Overview

The Global Redirect by Time Range feature allows store owners to create time-sensitive post-checkout experiences based on specific date ranges. This powerful functionality enables you to:

• Create different thank you pages for different seasons, holidays, or promotional periods
• Schedule special post-purchase experiences for limited-time events
• Customize the checkout flow based on specific date ranges
• Implement time-limited special offers or instructions after purchase
• Automatically switch between different post-checkout experiences without manual intervention

How to Set Up Time Range-Based Redirects

1. Accessing the Time Range Settings

• Navigate to WooCommerce > WRAC Redirect
• Go to the Global Redirects tab
• Click on the Time (Date Range) option in the left sidebar menu

2. Enabling Time Range Redirects

• Find the “Enable or Disable” toggle
• Turn it On to activate time range-based redirects
• This enables the “Turn On to create redirect based on set time range” feature

3. Configuring Date Range

You can set specific start and end dates for your redirect:

• Select Start Date: Use the date picker or manually enter a date in YYYY-MM-DD format
  • This sets the first day when your time-based redirect will become active
  • Example: “2023-05-15” for May 15, 2023
• Select End Time: Use the date picker calendar to select an end date
  • Click the date on the monthly calendar that appears
  • This sets the last day your redirect will be active
  • The redirect will automatically deactivate after this date passes

4. Setting the Redirect Destination

Choose where customers will be redirected during your specified date range:

• Internal Page Redirect
  • From the “Select Redirect Page” dropdown:
  • Choose an existing page (e.g., “/holiday-special”, “/summer-promotion”)
  • This page will display for purchases made within your date range
• External URL Redirect
  • In the “Use External URL” field:
  • Enter a full URL (e.g., “https://promo.example.com/special-offer“)
  • Use external URL to redirect customers after successful purchase during the specified period

5. Failed Order Handling

Configure where customers go if payment fails during your specified date range:

• Failed Order Redirect Page – Select an internal page from the dropdown
• Failed Order External URL – Enter an external URL for failed orders

6. Save Your Configuration

• Click the Save Settings button at the bottom of the page
• Your time range redirect rules are now active

How It Works

When a customer completes checkout:

1. The plugin checks if the current date falls within your specified date range
2. If the current date is between your start and end dates (inclusive), they are redirected to your custom thank you page or external URL
3. If the current date is outside your specified range, they follow the standard checkout completion flow
4. If the order fails during your date range, they are directed to your specified failed order page

Practical Examples

Holiday Season Special Offers

• Date Range: November 25, 2023 – December 31, 2023
• Redirect to: “/holiday-thanks” with seasonal offers, gift wrapping information, and holiday shipping details

Limited-Time Promotion

• Date Range: July 1, 2023 – July 15, 2023
• Redirect to: A page with exclusive summer sale follow-up offers and related products

Product Launch Period

• Date Range: Launch day and the following week
• Redirect to: A page with product tutorials, setup guides, and community resources

Advanced Use Cases

Seasonal Marketing Campaigns

• Set up redirects that align with your marketing calendar:
  • Different post-purchase experiences for different promotional periods
  • Automatically transition between campaigns without manual updates

Event-Based Thank You Pages

• For conference or event-related sales:
  • Create date ranges around specific events
  • Provide event-specific information after purchase

Flash Sale Follow-ups

• For limited-time flash sales:
  • Set precise date ranges for flash sale periods
  • Direct customers to exclusive additional offers only available after purchase

Troubleshooting

• If redirects aren’t working, ensure the toggle is set to “On”
• Verify that your start and end dates are entered correctly (YYYY-MM-DD format)
• Confirm that the current date falls within your specified range
• Ensure your selected redirect page exists and is published
• For external URLs, confirm they include “https://” prefix
• Check your server’s time settings match your local time expectations

Best Practices

• Plan your time-based redirects to align with your marketing calendar
• Create clear, time-appropriate content on your redirect pages
• Consider using this feature alongside other redirect rules for maximum flexibility
• Test your redirects before the start date to ensure proper functionality
• Set reminders to update or create new time ranges as needed
• Use descriptive page names that include the date range for easy management
• Remember to update or disable expired time ranges to keep your settings organized