> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.hoopai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Funnel redirects

> Set up URL redirects within funnels in HoopAI to forward visitors from old or shortened URLs to the correct pages.

Redirects let you forward visitors from one URL to another automatically. In the context of funnels, redirects are useful for handling URL changes, creating short memorable links that forward to longer funnel URLs, and managing traffic when you restructure a funnel's step paths.

## When to use redirects

Common redirect scenarios in funnels:

* A funnel step URL has changed and you want old links still to work
* You shared a short URL in an email or ad and need to forward it to a funnel step
* You retired a funnel but want its URL to forward to the new version
* You want a branded short link (such as `yourbrand.com/offer`) to redirect to a longer funnel path

## Types of redirects

| Redirect type       | HTTP status           | Use case                                                                       |
| ------------------- | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Permanent (301)** | 301 Moved Permanently | The old URL is gone for good; search engines update their index to the new URL |
| **Temporary (302)** | 302 Found             | The redirect is temporary; search engines keep the old URL indexed             |

Use a 301 redirect when you have permanently changed a URL and want search engines to transfer any ranking authority to the new page. Use a 302 redirect for testing or for temporary campaign URLs.

## Setting up a redirect in a funnel

Redirects within funnels are managed at the funnel step level. When you change a step's URL path, you can optionally create a redirect from the old path to the new one so that anyone with a link to the old path is automatically forwarded.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the funnel settings">
    Navigate to **Sites > Funnels**, open your funnel, and click the **Settings** tab.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find the redirect settings">
    Look for a **Redirects** or **URL Redirects** section within the funnel settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add a redirect rule">
    Click **Add Redirect**. Enter the **Source path** (the old URL path that should be redirected) and the **Destination URL** (where visitors should be sent). Choose the redirect type (301 or 302).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save**. The redirect is active immediately. Test it by visiting the source path in a browser.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Redirects vs. step URL changes

If you simply rename a funnel step's URL path (in the step's gear icon settings), HoopAI updates the path going forward — but the old path will return a 404 error. To avoid broken links:

1. Note the current step path before changing it.
2. Change the step path to the new value.
3. Create a redirect from the old path to the new path.

This ensures visitors who bookmarked the old URL or clicked an old ad link still reach the correct page.

## Domain-level redirects

If you need to redirect an entire domain or root path, this is managed in **Settings > Domains** rather than within the funnel itself. Domain-level redirects are useful for:

* Forwarding a bare domain (without any path) to a specific funnel
* Redirecting `www.yourbrand.com` to `go.yourbrand.com`
* Forwarding an unused domain to your main website

## Troubleshooting redirect issues

If a redirect is not working as expected:

* **Check for typos** in the source and destination paths.
* **Clear your browser cache** — browsers aggressively cache 301 redirects, which can make it appear the redirect is not working even after it has been corrected.
* **Test in an incognito window** to rule out cached redirects.
* **Check redirect chains** — if URL A redirects to B and B redirects to C, this can cause delays and sometimes fail. Flatten redirect chains wherever possible.

<Warning>
  Permanent (301) redirects are cached by both browsers and search engines. If you set up a 301 redirect incorrectly and need to change it, browsers may continue sending visitors to the wrong destination until the cache expires. Use 302 redirects while testing and switch to 301 only when you are certain the destination is correct.
</Warning>

<Tip>
  Use short, branded redirect paths for links you share in ads, emails, and social media. These are easier to track, and if you ever need to change the destination you can update the redirect without changing the link you already shared.
</Tip>