How do I manage redirects and fix broken links (404s)?
Redirects is the tool within the DCMS that helps you manage broken links, redirect old URLs to new ones, and keep a seamless experience for both visitors and search engines. Whether you've just launched a new site or recently restructured your content, this is genuinely worth understanding — broken links left unaddressed can quietly damage both visitor experience and your SEO over time.
What Redirects helps you do
Using this tool, you can:
1. Catch and fix 404 (page not found) errors
2. Set up manual redirects from old URLs to new content
3. Preserve SEO value when content moves or is restructured
4. Reduce bounce rates caused by dead links
Finding and fixing 404s
From the main DCMS navigation, click on Redirects
Go to the 404s tab
Here you'll see a list of URLs that visitors have tried to access but which no longer exist on your site. The table shows:
- URL — the path the visitor tried to visit
- Referrer — where they came from, if this information is available
- Hits — how many times this 404 has occurred
- Last Hit — the most recent occurrence
Fixing a 404
- Identify the correct, current URL on your site that the visitor should have landed on
- Click Add Redirect — you can do this directly from the 404 list
- Fill in the Legacy URL (this will be auto-filled from the 404 entry) and the Redirect To field with the new, correct URL
- Leave the redirect type as 301 Permanent
- Click Save
💡 Top tip: Prioritise fixing your highest-hit 404s first, especially any with external referrers — these often represent other websites linking to your old content, so fixing them quickly protects both visitor experience and any inbound SEO value.
Creating a manual redirect
You don't have to wait for a 404 to appear before setting up a redirect. If you know in advance that a page is moving or being retired, you can create the redirect manually:
- Navigate to Redirects > Redirects tab
- Click New Redirect
- Complete the form: Legacy URL is the old page path (for example /whats-on/old-event), and Redirect To is the new destination (for example /events/spring-festival)
- Leave Type as 301 Permanent
- Leave Match Type as Path Only, unless you're specifically working with patterns or wildcards
- Click Save
Updating or deleting a redirect
From the Redirects tab, click on the redirect you want to change. Edit the relevant fields and click Save, or delete it entirely using the bin icon.
Bulk imports and advanced patterns
Retour (the tool behind Redirects) supports bulk imports via JSON or CSV, and more advanced matching using regex or wildcard patterns. These aren't something you'll need for day-to-day content management, and they're best handled with support rather than attempted alone — if you have a large-scale migration or need an advanced pattern set up, speak to your DestinationCore project manager.
Best practice tips
1 - Use exact matches for most redirects, unless you're confident working with patterns or wildcards
2 - Always choose 301 Permanent unless you know with certainty that the redirect is temporary
3 - Avoid redirect chains, where one redirect points to another redirect rather than directly to the final destination
4- Once you've fixed a 404, clear it from the 404s list so you can keep a clean view of any new issues as they arise
5 - Keep a record of your redirects somewhere your team can refer back to, particularly if more than one person manages content
Troubleshooting common issues
Redirect not working — this is usually because the Legacy URL doesn't exactly match the original broken URL. Redirects are case-sensitive, so double-check the path matches exactly
Redirect going to the wrong place — check the Redirect To field carefully for typos in the new URL path
Lots of 404s from the same referrer — this often means an external site is linking to old content. Add a redirect to the new version, and consider reaching out to the site owner if it's a significant source of traffic
Redirect loop — this happens when a redirect points to another redirect rather than the final destination. Review both entries and consolidate them into a single, direct redirect
Getting further help
If you're unsure about a specific redirect or run into a technical issue you can't resolve, raise a request via the DestinationCore service desk: http://support.destinationcore.com/
💡 Top tip: After launching a new site or making major content changes, check the 404s tab weekly for the first 6–8 weeks. It's completely normal for a few broken links to appear as search engines and visitors adjust to the new structure — catching and redirecting them quickly keeps both visitor experience and SEO in good shape.