WP Search Query Redirect — How To

Summary

Automatically route search intent (Google/Bing referrer, on-site ?s=, UTMs) to the most relevant page, collection, or promo.

Prerequisites

• WordPress (latest).
• Clear destination URLs (collections, filtered shop, landing pages).

Install & Activate

Upload ZIP → Activate → Settings → Search Redirect (or under Woo settings if you prefer).

Create Your First Rule

1. Add Rule.
2. IF condition:
   • Referrer Query contains spades (or exact/regex/synonym).
   • OR On-site Search ?s= contains gift card.
   • OR UTM campaign equals summer-bags.
3. THEN action: set Destination URL (e.g., /shop/?filter=spades).
4. Redirect Type: 302 (default), 301, or 307.
5. Priority and optional Fallback URL.
6. Save and click Preview/Test (built-in simulator).

Best Practices

• Start with 302 while validating; switch to 301 for permanent mappings.
• Add synonyms/plurals (e.g., tote, totes, shopper).
• Use exclusions for admin/logged-in roles or specific paths.

Bot/SEO Controls

• Optionally bypass crawlers to avoid cloaking concerns.
• Canonicals on destination pages remain intact.

Logging & Insights

• Enable Logs to see top triggers, misses, and destinations.
• Export rules for backup or stage → prod.

Caching/CDN

Redirects happen very early—no special exclusions typically needed. If you use any plugin endpoints for testing/simulation, exclude them as documented in Settings → Diagnostics.

Troubleshooting

• Rule not firing: lower the priority number; confirm condition type (exact vs contains vs regex).
• Wrong destination: check URL formatting and ensure the page exists/is public.
• Infinite redirects: add an exclusion if destination also matches the IF condition.

Uninstall

Deactivate → Delete. (Toggle “Remove data” first if you want to remove rules and logs.)