How to Create Permanent Product Links (No More Missing Product URLs!)
We understand how disruptive changed product URLs can be for you and your customers, so this article will help you keep your external links reliable and frustration-free.
When managing products in your online store, you may notice that product URLs sometimes change, especially if products are removed and re-added or if their model numbers are updated in your ERP accounting system. This can cause issues if you link to products from an external site, as URLs that worked before might break and impact the customer experience.
Why Do Product URLs Change?
Our system automatically assigns a unique ID to each product when it’s added to the site. This ID is included in the product’s URL. If a product is removed and later re-added (for example, after being made inactive and then active again in your inventory system), it receives a new ID, resulting in a new URL. Additionally, changes to a product’s model number can cause the system to treat it as a new product.
Solution: Use Permanent Redirector URLs
To avoid broken links, you can use a permanent redirector URL based on the product’s model number rather than its system-assigned ID. This special redirector URL always leads to the correct live product page, no matter how many times the product is removed, re-added, or its ID changes.
Format:
https://<your-site>/product-redirector/<model-number>
Example:
If your product’s model number is ABCD1234, use:
https://yourshop.com/product-redirector/ABCD1234
This URL will always redirect to the current product detail page for that model, even if the underlying system URL changes.
Additional Option: Hide Instead of Delete
If you want to temporarily remove a product from your site (so customers don’t see it), there are options to “hide” products rather than delete them. Hidden products keep their original ID and URL, so if you make them visible again later, the original product URL will still work.
These options aren't available by default and you'll need to contact Web Ninja Support to request that these options are enabled on your site and find out about costs involved etc. as there are a number of options to go over and they may present you with a few different ways you can manage this taylored to your needs.
Summary:
For reliable, permanent product links - especially when linking from other sites, emails, or marketing materials - just use the product-redirector URL format with your product’s model number.
As always if you have further questions about linking or managing product visibility, please contact our support team.