1. Links Manager
1.1 Getting Started
Links Manager:
Links Manager is the central hub for all link-related features in SEO Repair Kit. From one dashboard area, you can scan links, monitor 404 errors, schedule automatic scans, configure email notifications, and manage smart redirects — without jumping between different sections.
Introduction to Links Manager:
Broken links, 404 errors, and redirect management are often spread across multiple tools. Links Manager brings everything together in one place. Whether you need to run a manual scan, check which 404 pages are getting the most traffic, or set up automated link checking, you can do it all from this single interface.
Why It Matters:
Managing link health requires multiple actions — scanning for issues, monitoring real-world 404 errors, setting up automation, receiving alerts, and creating redirects. Links Manager eliminates the chaos by organizing all these features into five tabs: Link Scan, 404 Monitor, Auto Scan, Notifications, and Smart Redirects.
What You Can Do from Links Manager:
- Scan internal and external links for HTTP status issues
- Review broken, healthy, redirected, and problematic links
- Export scan findings to CSV
- Create redirects directly from problem URLs
- Monitor 404 errors with hit counts and referrer data
- Schedule automatic link scans with custom intervals
- Receive email alerts when broken links are found
- Automatically redirect deleted posts to archive pages
Requirements:
- SEO Repair Kit plugin installed and activated
- Post types selected for scanning in Settings
- Active internet connection for external link checking
- No coding skills required
1.2 How It Works
Centralized Access:
Links Manager acts as a command center. Instead of navigating to multiple sections of your WordPress admin, you access five key link management tools from one location.
The Five Tabs:
| Tab | Function |
|---|---|
| Link Scan | Manually scan selected post types for broken links, review HTTP status codes, export results to CSV, and create redirects from scan results |
| 404 Monitor | Track every 404 error that occurs on your site, log hit counts and referrers, and create one-click redirects from frequent 404s |
| Auto Scan | Schedule automatic link scans (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.), configure batch limits and timeout settings, and store scan history |
| Notifications | Review email alert history, see which scans triggered notifications, and verify delivery status |
| Smart Redirects | Enable automatic 301 redirects for deleted posts/pages to their archive pages, manage redirect records per post type |
Scanning & Detection:
When you run a scan from Link Manager, the system checks every link across your selected content — both internal links (within your site) and external links (to other websites). Each link is tested for its HTTP status code (200 OK, 404 Not Found, 301 Redirected, etc.).
Reporting:
Scan results appear in a detailed table showing:
- Post title where the broken link appears
- The broken URL
- HTTP status code
- Link text
- Options to fix or redirect
Export & Actions:
You can export any scan’s broken links to CSV for offline review. From the same table, you can edit the source content, create a redirect, or remove the problematic link — all without leaving Links Manager.
Integration:
Redirects created from Link Scan or 404 Monitor automatically appear in the Redirection Manager. Smart Redirects are also managed from within Links Manager.
1.3 Step by Step Guide
Using the Links Manager Dashboard
Step 1: Access Links Manager
From your WordPress admin menu, go to SEO Repair Kit → Links Manager.
You will see five tabs at the top: Link Scan, 404 Monitor, Auto Scan, Notifications, and Smart Redirects.
Step 2: Run a Link Scan
- Click the Link Scan tab
- Review the overview cards showing total links checked, broken links detected, healthy links, and automation status
- Use the Select Post Type dropdown to choose which content to scan (Posts, Pages, or custom post types)
- Click Start Scan
- Wait for the progress bar to complete
- Scroll down to the Broken Links Found table to see results
- For any broken link, click Edit (to fix in content) or Redirect (to create a 301 redirect)
- Optional: Click Download CSV to export the report
Step 3: Monitor 404 Errors
- Click the 404 Monitor tab
- Review the table of all 404 errors with hit counts and last accessed timestamps
- Click on the Hit Count column to sort by most frequent 404s first
- For any 404 error, click Create Redirect
- Enter the target URL (where visitors should go)
- Select redirect type (301 Permanent or 302 Temporary)
- Click Save
Step 4: Schedule Automatic Scans
- Click the Auto Scan tab
- Toggle Enable Automation to ON
- Choose a scan interval: Daily, Every 3 days, Weekly, Biweekly, or Monthly
- Configure scan settings:
- Batch size (recommended: 20-50 for shared hosting)
- Links per post
- Request timeout (recommended: 5-10 seconds)
- Select which post types to include
- Toggle Email Alerts ON and enter recipient email address (optional)
- Click Save Settings
Step 5: Review Notifications History
- Click the Notifications tab
- View the alert history table showing:
- Date and time of each email sent
- Scan trigger type (manual or automated)
- Total links checked
- Broken links found
- Email status (sent/failed)
- Use this history to track when issues were first detected
Step 6: Enable Smart Redirects
- Click the Smart Redirects tab
- Toggle ON for each post type you want to automatically redirect (e.g., Posts, Pages, custom post types)
- View generated redirects in the table showing source URL and target archive URL
- For individual redirects, toggle status (active/inactive) or delete
- Optional: Use Reset All Records or Reset by Post Type to clear redirects
Step 7: Create Redirects from Scan Results
From either Link Scan or 404 Monitor:
- Locate the problematic URL in the results table
- Click the Redirect button
- Enter the target URL
- Select redirect type
- Save — the redirect will appear in Redirection Manager
Step 8: Export Scan Reports
From the Link Scan tab after any scan:
- Click Download CSV
- The file includes: post title, broken link URL, HTTP status code, link text, and more
- Use for team sharing, client reports, or audit records
Step 9: Maintain Ongoing Link Health
- Run manual scans after publishing new content
- Check 404 Monitor weekly for frequent errors
- Review Auto Scan history to confirm scans are running
- Enable email alerts so you never miss broken links
- Re-scan after fixing issues to verify resolution
1.4 FAQs
What is the difference between Links Manager and Link Scan?
Link Manager is the parent section containing five tabs — Link Scan is just one of those tabs. Think of Links Manager as the hub and Link Scan as one tool inside it.
Do I need to use all five tabs in Links Manager?
No. Use only what you need. If you only want manual scans, just use Link Scan. If you want automation, use Auto Scan. Each tab works independently.
Can I create redirects directly from Links Manager?
Yes. Both the Link Scan tab and 404 Monitor tab allow you to create redirects with one click from problematic URLs.
How do I export broken links data?
Go to the Link Scan tab, run a scan, then click the Download CSV button. The export includes all broken links found in that scan.
Does Links Manager scan external links as well as internal links?
Yes. Link Scan checks both internal links (within your site) and external links (to other websites).
What is the difference between 404 Monitor and Link Scan?
Link Scan proactively checks all links on your site for issues. 404 Monitor passively logs real visitor 404 errors as they happen. Use both for complete visibility.
How often should I check Links Manager?
If Auto Scan and email alerts are enabled, you only need to check when you receive a broken link notification. Otherwise, check weekly or after publishing new content.
Can I access Redirection Manager from Links Manager?
Links Manager allows you to create redirects, but for full redirect management (viewing all redirects, editing, deleting, tracking hits), go to SEO Repair Kit → Redirection.
Do Smart Redirects work automatically?
Yes. Once enabled for a post type, Smart Redirects automatically create 301 redirects when posts are deleted — no manual action needed.
What happens to my data if I deactivate the plugin?
Scan history, 404 logs, and notification records are stored in your database. They will remain if you deactivate and re-activate the plugin, unless you uninstall completely.



























