Running a small business keeps you juggling a million tasks. Asking for online reviews and encouraging customers to share their experiences (User-Generated Content or UGC) is vital for your reputation management, but let’s be honest – managing where you send them online can become a real headache.
Imagine you’ve just printed 500 flyers with a QR code pointing straight to your Google review page. But next month, you want to boost your Facebook reviews, or maybe encourage customers to share photos of your product on Instagram. Do you really have to trash those flyers and print new ones? Or update the link on your website, in your email signature, and everywhere else? It sounds exhausting and expensive.
There’s a much simpler, smarter way to handle this, saving you time, money, and frustration when gathering customer content. It involves using something called a Redirect Link – think of it as one master link for all your online review requests, UGC prompts, and feedback gathering efforts. This single link stays the same on all your printed materials and digital assets, but you can easily change where it sends customers behind the scenes – maybe to Google reviews this week, a specific social media page next week to capture UGC, and a customer satisfaction survey the week after.
This post will walk you through exactly what redirect links are, why they’re a game-changer for your online feedback and reputation management strategy, how they work in a way that’s easy for anyone to understand, and where you can set them up (often for free!). Get ready to simplify your process and gather valuable online reviews and UGC more effectively.
Too Busy to Read It All? Here’s the Scoop:
- The Problem: Constantly updating printed materials (flyers, menus, QR codes) or digital links just to send customers to different places online (Google reviews, Facebook reviews, Instagram to share photos, etc.) is a major hassle.
- The Solution: Use a single “redirect link” (like YourBiz.reviews or YourSite.com/feedback). This one link goes on everything.
- How it Works: You use that one link everywhere (QR codes, emails, flyers, review request cards and stands). Then, you simply log into a tool and change where that one link sends people – maybe to Google reviews this week, your Facebook page next week to get reviews or customer photos (UGC), or even directly to your Instagram page asking them to share using your hashtag.
- Tools You Can Use: Easy options include free WordPress plugins (like URL Shortify, Pretty Links) if you have a website, or online services like Bitly (some features may require paid plans).
- Benefits: Saves time and money (no reprinting or changing emails!), gives you flexibility to easily switch where you ask for feedback or customer content, and helps you smartly build online reviews and UGC on different sites and apps over time.
What Are Redirect Links?
A redirect link is like a special signpost for the internet. It’s one simple, easy-to-remember web address that you control. When someone clicks on it, your signpost automatically sends them wherever you currently want them to go online.
Think of it like getting a post office box that you share with everyone. Whenever you travel or change locations, you just tell the post office your new address, and they forward all your mail. Same idea with a redirect link, you create one link that you put everywhere (like YourBusiness.com/feedback), and you can change where it sends people anytime without changing the link itself.
These helpful tools go by several names, but they all mean basically the same thing:
- Short URL (because they’re often shorter than the actual destination)
- Custom Link or Vanity URL (because you can personalize them)
- Branded Link (when they include your business name)
- Forwarding Link (because they forward people to another page)
The magic is that your customers only see and use your simple link, but you control exactly where they end up when they click it – whether that’s your Google reviews page, your Facebook page for customer feedback, or anywhere else you want to collect UGC.
Why Small Businesses Need Redirect Links
Think of a redirect link as your secret weapon for simplifying how you ask customers for online reviews and UGC. Instead of juggling multiple links or constantly updating materials, you gain control, flexibility, and efficiency with just one link that works everywhere.
One Link, Unlimited Destinations
This is the magic trick! You create one redirect link – like YourBiz.reviews. You print this on your business cards, put it in your email signature, create a QR code for your counter display, use it with review cards and stands, and mention it when asking for reviews. That link never changes in those places. But behind the scenes, you decide where it points. This week, send people straight to Google to leave an online review. Next week, maybe you want more Facebook recommendations, so you change the destination. The week after? Perhaps you guide them to Instagram to collect customer photos (UGC). One consistent link, endless possibilities.
Save Money on Printing and Updates
Without a redirect link, every time you want to focus on getting reviews on a different site, you’d have to:
- Redesign and reprint flyers, menus, or posters
- Update QR codes and printed materials
- Change links on your website and in emails
- Revise your business cards and review request cards
That’s expensive and wasteful! With a redirect link, you change the destination URL in one place, and instantly, everyone clicking that link goes to the new destination. No reprinting, no wasted materials.
Change Your Plan on the Fly
This “one link” approach gives you freedom to adapt quickly. For example:
- Got enough Google reviews this month? Great! Simply log in, change your redirect link‘s destination to Yelp or another review site.
- Running a photo contest on Instagram? Point your link there during the campaign.
- Want to gather private feedback before asking for public reviews? Change the link to your survey form.
- Ready to start using a review app such as Online Review Autopilot or BrightLocal Reputation Manager? Just change your redirect link destination to point to the app.
You control the flow, directing your customers exactly where you need them most right now.
Build Reviews Across Many Websites
Building a strong online presence means having positive reviews on many different websites and lots of UGC showing how much customers love your business. Redirect links make this easy to manage. You can focus on one website at a time – maybe use the first half of the month for Google reviews, then switch to Facebook, then ask for customer photos. This approach helps you build a well-rounded online reputation without trying to do everything at once.
Quick Start Guide: Setting Up Your Redirect Link
Setting up your own redirect link is easier than you might think. You don’t need to be a tech expert – just follow these simple options. Choose the one that works best for your business situation.
Option 1: Using WordPress Plugins (For WordPress Websites)
If your business has a WordPress website, this is probably the best option. WordPress plugins let you create redirect links using your own website address..
Steps to set up:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard
- Click “Plugins” then “Add New”
- Search for “URL Shortify” or “Pretty Links”
- Click “Install” then “Activate”
- Find the new plugin in your dashboard menu
- Create a new link by entering:
- Your short link (like yourbusiness.com/feedback)
- The destination URL (like your Google review page)
- Save your new link
Now you can use yourbusiness.com/feedback everywhere, and change where it points anytime by editing it in the plugin.
Which plugin should you choose?
- URL Shortify includes built-in QR code generation along with link tracking features, making it perfect if you’ll be using QR codes for review requests. Results Pathfinder uses this plugin on ResultsPathfinder.com and OnlineReviewAutopilot.com websites.
- Pretty Links is popular, and also offers basic tracking in its free version.
Both plugins’ free versions work well for most small businesses – URL Shortify may be better if you want QR codes included in your tool.
Option 2: Using Online Services
Don’t have a WordPress site? No problem! Services like Bitly let you create redirect links without needing your own website.
Steps to set up:
- Go to bitly.com (or similar service) and sign up for a free account
- Click “Create” or “New Bitlink”
- Paste in your destination URL (like your Google review page)
- Customize your link ending to something short and easy to use and type (eg. change bit.ly/j38dk2 to something like bit.ly/YourBusinessFeedback) – you’ll need to try different names if your first choice is already taken
- Start using this link in all of your materials
Important note: With free plans, you usually can’t change where the link points later. For that feature, you might need a basic paid plan (usually $5-15/month). You can still start with the free plan and then sign up for a paid plan once you are ready to change the destination.
Want More Professional Links? (Optional)
Not everyone will feel safe when they see a link that starts with “bit.ly”. Some may also wonder how “serious” your business is when a link does not use your actual business domain name.
With paid plans (usually starting around $10-$15/month), you can create links that use your own business name instead of “bit.ly.” For example, you could have reviews.yourbusiness.com or yourbiz.link as the Redirect Link that will point to different destinations.
This requires either:
- Buying a new domain name (you can do this from your Bitly account which makes it easier to use with Bitly or from wherever you bought your business’ domain name) or
- Using a “subdomain” with a domain name you already (eg. feedback.yourdomainname)
You will then need to connect either to your Bitly account (they provide instructions)
Best Practices & Implementation Tips
Okay, you’ve got your redirect link set up! Now, how do you get the most out of it? Using it correctly will help you gather more online reviews and UGC effectively. Here are some simple tips to make sure your link works hard for your business.
Where Should You Use Your Redirect Link?
The short answer: everywhere! Make it easy for happy customers to find it. Think about all the places you connect with them:
- Printed Materials: Business cards, flyers, posters, menus, receipts, appointment cards, ‘leave a review’ table tents or counter cards.
- QR Codes: Create a QR code from your redirect link (many tools like URL Shortify do this for you) and put it on those printed materials. People can just scan it with their phone!
- Review Aids: Cards and Stands with QR Codes and NFC tags.
- Digital Spaces: Your website footer or contact page, your email signature, social media profiles (like your Instagram bio), and in direct messages or emails when you ask for feedback.
- In Person: Mention it verbally! “Hey, if you have a moment, you can share your experience at YourBiz.com/feedback.”
The goal is consistency. Use the same redirect link everywhere so customers recognize it and you only have one link to manage.
How to Know if It’s Working (Tracking)
Most tools that create redirect links also track how many times people click them. This is super helpful!
- WordPress Plugins (like URL Shortify/Pretty Links): Check the plugin’s dashboard inside WordPress. You’ll see a list of your links and the number of clicks each one has received. The paid accounts show more details.
- Online Services (like Bitly): Log in to your account on their website. They typically show click counts right next to your links. Paid plans often offer more details, like when people clicked or where they came from.
Checking your clicks tells you if people are actually using the link. If you get lots of clicks but few reviews or UGC, you might need to adjust where you’re sending people or how you’re asking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using redirect links is simple, but watch out for these small pitfalls:
- Forgetting to Update: The whole point is flexibility! Remember to log in and change the destination URL when you want to focus on a different site (like switching from Google to Facebook reviews). Set a reminder if you need to!
- Making it Too Long: Use a short, memorable link ending (the part after the slash). YourBiz.com/feedback is better than YourBiz.com/leaveusyourvaluablefeedbackandanonlineopinionhere.
- Not Testing It: After you create or update your link, click it yourself! Make sure it goes to the exact page you intended. A broken link means wasted opportunities and lost trust.
- Hiding It: Don’t bury your link. Put it where customers will easily see it right after a good experience.
Real-World Example
Imagine a local bakery, “Sweet Treats Cafe.” They put a QR code using their redirect link (SweetTreats.info/share) on little cards they place in every cake box.
- January: The link points to their Google Maps listing to boost Google reviews.
- February: They run a Valentine’s contest. The link changes to point to their Instagram page, asking customers to share photos of their Valentine’s cakes (#SweetTreatsLove) for a chance to win. This gets them great UGC.
- March: They want direct feedback on a new cookie recipe. The link changes again, now pointing to a simple online survey.
They never had to reprint the cards in the boxes! They just changed where the link went behind the scenes, saving time and money while getting the reviews, UGC, and feedback they needed.
Key Takeaways & Next Steps
Using a single redirect link is a simple but powerful change that makes gathering online reviews and customer content (UGC) in multiple places much easier for busy small business owners. It saves you time, money, and headaches in future.
Here’s a quick recap of why you should start using one:
- One Link Rules All: Use the same link everywhere (online and offline) but easily change where it sends customers behind the scenes.
- Stop Reprinting and Reordering: Save money and hassle by not needing to update or reorder flyers, review cards and stands, or QR codes every time you want to focus on a different review site or UGC platform.
- Be Flexible: Quickly switch your link destination to target Google, Facebook, Instagram, Yelp, your feedback or review request app, surveys, or anywhere else you need customer input.
- Grow Smarter: Build your online reputation methodically across different platforms. The platforms reward you with better visibility when there are regular, fresh reviews and posts.
- Easy Setup: Tools like WordPress plugins (URL Shortify, Pretty Links) or online services (Bitly) make it simple to get started, often for free.
Your Next Steps:
- Choose Your Tool: Decide if a WordPress plugin or an online service like Bitly fits your business best.
- Create Your Link: Set up your first redirect link (e.g., YourBiz.com/feedback or bit.ly/YourBizReviews).
- Pick Your First Destination: Decide where you want to send customers right now (like your Google review page).
- Start Using It: Add your new link (and maybe a QR code) to your business cards, email signature, website, and anywhere else you ask for feedback.
- Remember to Update: Change the link’s destination when you want to shift focus to another platform!
Want to dive deeper into getting more 5-star reviews and mastering your online reputation? Results Pathfinder specializes in helping small businesses like yours boost their online ratings, reviews, and UGC.
For a complete guide packed with simple, actionable steps, check out our book “Get More 5-Star Reviews: Results Path to Getting Customer Reviews and Social Media Love (UGC) for Your Small Business… Even if you are · busy · not technical · can’t afford to hire someone”, available on Amazon.