it could be anything else.
The default behavior will apply if no specific redirect is set (e.g., redirecting to a 404 page).
Step 6: Save Your Settings
Once you’ve set the expiry date and post-expiry actions, click Save to apply the changes to your short link.
What Happens After the Short Link Expires?
After the expiration date, any visitor who tries to access the short URL will be redirected to the page you’ve specified in the expiration settings. This ensures that users are always redirected to relevant content, and you maintain full control over expired links.
Example Use Cases for Expired Links:
Promotions: Redirect users to a “sale ended” page or a new ongoing promotion.
Events: Link visitors to a “registration closed” page or the event’s main website.
Security: Expire sensitive links after a set period to prevent unauthorized sharing.
Additional Tips
You can easily modify or remove the expiration date by revisiting the link settings in URL Shortify.
Regularly check your expired links to ensure they are correctly redirecting users to relevant content.
FAQ
Can I change the expiry date after setting it? Yes, you can modify the expiration date anytime by editing the link and updating the Expiration Settings.
What happens if I don't set a redirect URL after the link expires? If no specific redirect is set, the default behavior will occur, which may result in a 404 error page for users.
Can I apply an expiry date to bulk links? Yes, you can set the expiry date to links in bulk.
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