The first time we set up Pretty Links for a client in our Tampa office, we shaved 14 messy affiliate URLs down to clean, branded slugs in under an hour. If you want to learn how to use Pretty Links to cloak, track, and organize URLs inside WordPress, this guide walks you through the exact steps we follow on real projects.
Quick answer: Install the Pretty Links plugin, create a short branded slug pointing to your long URL, pick a 302 or 307 redirect for affiliates, enable click tracking, and group links by category. That’s the core workflow for cleaner, trackable URLs in 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Pretty Links transforms long affiliate URLs into clean, branded slugs that boost click-through rates and build trust with audiences across social, email, and video platforms.
- The core Pretty Links setup workflow—installing the plugin, creating branded redirects with 307 status codes, enabling click tracking, and organizing links by category—takes under an hour to complete.
- Use 307 redirects for affiliate links and campaigns while reserving 301 redirects for permanent changes, and always pair cloaked links with visible FTC disclosures and sponsored attributes to comply with Google guidelines.
- Weekly click-tracking analysis helps marketers identify underperforming links (under 1% CTR) and reallocate budget from dead affiliate partners to top revenue-generating performers.
- Pretty Links Pro unlocks auto-linking and split testing features, making it ideal for creators managing multiple campaign links, ecommerce teams running seasonal promotions, and affiliate marketers maintaining large link portfolios.
What Pretty Links Does and Why It Matters
Pretty Links is a WordPress plugin that turns long, ugly URLs into short, branded ones like yoursite.com/coffee instead of a 120-character affiliate string. It also cloaks the destination, logs clicks, and keeps every link in one tidy dashboard.
Why it matters: branded slugs feel trustworthy, which means higher click-through rates on social posts, emails, and YouTube descriptions. The plugin also supports nofollow and sponsored attributes, which keeps you on the right side of Google’s link guidelines. We cover the full feature set in our Pretty Links Review breakdown.
Installing and Configuring Pretty Links the Right Way
Open your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search “Pretty Links,” then install and activate. The free version handles 90% of small business needs: Pro unlocks auto-linking and split tests.
Next, run the Setup Wizard if you’re on Pro and confirm defaults. Visit Pretty Links > Settings and:
- Enable global tracking
- Set default redirect to 307
- Toggle
nofollowfor affiliate links - Choose a clean prefix slug like
/go/or/r/
Do this today: spend 10 minutes on the settings page before creating any links. It saves cleanup work later.
Creating Your First Pretty Link, Step by Step
Go to Pretty Links > Add New. Paste your long destination URL into the Target URL field, then write a short slug in the Pretty Link field, like yoursite.com/convertkit.
- Pick a redirect type (we default to 307)
- Add a title and notes for future you
- Assign a category
- Confirm tracking is on
- Click Update
That is the entire flow. A studio in St. Petersburg we work with builds 30 links in a single session this way, which means their team stops hunting through old emails for affiliate URLs.
Choosing Redirect Types, Slugs, and Categories
- Redirect types: 307 for affiliates and campaigns: 301 only when a link is permanent
- Slugs: keep them short, lowercase, keyword-relevant (
/macbook-pro, not/aff_id_8827) - Categories: group by partner, campaign, or product so reports stay readable
If you prefer a different plugin’s flow, our How To Use BetterLinks walkthrough covers that side.
Tracking Clicks and Reading the Reports
Open Pretty Links > Pretty Links to see total clicks, unique clicks, referrers, devices, and country data per slug. Pro adds hourly graphs and conversion tracking.
We review reports weekly and flag any link with a click-through rate under 1%. That single habit, borrowed from a content marketing playbook we read years ago, has helped clients reallocate budget from dead affiliate partners to top performers, which means real revenue gains, not vanity metrics.
Try this Friday: export last month’s report and rank every link by clicks. Kill or rewrite the bottom three.
Smart Use Cases for Marketers, Creators, and Ecommerce
- Affiliate marketers: cloak partner links and use Pro’s auto-linking to convert keywords like “our favorite hosting” into tracked Pretty Links across every blog post
- Creators: shorten YouTube playlist URLs and set device-based redirects (iOS users to App Store, others to web)
- Ecommerce: create campaign-specific slugs like
/blackfridaythat you can repoint anywhere without reprinting materials
For link-building tactics that pair well with this setup, the case studies on Backlinko’s SEO blog are worth bookmarking. Not sure which plugin fits? Our Pretty Links vs BetterLinks vs ThirstyAffiliates comparison breaks down pricing and features.
Guardrails: Disclosures, Privacy, and Link Hygiene
FTC rules require clear disclosure when you earn from a link. Pretty Links cloaking does not exempt you, so add a visible disclosure near the link and apply the sponsored rel attribute in settings.
A few rules we follow on every client site:
- Set a click threshold to flag suspicious spikes
- Avoid storing personal data in link notes
- Use 307 redirects so search engines don’t pass authority to affiliate destinations
- Audit dead links monthly
Developers who want deeper hooks can find redirect-handling threads on Stack Overflow’s WordPress tag when edge cases come up.
Who this is for: founders and marketers running affiliate or campaign links. Who it isn’t for: anyone needing enterprise link management with SSO: that calls for a different stack.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pretty Links
What is Pretty Links and how does it work in WordPress?
Pretty Links is a WordPress plugin that converts long, messy URLs into short, branded slugs like yoursite.com/coffee. It cloaks the destination URL, tracks clicks, and organizes links in a dashboard. This makes affiliate links trustworthy and memorable while maintaining SEO compliance with nofollow and sponsored attributes.
How do I install and set up Pretty Links correctly?
Go to Plugins > Add New in WordPress, search “Pretty Links,” install, and activate it. Then visit Pretty Links > Settings to enable global tracking, set the default redirect to 307, toggle nofollow for affiliate links, and choose a clean prefix slug like /go/ or /r/. Spending 10 minutes on initial configuration saves cleanup work later.
What’s the difference between 301, 302, and 307 redirects in Pretty Links?
Use 307 or 302 redirects for temporary affiliate links and campaigns—they’re SEO-friendly and don’t pass authority to the destination. Use 301 only for permanent redirects when you’re sure the link won’t change. The 307 redirect is recommended for affiliate links because it preserves SEO integrity.
How can I track and optimize Pretty Links performance?
Enable click tracking when creating each link, then view reports in Pretty Links > Pretty Links dashboard showing total clicks, unique visitors, referrers, devices, and location data. Review reports weekly and flag links with click-through rates under 1% to reallocate budget from poor performers to top-performing partners.
Can Pretty Links help with FTC compliance for affiliate marketing?
Yes, but URL cloaking alone doesn’t exempt you from FTC disclosure rules. Always add visible disclosure near your affiliate links and apply the sponsored rel attribute in Pretty Links settings. Set click thresholds to flag suspicious spikes and avoid storing personal data in link notes to maintain privacy compliance.
What are the best use cases for Pretty Links?
Pretty Links works for affiliate marketers cloaking partner links, creators shortening YouTube URLs with device-based redirects, and ecommerce businesses creating campaign-specific slugs like /blackfriday. The plugin supports auto-linking keywords to tracked URLs (Pro version), making it versatile for marketers, creators, and online retailers managing multiple partner links efficiently.
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