Generate trackable short URLs for outbound messages so you can monitor exactly when and where clients click your links. Custom domains help build trust while giving your agency full visibility into link engagement.

### Overview

Trackable redirect links let your agency replace long, unfamiliar URLs in outbound messages with short, branded links that you control. Every time a client clicks a redirect link, eCourtDate records the click along with device details, geolocation, and timestamps. This gives you a clear picture of client engagement without relying on third-party analytics.

- Create short, branded URLs that route clients to any destination (payment portals, virtual hearings, forms, or external websites)
- Use your agency's custom domain so links appear trustworthy to clients and pass spam filters
- Configure device-specific redirects to send mobile and desktop visitors to different destinations
- Set up geolocation-based routing so clients are directed to region-appropriate resources
- Monitor real-time click traffic, including timestamps, IP addresses, device types, and referral sources

Court clerks, case managers, probation officers, and agency administrators use trackable redirect links to confirm that clients received and engaged with important communications.

### Prerequisites

Before creating trackable redirect links, make sure you have:

- An active eCourtDate agency account with Admin or Manager role access
- At least one configured [web portal](https://app.ecourtdate.com/portals) (redirect links are built on top of portals)
- The destination URL you want clients to be redirected to
- (Optional) A custom domain configured in your portal settings for branded links
- (Optional) Device-specific or geolocation-specific destination URLs, if you plan to use advanced routing

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Navigate to the Redirects Page

1. Sign in to your eCourtDate agency.
2. Click **Admin** > **Portals** in the top navigation bar.
3. Click the **Redirects** tab at the top of the Portals page.

You will see a table listing all existing redirect links for your agency, along with a form to create new ones.

#### Step 2: Create a New Redirect Link

1. Locate the **Create Redirect** form on the left side of the page.
2. Enter a descriptive **Name** for internal reference (for example, "Payment Portal Link" or "Jury Duty Virtual Hearing").
3. Select the **Portal** you want the redirect link to use from the dropdown.
4. Enter the **Redirect URL**, which is the destination where clients will be sent when they click the link.
5. Click **Add** to create the redirect link.

The new redirect link appears in the table with a unique short URL.

#### Step 3: Customize Redirect Settings

1. Click the redirect link in the table to open its edit screen.
2. Review and update the following settings:
   - **Name**: The internal label for this redirect link.
   - **Portal**: The portal associated with this link.
   - **Redirect URL**: The primary destination URL.
   - **Status**: Set to **Active** to enable the link or **Disabled** to temporarily turn it off.
3. Click **Save** to apply your changes.

#### Step 4: Configure Device-Specific Redirects (Optional)

If you need to send mobile and desktop visitors to different destinations:

1. On the redirect edit screen, locate the **Device Redirects** section.
2. Enter a **Mobile Redirect URL** for clients visiting from phones or tablets.
3. Enter a **Desktop Redirect URL** for clients visiting from computers.
4. Click **Save** to apply the device-specific routing rules.

When a client clicks your link, eCourtDate detects their device type and routes them to the appropriate URL automatically.

#### Step 5: Configure Geolocation-Based Redirects (Optional)

If your agency serves multiple regions and needs location-based routing:

1. On the redirect edit screen, locate the **Geolocation Redirects** section.
2. Add region-specific destination URLs by selecting a **State** or **Region** and entering the corresponding redirect URL.
3. Click **Save** to apply geolocation routing.

Clients are routed to the URL that matches their geographic location. If no match is found, they are sent to the default redirect URL.

#### Step 6: Use the Redirect Link in Messages

1. Copy the short URL displayed in the **Public Link** column of the redirects table.
2. Paste the link into any outbound message, whether it is a one-off message, a mass message, or a message template.
3. Alternatively, enable the **Automatically Replace Links** setting in **Admin** > **Settings** to have eCourtDate replace all external links in outbound messages with tracked redirect links automatically.

#### Step 7: Monitor Click Analytics

1. Return to **Admin** > **Portals** > **Redirects**.
2. Click the redirect link you want to review.
3. View the **Analytics** section, which displays:
   - Total click count
   - Click timestamps
   - Device types (mobile, desktop, tablet)
   - IP addresses and approximate geolocation
   - Browser and operating system details

### What to Expect

After creating a trackable redirect link, your agency can include the short URL in any outbound message. Each time a client clicks the link, eCourtDate logs the interaction in real time. You can review analytics at any point to confirm engagement. If you enabled automatic link replacement, every external URL in outbound messages is converted to a tracked redirect link without any manual effort.

Changes to redirect URLs take effect immediately. Clients who click the link after an update are routed to the new destination.

### Best Practices

- **Use descriptive names** for every redirect link so your team can quickly identify its purpose in the table (for example, "March Jury Summons Payment" rather than "Link 1").
- **Set up a custom domain** so redirect links display your agency's domain instead of a generic URL. This improves client trust and reduces spam filtering.
- **Test every link** before including it in a mass message. Click the **Public Link** to verify you are redirected to the correct destination.
- **Disable links after campaigns end** by changing the status to **Disabled** rather than deleting them. This preserves historical analytics data.
- **Review analytics weekly** to identify trends in client engagement and adjust your communication strategy accordingly.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Can I change where a redirect link points after I have already sent it to clients?**
A: Yes. Update the **Redirect URL** on the edit screen and click **Save**. The change takes effect immediately, so clients clicking the same short URL are routed to the new destination.

**Q: What happens if a client clicks a disabled redirect link?**
A: Clients who click a disabled redirect link will see the portal's default page instead of being redirected. They will not receive an error message.

**Q: Is there a limit to how many redirect links my agency can create?**
A: There is no hard limit on the number of redirect links. You can create as many as your agency needs across all portals.

**Q: Does the automatic link replacement setting apply to all message channels?**
A: Yes. When enabled, automatic link replacement applies to SMS, email, and any other outbound message that contains an external URL.

**Q: Can I track which specific client clicked a link?**
A: If the redirect link is included in a personalized message sent to an individual client, the click is associated with that client's record. For links shared publicly (such as on a website or flyer), clicks are tracked anonymously by IP address and device.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** Redirect link is not redirecting clients to the correct destination.
**Symptoms:** Clients report seeing the portal page instead of the intended website.
**Solution:**

1. Open the redirect link in the **Redirects** table and verify the **Redirect URL** is correct and includes `https://`.
2. Confirm the redirect link **Status** is set to **Active**.
3. Test the link by clicking **Public Link** in the table.
4. If you are using device-specific or geolocation redirects, verify those URLs are also correct.

**Issue:** Click analytics are not appearing for a redirect link.
**Symptoms:** The analytics section shows zero clicks even though clients confirmed they received and clicked the link.
**Solution:**

1. Verify that the link clients received matches the short URL shown in the **Public Link** column.
2. Check whether clients may have copied the destination URL directly from a previous visit rather than clicking the redirect link.
3. If the link was included in an email, confirm the email client is not prefetching or rewriting the URL.

> **Important:** If you continue to experience issues after following these troubleshooting steps, sign in to eCourtDate and create a ticket by clicking the ticket button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

### Related Articles

- [How to Create Redirect Links](/how-to-create-redirect-links)
- [How to Send a One-Off Message](/how-to-send-a-one-off-message)
- [How to Send a Mass Message Using Bulk Actions](/how-to-send-a-mass-message-using-bulk-actions)
- [How to Create Web Portals](/how-to-create-web-portals)
- [How to Create a Custom Domain](/how-to-create-a-custom-domain)