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  5. Fallback URLs & Link Health
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Fallback URLs & Link Health

Affiliate links break silently. The page goes 404, the product gets pulled, the affiliate program rotates URLs, or the destination domain expires. AffProf pairs automatic link health monitoring with fallback URLs so you do not lose clicks while you fix the original destination.

Automatic monitoring

AffProf checks every destination URL on a schedule and records status, response time, and history.

Fallback protection

Broken or disabled links can redirect to a backup URL instead of showing a dead end.

Clear diagnostics

Dashboard and per-link analytics show checks, uptime, fallback usage, and recent failures.

In this guide
The problemLink HealthManual checksFallback URLsChoosing fallbacksSetupHow they work togetherClick countsCommon questionsSetup checklist
The problem in plain terms
A product can disappear weeks after you publish content, and the link can keep losing money without you noticing.
Without AffProf
  • Your content keeps getting views.
  • Visitors click the affiliate link.
  • They land on a 404 or failed destination.
  • They give up and search somewhere else.
  • You earn $0 and may not know it happened.
With AffProf
  • AffProf detects the broken link within hours.
  • You receive an email alert.
  • If a fallback URL is configured, visitors go to your backup destination.
  • You keep earning from those clicks while you fix the original.
Part 1: Link Health monitoring
AffProf automatically checks every link in your account on a schedule.
  • Free plan: once per day.
  • Pro plan: every 6 hours, 4 times per day.
  1. 1AffProf sends a GET request to the destination URL with a 10-second timeout.
  2. 2It records the HTTP status code and response time.
  3. 3It saves the result to that link's check history.

A single failed check does not mark a link as broken. Networks have hiccups, so AffProf marks a link as broken only after multiple consecutive failures.

  • 4xx responses such as 404, 403, or 410.
  • 5xx responses such as 500, 502, or 503.
  • Timeouts with no response within 10 seconds.
  • Network errors such as DNS or certificate failures.

When a link transitions from Active to Broken, the link status turns red, the Dashboard banner shows the broken count, and you receive an email alert if broken link alerts are enabled.

Manual checks and history
You can verify a link immediately without waiting for the next scheduled check.
  1. 1Go to Links.
  2. 2Open the actions menu on any link.
  3. 3Click Check link.
Use manual checks after fixing a destination URL, after a product launch, or anytime you want to confirm a link works right now.
  • Link Health card: uptime %, total checks, average response time, and fallback redirects.
  • Recent checks table: last 10 checks with timestamp, status code, response time, and OK/Broken status.
Part 2: Fallback URLs
A fallback URL is a backup destination AffProf redirects to when a link is broken or manually disabled.

Without a fallback, visitors of broken or disabled links see AffProf’s "link unavailable" page. With a fallback, they are redirected to a destination of your choice and never see an error.

  • Per-link fallback: highest priority, set on the individual link.
  • Account-wide default fallback: set in Settings -> Default fallback URL and used when the per-link fallback is empty.
  • If neither is configured, broken or disabled links show the "link unavailable" page.
Choosing the right fallback URL
The best fallback depends on the type of link.
  • Product links: use a similar product, category page, search page, or your own alternatives page.
  • Tool or SaaS links: use the tool homepage with your affiliate code or your own review/comparison page.
  • Everything else: use your homepage, deals page, or current recommendations page.
Recommendation: set your account-wide default fallback to a high-converting page on your own site. Even broken-link traffic becomes useful instead of bouncing.
How to set fallbacks
Configure fallbacks per link or as an account-wide default.
  1. 1Per-link fallback: create or edit a link, open Options, enter the Fallback URL, and save.
  2. 2Account default: go to Settings -> Default fallback URL, enter the full URL, and click Save.
  3. 3Fallback URLs must start with https:// or http://.

Every time a fallback fires, AffProf records the click as redirected, increments the per-link Fallback redirects counter, and increments the Dashboard’s Fallback used counter.

Every Fallback used count is a click you would have lost without a fallback configured. It is the ROI of this feature.

Part 3: How they work together

The two systems act as one safety net.

  1. 1AffProf checks the link and confirms it is broken.
  2. 2AffProf marks the link as broken and sends you an alert.
  3. 3Visitors keep clicking the short link.
  4. 4AffProf detects the broken status at redirect time.
  5. 5Per-link fallback exists? Redirect there.
  6. 6No per-link fallback? Use the account-wide default fallback if one exists.
  7. 7No fallback at either level? Show the "link unavailable" page.
  8. 8You fix the destination.
  9. 9The next health check passes and the link returns to Active.
  10. 10New visitors go back to the original working destination.
The point is that between detection and repair, fallbacks keep you from losing money.

What the click counts look like

With a fallback configured
  • All clicks: 100
  • Successful: 100
  • No destination: 0
  • Fallback used: 100

Visitors did not see an error. They went to your fallback URL, so the redirect succeeded.

Without a fallback
  • All clicks: 100
  • Successful: 0
  • No destination: 100
  • Fallback used: 0

Visitors saw the link unavailable page. Conversion potential is zero.

Common questions

Does the fallback URL also receive the original UTM parameters?

Yes. UTMs configured on the original link are appended to the fallback URL too, so analytics tools can still attribute the traffic.

What if my fallback URL also breaks?

AffProf checks the original destination, not the fallback. Use a stable fallback you control, ideally your own site.

Can I update a broken link's destination without losing clicks?

Yes. Edit the link, paste the new working URL in Base URL, and save. The change is live immediately.

Do I get notified when a broken link starts working again?

Currently no. Only failures trigger emails. Recovery alerts are being considered for a future update.

Why is my Checks passed lower than expected?

The metric is historical for the selected period. Past failed checks remain in that period even after the link is fixed.

Can I disable health monitoring for a specific link?

Not currently. All links are monitored automatically.

What if my destination requires authentication or has a paywall?

AffProf checks are unauthenticated, so these destinations may appear broken. Contact hello@affprof.com if this affects your workflow.

Setup checklist

If you are starting from scratch, do these in order.

1Set an account-wide default fallback
5 minutes
  • Settings -> Default fallback URL -> enter your homepage or top-products page.
  • This protects every link that does not have its own fallback.
2Add per-link fallbacks for your top 10 most-clicked links
15 minutes
  • Open each high-traffic link and set a more specific fallback.
  • These are the links where losing a click hurts most.
3Verify broken link alerts are enabled
30 seconds
  • Settings -> Notifications -> confirm Broken link alerts is on.
  • Optionally add a CC email for a teammate.
4Check Fallback used monthly
ongoing
  • This metric proves your fallbacks are saving real clicks.
  • If it is growing, your safety net is working.

Need help?

Email hello@affprof.com with your account email and a description of what you are trying to set up. We respond within 24 hours, faster for Pro users.