Step by Step Guide

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Using the Link Scan

Step 1: Access Link Scan
From your WordPress admin menu, go to SEO Repair Kit → Links Manager → Link Scan tab.

This is your main workspace for manually scanning, reviewing, and fixing broken links across your site.

Step 2: Review the Overview Cards
At the top of the dashboard, you’ll see a quick summary of your site’s link health:

CardWhat It Shows
Total Links CheckedHow many links have been scanned during the current or last scan
Broken Links DetectedTotal number and percentage of links returning errors (such as 404)
Healthy LinksConfirms how many links are working correctly
Automation StatusIndicates whether scans are being run manually or automatically

These cards give you an instant health check before diving into details.

Step 3: Select What You Want to Scan
Use the Select Post Type dropdown to choose which content to scan, such as:

  • Posts
  • Pages
  • Custom post types (if available)

This lets you focus scans on specific areas of your website. For example, scan only Pages if that’s where you recently made changes.

Step 4: Start the Scan
Click the Start Scan button to begin scanning the selected content.

During the scan:

  • The scanner checks internal and external links
  • Each link is tested for availability and error responses
  • Progress is shown in real time with a progress bar

Step 5: Monitor Scan Progress
During the scan, a progress bar appears with status messages such as:

  • “Scanning… (45% complete)”
  • “Checking links in Posts…”
  • “Scan complete!”

Once finished, you’ll also see:

  • Total links scanned
  • Completion percentage
  • Time of the last scan

This confirms the scan has completed successfully.

Step 6: Review Broken Links Found
Scroll down to the Broken Links Found table to see detailed results.

Each row includes:

ColumnDescription
Post TitleWhere the broken link appears (click to edit)
TypeContent type (e.g., Post, Page)
StatusPublication status (Published, Draft, etc.)
Broken Link URLThe actual failing link address
HTTP Status CodeError type (e.g., 404 Not Found)
Link TextAnchor text used in the content
Redirect ActionButton to create a redirect for this link
Edit IconQuickly edit the source content

This table makes it easy to understand exactly where and why each issue exists.

Step 7: Fix or Redirect Broken Links

For each broken link, you can take action directly from the table:

Option 1: Edit the Link

  • Click the Edit icon (pencil) next to the broken link
  • You will be taken to the post/page editor
  • Update the broken URL to a correct working address
  • Save/Update the post

Option 2: Create a Redirect

  • Click the Redirect Action button
  • Enter the target URL (where visitors should go instead)
  • Select redirect type (301 Permanent or 302 Temporary)
  • Click Save — the redirect is created instantly

Option 3: Remove the Link

  • Click the Edit icon to go to the content
  • Delete or unlink the problematic URL
  • Save/Update the post

All actions are performed without writing any code.

Step 8: Export the Report (Optional)
Click Download CSV to export the broken links report.

The CSV file includes:

  • Post title
  • Broken link URL
  • HTTP status code
  • Link text
  • And more

This is useful for:

  • Sharing with team members
  • Tracking fixes in a spreadsheet
  • Maintaining audit records for clients

Step 9: Re-scan to Confirm Fixes
After fixing broken links, run another scan to confirm:

  • Errors are resolved
  • Your site is fully healthy
  • No new broken links exist

Regular re-scans help maintain strong SEO and user experience.

Step 10: Maintain Ongoing Link Health
Run manual scans whenever you:

  • Publish new content
  • Update existing pages
  • Migrate or delete URLs
  • Before and after site migrations

This ensures broken links never silently damage your SEO again.

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