If you run a WordPress site, these dead links can hurt your SEO and make readers lose confidence in your content. The challenge is that checking hundreds or thousands of URLs by hand simply isn’t practical.

The good news is that there’s a free plugin that handles this job automatically. It scans your site for broken links and replaces them with archived versions from the Internet Archive.

In this article, I’ll show you how to set up this tool and protect your WordPress site from link rot, and help build a better web at the same time!

Here’s a quick look at the topics I will cover in this guide:

• What Is Link Rot and How Do I Prevent It?
• Step 1: Install and Activate the Wayback Machine Link Fixer Plugin
• Step 2: Configure the Wayback Machine Link Fixer Plugin
  • Entering API Keys
  • Configuring Link Fixer Settings
  • Configuring the Auto Archiver
• Step 3: Monitor and Manage Links
• Alternative: Use All in One SEO's Broken Link Checker to Find and Fix Broken Links
• Frequently Asked Questions About Preventing Link Rot
• Additional Resources for Managing Links in WordPress

What Is Link Rot and How Do I Prevent It?

“Link rot” happens when a webpage you’ve linked to disappears or moves, leaving a broken link on your website. Over time, this can happen to any website when you reference old blog posts, news articles, or resources that are no longer available.

Preventing link rot is essential for:

• SEO and user experience: Broken links can hurt your search rankings and frustrate visitors. Search engines may see multiple broken links as a sign that your site isn’t well-maintained, which can hurt your overall rankings.
• Website credibility: Dead links make your content seem outdated or unreliable. This can hurt your reputation and drive visitors away.
• Supporting the open web: The internet works best when information is accessible. Every time you archive a web page to prevent link rot, you help preserve a piece of digital history for everyone. Over time, this makes the web a more reliable resource.

One of the best tools for this is the Wayback Machine. It’s run by Internet Archive, which is a free, nonprofit service that snapshots web pages over time so that information is never lost. Its overall goal is to be an internet library so that information is accessible to everyone.

And with the right WordPress plugin, you can automatically replace your dead links with archived versions from the Wayback Machine.

Step 1: Install and Activate the Wayback Machine Link Fixer Plugin

The first step is to install the free Internet Archive Wayback Machine Link Fixer plugin on your WordPress site. This plugin will automatically check your links and replace broken ones with archived versions from the Wayback Machine.

If you’re new to installing plugins, then see our beginner’s guide to installing a WordPress plugin. Once activated, the plugin will be ready for configuration in the next step.

Step 2: Configure the Wayback Machine Link Fixer Plugin

After activating the plugin, it’s time to set it up.

The plugin has two powerful functions: the Link Fixer, which finds and repairs existing broken links, and the Auto Archiver, which proactively saves copies of external links to prevent them from breaking in the future. The setup wizard will help you configure both.

After activating the plugin, you should see a banner at the top of your WordPress dashboard. Click the ‘run the setup wizard’ link to begin. If you don’t see the banner, you can also start the wizard by going to Link Fixer » Settings in your left-hand menu.

The plugin will launch a simple setup wizard that guides you through three easy steps: entering API keys (if needed), configuring which post types to scan, and setting up automatic archiving for new content.

Entering API Keys

If you want to archive more than 4,000 links per day, you’ll need a free Archive.org account and API keys. This limit applies to every external link on your site that the plugin checks or archives.

Most small or medium websites won’t reach this daily limit, and you can safely click the ‘Next Step’ button and move on to the next section.

Only very large sites, like news publishers or sites that automatically publish hundreds of posts with many outbound links, might need the API keys.

Those site owners will need to go to the API Keys page on Archive.org and copy their unique Archive.org API Access Key and Archive.org API Secret Key.

Finally, enter these keys in the plugin settings to unlock higher daily limits for archiving links.

Once you have done this, click the ‘Next Step’ button at the bottom of the page to continue.

Configuring Link Fixer Settings

Next, you’ll configure how the plugin scans your site. This step lets you choose which content the plugin monitors for broken links, and makes sure that both new and existing posts are protected.

Start by enabling the Link Fixer option. This allows the plugin to process links within the post types you select below that setting.

Then, choose which post types you want the plugin to scan for links, such as Posts and Pages. This setting tells the plugin where to look for broken links, whether they point to your own site or to external websites.

I recommend you enable the link fixer for both posts and pages.

Finally, you can enable Scan Existing Content to allow the plugin to review all existing posts of the selected types. Keep in mind that scanning older content may take some time if your site has a lot of posts.

To make sure the plugin automatically fixes your broken links, leave the ‘Action for Broken Links’ setting on the default ‘Replace Link (No Notification)’ setting.

Now you can click the ‘Next Step’ button to continue.

Configuring the Auto Archiver

Next, you’ll set up the Auto Archiver, which automatically archives your content on the Wayback Machine whenever you publish or update posts. This ensures that new content is protected from link rot without you needing to do anything.

Start by enabling the Auto Archiver option, which allows the plugin to automatically archive external pages linked from your chosen post types, such as Posts and Pages.

Finally, you can enable scheduled archiving to have the plugin archive content at regular intervals according to your preferred schedule. This keeps your site consistently backed up in the Wayback Machine and helps maintain link integrity over time.

When you are happy with the settings you have selected, make sure you click the ‘Finish’ button to save them.

Once these settings are configured, the plugin will automatically monitor your links and keep them updated with archived versions, saving you time and protecting your site’s SEO.

Step 3: Monitor and Manage Links

Once the plugin is set up, you can monitor its activity by navigating to the Link Fixer menu in your WordPress admin sidebar. The Dashboard page gives you a quick overview, while the Links page provides a detailed list of every link the plugin is tracking.

On the Dashboard page, you’ll see a list of Recent Link Checks and Latest Links.

There’s also a Links Statistics Overview on the right, showing totals for all links, links saved, successfully archived links, links ineligible for redirect, checks in progress, and total broken links.

This gives you a quick snapshot of your site’s link health at a glance.

The Links page allows you to dive deeper, displaying each link along with columns for URL, archive status, link health, times checked, and the last check date and time.

This makes it easy to identify any problematic links that may need further action.

By regularly reviewing these pages, you can ensure your site’s links remain intact, both for your readers and for SEO. If any issues come up, you can investigate or manually fix links as needed.

Alternative: Use All in One SEO’s Broken Link Checker to Find and Fix Broken Links

The method I just showed you is ideal for automatically preventing broken links on your website while improving internet archives.

But if you’re just looking for an easy way to find and manually fix broken links on your site, then Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO is a great alternative. This free plugin regularly scans your website for broken links, including internal links and external links.

After installing the plugin, you can view all of them by going to Broken Links in your WordPress dashboard.

From here, you can easily fix any broken links by manually entering the new URL or removing the link altogether.

Plus, the plugin runs scans every 3 days, so you won’t have to worry about future broken links.

For more details, see our guide on how to find and fix broken links in WordPress.

Frequently Asked Questions About Preventing Link Rot

Keeping your links healthy can raise a lot of questions, especially if you’re new to WordPress or the concept of link archiving.

Below, I’ve answered some of the most common questions about how to protect your site from link rot and broken links.

1. How does a broken link checker plugin identify broken links?
A broken link checker plugin works by regularly scanning every link on a website to see if it leads to a live webpage. If it detects an error, like a ‘404 Not Found’ page, it marks the link as broken.

2. What happens if a broken link doesn’t have an archived version in the Wayback Machine?
If a link is broken and no archived version exists, a tool like Wayback Link Fixer cannot create a snapshot of the old page because the original content is already gone. This is why its ‘Auto Archiver’ feature is so important. It proactively saves snapshots of links while they are still live.

3. Can I manually check individual WordPress posts for link rot?
Yes. The Wayback Link Fixer plugin works automatically in the background. It also allows you to trigger a manual scan for specific posts or pages directly from the WordPress dashboard. This is useful if you’ve just updated an important old article and want to check it immediately.

4. How do I fix broken links on my website?
The Wayback Link Fixer plugin offers an easy method. It automatically replaces broken links with their archived versions from the Wayback Machine. If an archived version isn’t available, or if you prefer to point the link to a new resource, then you can also fix it manually. For a complete guide on other methods, see our tutorial on how to find and fix broken links in WordPress.

5. Are snapshots in the Wayback Machine publicly accessible?
Yes. Once a URL is archived in the Wayback Machine, it becomes part of the public archive and is accessible to anyone.

6. Will the Wayback Link Fixer plugin slow down my website?
The Wayback Link Fixer plugin is designed to be lightweight. It runs its checks in the background as a scheduled task, which minimizes any impact on your site’s performance and loading speed.

7. Does fixing broken links help website SEO?
Yes. Search engines like Google view a large number of broken links as a sign of a poorly maintained website, which can negatively impact your search rankings. Fixing these 404 errors improves the user experience and signals to Google that your site is high-quality and well-maintained, which is great for SEO.

8. How is Wayback Link Fixer different from the Broken Link Checker plugin?
The popular Broken Link Checker plugin is excellent at finding broken links, but requires you to fix them manually. Wayback Link Fixer goes a step further by automatically fixing the broken link, replacing it with a working, archived version from the Wayback Machine. Its main focus is on preserving the original reference, not just flagging an error.

Additional Resources for Managing Links in WordPress

Managing your internal and external links effectively is key to keeping your site healthy, improving SEO, and ensuring a smooth experience for your visitors.

If you want to learn more about working with links in WordPress, then these beginner-friendly resources can help:

• Beginner’s Guide on How to Add a Link in WordPress – Learn how to add links to your posts and pages the right way.
• How to Find and Fix Broken Links in WordPress (Step by Step) – A step-by-step guide to locating and fixing broken links manually.
• How to Track Outbound Links in WordPress – Discover how to monitor links pointing to external websites.
• How to Add Nofollow Links in WordPress (Simple Guide for Beginners) – Learn when and how to use nofollow links.
• How to Open External Links in a New Window or Tab With WordPress – Make external links open in a new tab for a better user experience.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How You Can Help Prevent Link Rot and Make the Open Web Better first appeared on WPBeginner.

I suggested we add a rewards program, and we launched a simple refer-a-friend system. Within just a few months, their word-of-mouth sales had nearly doubled. This proves you don’t always need a huge ad budget to grow.

I’ve tested many rewards plugins, and I know how complicated they can feel when you’re just starting out. That’s why I was so impressed to find two tools that make this process straightforward for anyone.

In this guide, I’ll teach you how to set up a WooCommerce rewards program to boost sales and keep customers coming back. We’ll cover two methods step-by-step, so you can choose the one that’s right for your store.

Which Method Is Right for You?

• Go with Method 1 (RewardsWP) if you’re new to rewards programs and want the fastest way to get new customers through word-of-mouth. It’s simple, focused, and effective.
• Choose Method 2 (Advanced Coupons) if you want to build a complete loyalty system to reward existing customers for many actions (like purchases and reviews) and also want a referral system built in.

What Is a WooCommerce Rewards Program? (And Why You Need One)

A WooCommerce rewards program is a system that gives your customers bonuses or incentives in exchange for their loyalty.

These programs are designed to encourage repeat purchases, increase engagement, and turn satisfied customers into long-term advocates for your store.

There are two popular types of rewards systems you can create in WooCommerce:

• Referral (Refer-a-Friend) Program: Rewards existing customers for referring new shoppers. This method turns happy buyers into brand promoters and helps you attract new customers without spending on ads.
• Points-Based Loyalty Program: Gives customers points every time they make a purchase, leave a product review, or perform another action on your website. Those points can later be redeemed for discounts, coupons, or even free products.

Here’s a quick comparison of both approaches to help you decide which one fits your store best:

Here are some of the biggest benefits of adding a rewards program to WooCommerce:

• Reduce Marketing Costs: Happy customers are your best marketers. A referral program helps you reach new audiences through word-of-mouth, while a loyalty program rewards your regular buyers and keeps them coming back—no expensive ads required.
• Improve Customer Retention: When people earn points or referral bonuses, they have a reason to shop again. These small rewards help turn first-time buyers into long-term customers.
• Increase Repeat Purchases: Whether it’s redeeming points for a coupon or using a discount they earned by referring a friend, customers are more likely to make another purchase when there’s a reward waiting for them.
• Boost Average Order Value: You can set minimum spending limits for discounts or redemption. This simple rule often nudges customers to spend a little more to claim their reward.
• Build a Competitive Advantage: When two stores offer similar products, shoppers tend to choose the one that values their loyalty. A well-designed rewards program gives you that edge and helps create a real sense of community around your brand.

At the end of the day, rewards programs are about showing appreciation. They remind your customers that their support matters, and that’s what keeps them coming back.

Method 1: How to Create a Refer-a-Friend Rewards Program in WooCommerce (Using RewardsWP)

In this method, I’ll focus on creating one of the simplest and most powerful rewards programs: a refer-a-friend program. This will allow you to reward your current customers for bringing new customers to your store.

I’ll walk you through how to set up a rewards program using the RewardsWP plugin.

While there are many great WooCommerce loyalty plugins available, I recommend RewardsWP if your main goal is to launch a refer-a-friend program quickly.

I’ve found it to be the easiest and fastest tool for beginners because it focuses only on referrals and does it exceptionally well, without overwhelming you with extra settings.

You can learn more about the plugin in our detailed RewardsWP review.

Step 1: Install and Activate RewardsWP

First, you need to sign up for an account on the RewardsWP website. Just follow the onscreen instructions to create your account and make a payment.

Next, you need to install and activate the RewardsWP plugin in your WordPress dashboard. For detailed instructions, you can see our beginner’s guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Once the plugin is activated, a new ‘RewardsWP’ menu item will appear in your WordPress dashboard.

The first thing you will need to do is enter your license key. You can find this in your account area on the RewardsWP website or in the email they sent you when you purchased the license.

Simply paste your license key into the RewardsWP » Settings page and click the ‘Connect’ button.

When I tested the plugin, it connected with my WooCommerce store automatically without any extra setup. Everything worked right away, which makes the process very simple for beginners.

While this guide focuses on WooCommerce, it’s worth noting that RewardsWP also integrates with Easy Digital Downloads and MemberPress, making it a flexible choice for digital download stores and membership websites.

Step 2: Set Up Your Referral Rewards

The next step is to set up rewards for your customers and the people they refer to your online store. To get started, navigate to RewardsWP » Settings in your WordPress dashboard and click on the ‘Referrals’ tab.

The first thing you’ll need to do is activate the program by using the toggle to switch the Program Status from ‘Inactive’ to ‘Active’. Don’t worry, none of these settings will go live on your site until you click the ‘Save Changes’ button later.

Once activated, it’s time to set up your rewards. You’ll see two main sections: ‘Advocate Reward’ (for your existing customer) and ‘Friend Award’ (for the new customer).

In my experience, a program that only rewards your existing customers isn’t nearly as effective as one that rewards both people. After all, the friend is much more likely to use a referral link when they get something out of it, too.

When you click the ‘Add Reward’ button, a popup titled ‘Select Advocate Reward’ (or Friend Award) will appear.

Here, you can choose the type of incentive you want to offer:

• Amount discount: A fixed dollar amount off their purchase (such as $10 off).
• Percentage off: A percentage discount on their order (such as 15% off).
• Free shipping: Waives the shipping costs for the order.
• Free product: A specific product from your store at no cost.

Let’s walk through an example. If you select ‘Amount discount,’ you will be taken to a new page to set the specific rules for that reward. You’ll see fields for:

• Reward Value: The exact dollar amount of the discount.
• Minimum Order Amount: The amount a customer must spend to be able to use the reward.
• Reward Expiration: How long the reward is valid, with options like 7 days, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year.

Make sure you click the ‘Add Reward’ button at the bottom to save your settings.

You’ll find that the other reward types, like ‘Percentage off’ or ‘Free shipping,’ have very similar and straightforward settings.

Once you configure and save the reward for the Advocate, simply follow the same steps for the Friend.

Once you have set up your Advocate and Friend rewards, don’t forget to click the ‘Save Changes’ button at the top of the screen to activate your rewards program.

Tips for a Simple and Effective Reward Strategy

I’ve found that keeping the rewards simple and easy to understand is the key to a successful program. A clear, valuable offer for both people is what turns your happy customers into your best marketers.

For example, you could give the Advocate a $10 discount for a successful referral and welcome the new Friend with 15% off their purchases for 7 days. This provides an immediate, clear benefit and is very easy to set up.

While simple discounts are very effective, don’t overlook the ‘Free Product’ reward. This can be a powerful incentive because a tangible product often feels more valuable to customers than a small discount.

Best of all, once you’ve set this up, the program runs on its own.

RewardsWP handles all the tracking and reward delivery automatically, which means you don’t have to manually create coupon codes or figure out who referred whom. The plugin takes care of everything in the background, so you don’t have to manage it day-to-day.

Step 3: Customize the Customer-Facing Rewards Widget

Now, let’s customize how the rewards program looks to your customers. I recommend paying close attention to the customer’s side of things, because if the program is confusing or hard to use, then no one will use it.

In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to RewardsWP » Settings and click on the ‘Rewards Widget’ tab.

This page controls the floating widget that your logged-in customers will use to find and share their referral link.

Let’s walk through the settings:

• Brand Color: Use this to select a color for the widget’s title bar and button, so it matches your website’s design.
• Display: Choose how the widget button appears on your site. You can select ‘Icon with text,’ ‘Text only,’ or ‘Icon only.’
• Button Text & Position: Here you can change the text that appears on the button (the default is ‘Rewards’) and choose whether it’s positioned on the ‘Right’ or ‘Left’ side of the screen.

As you make these adjustments, you can see your changes in the live preview on the right side of the screen.

Next are the important Sharing Options, which you can enable with a toggle:

• X (formerly Twitter): You can write a default message that populates when a user clicks to share.
• Facebook: This toggle allows sharing to Facebook. Users will be prompted to write their own message.
• Email: You can customize the default email ‘Subject’ and ‘Message’ that gets sent. The plugin uses helpful tags like {reward_name} and {referral_link} to automatically insert the correct information.

Once you’re happy with the setup, make sure to click the ‘Save Changes’ button at the top right to make your widget live.

Step 4: Configure Email Sender Settings

The referral program sends two key types of emails, and you’ll want to make sure they look like they are coming directly from your store.

The first is the invitation email that your customer (the Advocate) sends to their friend, which you customized in the ‘Rewards Widget’ settings.

The second is an automated email that notifies the Advocate when their friend has successfully made a purchase and their reward has been issued.

To configure the sender details for these emails, stay in the RewardsWP » Settings area and click on the ‘Emails’ tab.

This page is very straightforward and has two important fields:

• From Name: This is the name that will appear as the sender in your customers’ inboxes. You should enter your store’s name here.
• From Email: This is the email address the rewards notifications will be sent from. It’s best to use a professional email address associated with your website, like support@yourstore.com.

After filling in these details, don’t forget to click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

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Step 5: Test Your Refer-a-Friend Program

Before you promote your new program, it’s important to test the entire process from start to finish. This helps you catch any issues and ensures your customers have a smooth experience.

Here is a quick checklist to follow:

• Log in as a test customer and find the Rewards Widget. Copy your unique referral link from the widget.
• Open the link in a different browser or an incognito window to simulate being a new visitor (the ‘Friend’).
• Make a test purchase as the new ‘Friend’ and confirm that their reward (such as 15% off) is applied correctly at checkout.
• Check your original test customer’s email inbox. After the purchase is complete, you should receive an automated email notifying you that your referral was successful and giving you your ‘Advocate’s Reward’.
• Try to use the Advocate’s reward (such as the $10 off coupon) on a new order to make sure it works perfectly.

Once you’ve confirmed that both rewards are delivered and working correctly, you can be confident that your new refer-a-friend program is ready for your customers.

Bonus Step: Track Your Program’s Success and Reward Top Advocates

Once your program is up and running, RewardsWP makes it easy to see how it’s performing.

To see a live log of all the referral activity, just navigate to RewardsWP » Referrals in your WordPress dashboard.

On this page, you’ll find a detailed table of every referral that has occurred, including who sent it, who received it, and the status of the referral. This is the best place to monitor the success of your program.

I suggest checking this page regularly to identify your most enthusiastic customers—your top advocates. You could even reach out to them personally with a thank-you note or an extra bonus coupon to strengthen that relationship and encourage even more referrals.

Method 2: Create a Points-Based Loyalty Program in WooCommerce (Using Loyalty Program by Advanced Coupons)

In this method, I will show you how to create a points-based loyalty program for your WooCommerce store. In this setup, customers will be rewarded for purchasing items, leaving product reviews, spending over a certain amount, and more.

I will show you how to do this using Loyalty Program by Advanced Coupons, which is the best WooCommerce coupon and loyalty program plugin. We have tested it extensively over the years, which you can learn about in our Advanced Coupons review.

Step 1: Install and Activate Loyalty Program by Advanced Coupons

First, you need to sign up for an account on the Advanced Coupons Loyalty Program website. Simply follow the instructions to enter your details and pay for the plugin.

Then, you need to install and activate the free Advanced Coupons plugin and the premium Advanced Coupons Loyalty Program plugin in your WordPress dashboard.

For more information on how to do this, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Next, you need to head to Coupons » License and switch to the ‘Loyalty Program’ tab. Here, you need to enter your license key and the email address you used to sign up for the plugin.

You can find your license key in your Advanced Coupons account dashboard or in the email you received when you signed up.

Then, click on ‘Activate Key’ to complete the process.

Step 2: Setup the General Settings for your Loyalty Program

Next, you need to go to Coupons » Loyalty Program» Settings from your WordPress dashboard. This is where you will build your loyalty program.

Under the General settings, you can control a few things related to your loyalty program:

• Price to points earned: The number of points that customers earn per dollar spent in your store. The default is 1 point for every $1 spent, but you can increase this to reward your customers more.
• Points to price redeemed ratio: How much each point is worth when a customer redeems it in your online store. A setting of ’10’ means that users must redeem 10 points to get a $1 discount in your store.
• Points name: You can change this setting if you prefer to call your points something else, like Starbucks does with its ‘Stars’. In my example, I’m using Awesome Points.

To make it crystal clear, let’s look at an example:

• Let’s set ‘Price to points earned’ so $1 spent = 1 point
• Then set the ‘Points to price redeemed ratio’ is 10 points = $1 discount

This means that a customer who spends $100 earns 100 points. They can then redeem those 100 points for a $10 discount on their next purchase.

This is a simple way to create a 10% cashback-style reward.

Step 3: Set up the Email Settings

Next, in the ‘Emails’ tab, you can set up email notifications for customers enrolled in your loyalty program. These include notifications about how many points they’ve recently earned and reminders to redeem their points.

Advanced Coupons has default settings for the time of day, and how soon after customer inactivity these emails should be sent. You can leave them as they are or adjust them to fit your needs.

Step 4: Configure Points Earning Settings

Next, you will configure how points are calculated in your WooCommerce store. Click to open the ‘Points Earning’ tab.

For example, you may wish to give a customer fewer points if they use a coupon code as opposed to a shopper who pays outright.

Under ‘Points Calculation’, you can use the toggles to control whether discounts, tax, shipping, and fees should be included when calculating points.

You can also set the minimum amount that customers need to spend to earn points using the ‘Minimum threshold to earn points’ setting.

On the other hand, the ‘Order related points waiting period’ setting controls how long it will take for customers to receive their points after spending.

Moving down, you can control the ‘Actions that earn points.’ This allows you to reward customers for a variety of actions, including:

• Purchasing products
• Leaving a product review
• Commenting on a blog post
• Registering as a new user
• Completing their first order
• Spending over a certain amount
• Shopping during special promotional periods (like a sale)

You can simply turn on the toggles for any actions you want to reward.

For each action that you switch on, new settings will appear below.

For example, if you reward customers for registering on your site, you can also set the number of points they will earn for that action.

I recommend encouraging shoppers to spend more by awarding extra points for orders over a certain amount. This can increase the average order value, which is similar to cross-selling and upselling products in WooCommerce.

Just switch on the ‘Spending over a certain amount’ settings and then type a value into the ‘Spending over a threshold’ field.

During busy shopping periods, it’s also smart to give customers an extra reason to buy from your store.

For example, you might award extra points during Black Friday so that customers don’t want to shop with a competitor.

Just switch on the ‘Extra points during a period’ toggle.

Then, simply enter a date and time range into the ‘Extra points to earn during period’ section. You can also type in how many points customers will earn.

Step 5: Set up Referral Program Settings

Next, you can create a referral program for your store. This means that existing customers can refer their friends to your loyalty program and receive more points.

Just open the ‘Referral’ tab.

Here’s a quick overview of the settings:

• Points awarded to referrer on signup: How many points the referrer gets if someone uses their link to sign up for your loyalty program.
• Points awarded to referrer on purchase: How many points the referrer gets every time the person they referred buys something in your store.
• Referral redirect URL: Where you want to send people when they click on a referral link. For example, you might want to send them to a specific product page, the signup page for your loyalty program, and more.

You can also choose to exclude certain user roles or users from using the referral program. This could be helpful if you don’t want your team members to be eligible for the program.

Step 6: Allow Customers to Create Accounts

Your customers will need to create an account in your WooCommerce store to collect loyalty points.

You can also automatically create an account for them when they make their first purchase. This can improve the user experience and may attract additional members.

To automatically create an account for a new customer, just go to WooCommerce » Settings and click on the ‘Accounts and Privacy’ tab.

If you uncheck the ‘Allow customers to place orders without an account’ setting, customers will be unable to check out as guests.

This will encourage more people to register on your site, but may also cause more shoppers to abandon their shopping carts and give up on a purchase.

So, it’s a good idea to set up WooCommerce conversion tracking and track visitors to your WordPress website. You can then see whether this change hurts your conversion rates.

Next, you need to check the ‘Allow customers to log into an existing account during checkout’ box.

You’ll also want to make it as easy as possible for customers to create an account. So, I also recommend checking all the boxes in the ‘Account creation’ section, as you can see in the following image:

Now, WooCommerce will automatically send emails to first-time customers with information on how to access their new accounts.

Step 7: Preview Your Loyalty Program

Finally, you will want to check that your loyalty program is up and running correctly. You can do this by going to My Account » My Awesome Points.

Here, customers can see how many points they have earned and how much they are worth.

Customers simply need to enter a value in the ‘Enter Points’ field, and they will see instructions on how to redeem their points.

Best Practices for a Successful Rewards Program

Great job on getting your rewards program set up. Now that the technical side is complete, here are a few key strategies to ensure it becomes a powerful tool for growing your business.

Find the Right Balance: You want your rewards to be motivating without hurting your profits. A great way to protect your margins is to set a ‘Minimum Order Amount’ for the rewards. This ensures that the discount is only applied to purchases of a certain size, encouraging customers to spend more.

Keep It Simple: A program that is confusing won’t be used. The best strategy is to offer clear, direct value that is easy to understand in seconds. For example, “Give your friends 15% off, get a $10 coupon for yourself” is a simple and powerful offer for a refer-a-friend program.

Promote Your Program: Don’t just launch your rewards program—make sure to promote it. Mention it in your email newsletters, on your order confirmation pages, and on social media. The more your customers know about it, the more they’ll use it.

Monitor Your Results: Keep an eye on how many people are using the program. If you find that customers aren’t participating, don’t be afraid to test different reward offers to see what motivates them the most.

Frequently Asked Questions About WooCommerce Rewards Programs

Over the years, I’ve helped countless store owners set up their loyalty systems. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions I hear.

What’s the difference between a referral and a loyalty program?

A loyalty program covers the overall category of rewarding customers. This can include earning points for purchases, getting birthday rewards, or unlocking VIP tiers.

A referral program is a specific type of loyalty program that rewards customers for one specific action: referring their friends. It’s often the best place to start because it directly drives new sales.

Can I run both a loyalty and referral program at the same time?

Absolutely. The key is choosing the right plugin. The Loyalty Program by Advanced Coupons plugin is an all-in-one solution that lets you run a points-based program and a referral program at the same time from one dashboard.

However, if your only goal is to launch a simple and powerful refer-a-friend program without a points system, then RewardsWP is a better, streamlined choice.

Do I need coding skills to create a rewards program?

No, you don’t need any coding skills when using a plugin like RewardsWP. The entire setup process involves clicking through settings pages and filling out forms, just like any other WordPress plugin.

Will a rewards program slow down my website?

A well-coded plugin like RewardsWP is designed to be lightweight and won’t hurt your site speed. It only loads its scripts on relevant pages, minimizing any performance impact.

How are referral rewards handled for returned orders?

RewardsWP handles this automatically. If a referred friend’s purchase is refunded, the reward that was issued to the original customer (the Advocate) can be automatically voided to prevent misuse.

Additional Resources for WooCommerce Stores

I hope this article has helped you create a rewards program in WooCommerce. Setting up a loyalty system is one of the smartest investments you can make in your customer relationships and long-term business growth.

With RewardsWP handling the technical details, you can focus on what matters most: delivering great products and service that keep customers coming back.

You might also be interested in reading these related tutorials:

• Best WooCommerce Points and Rewards Plugins
• Best Referral Program Software for Small Business Compared
• How to Turn Your WooCommerce Customers into Affiliates
• How to Create Smart Coupons in WooCommerce
• How to Increase Average Order Value With WordPress

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How I Setup a WooCommerce Rewards Program (That Actually Works) first appeared on WPBeginner.

Country-based form filtering solves this problem. You can block junk submissions that waste your time and focus only on prospects who are actually in your service area or target market.

I’ve used this approach to cut down on spam while making my forms more effective for lead generation.

And in this article, I’ll show you how to set up geographic restrictions for your WordPress form entries. This will help you get a more focused and secure lead generation system up and running in just a few minutes.

Why Block Form Entries From Certain Countries? 🌍

Blocking form entries by country is one of the simplest ways to reduce spam, save time, and collect only relevant leads. If your business only serves certain regions, then letting anyone worldwide submit your forms usually means dealing with junk entries and messages that will never turn into real customers.

When I set up contact forms on my own WordPress websites, I quickly noticed the same issue: my inbox filled up fast, but most of the messages weren’t helpful.

Instead of real inquiries, I was dealing with spam submissions, unrelated messages, and entries from regions I didn’t even serve.

For a local business, this can be overwhelming and makes it harder to spot genuine opportunities.

Blocking form entries from certain countries helps you:

• Reduce spam and irrelevant messages so your inbox stays clean.
• Save time by focusing only on potential customers in your target area.
• Improve lead quality because you’re reaching people who are actually interested in your services.
• Protect your business from fraud by cutting off high-risk locations.

When I applied this approach to my contact forms, they became more useful. Instead of spending time deleting junk submissions, I could focus on replying to people who are genuinely interested.

Now, let’s take a look at how to easily block form entries from specific countries in WordPress.

You can use the links below to jump to the method of your choice:

• Method 1: Block Form Submissions From Specific Countries (Recommended)
  • Step 1: Install and Activate WPForms
  • Step 2: Choose or Create a WordPress Form
  • Step 3: Enable Country Filter
  • Step 4: Embed Your Form
• Method 2: Filter Form Entries by Email Address Using Allowlist or Denylist (Free)
  • Step 1: Install and Activate WPForms
  • Step 2: Choose or Create a WordPress Form
  • Step 3: Set up Allowlist / Denylist
  • Step 4: Embed Your WordPress Form
• Things to Keep in Mind When Blocking Form Entries by Country
• Tip: Layer Additional Spam Protection for Stronger Security
• Frequently Asked Questions About Preventing WordPress Form Spam

Method 1: Block Form Submissions From Specific Countries (Recommended)

If you want to block form submissions from specific countries without touching any code, the easiest way is to use the built-in Country Filter feature in WPForms.

This lets you either ‘allow’ certain countries to submit your form or ‘deny’ specific countries that often send spam or irrelevant leads. This prevents spam from ever reaching your inbox.

Plus, the filter works right inside the form builder, so you can set it up in just a few clicks.

At WPBeginner, we use WPForms for creating all kinds of forms, from simple contact forms to complex surveys and registration forms. We’ve thoroughly tested it over the years, which you can read more about in our full WPForms review.

Step 1: Install and Activate WPForms

First, you’ll need to install and activate the WPForms plugin. We have a complete guide on how to install a WordPress plugin that walks you through the process.

Upon activation, you can edit the form where you want to block entries.

Step 2: Choose or Create a WordPress Form

Just go to the WPForms » All Forms page and click ‘Edit’ under your form’s name.

If you don’t have a form yet, then you can easily create one using WPForms’ drag-and-drop builder. Just head to WPForms » Add New from your WordPress dashboard.

The plugin offers dozens of premade form templates for contact forms, surveys, order forms, and more, so you can get started quickly.

You can also use the AI form builder to generate a custom template based on your needs. Just give your form a name and describe what you want, and it will create a starting point for you.

Once your template is ready, it will open in WPForms’ visual editor, where you can edit, delete, or rearrange form fields with just a few clicks.

I really like how smooth the process is—it took me only a couple of minutes to go from a blank page to a ready-to-use form when I tested it.

Here are some step-by-step guides you can follow to create different types of forms:

• How to Create a Contact Form in WordPress (Beginner’s Guide)
• How to Make a Survey in WordPress (Step by Step)
• Beginner’s Guide to Creating an Order Form in WordPress
• How to Create a Custom User Registration Form in WordPress

Step 3: Enable Country Filter

Once you’ve done that, you need to go to Settings » Spam Protection & Security, and scroll down to Filtering in the WPForms form editor.

From here, you can decide whether to allow or block form submissions from specific countries. To do this, toggle on the ‘Enable Country Filter’ option.

This will reveal a dropdown where you can choose either ‘Allow’ or ‘Deny’.

For example, if your business only serves customers in the United States, then you can set the filter to ‘Allow’ and select ‘United States’ from the dropdown list next to it.

This is the most direct way to ensure you only get leads from your service area.

Alternatively, you can choose ‘Deny’ to block specific countries. This is useful for reducing spam from regions you don’t serve or that are known for high levels of automated spam traffic.

After setting your preferences, simply click the ‘Save’ button at the top. If you already have the form on your website, then it will be updated automatically, and you don’t need to do anything else.

Step 4: Embed Your Form

If you just created a new form, you’ll need to make it available for users — but don’t worry, this is easy.

WPForms has a built-in block that makes embedding forms super easy. You can simply add it to any page or post without touching a single line of code.

For step-by-step instructions, see our detailed guide on how to embed a form in WordPress.

Method 2: Filter Form Entries by Email Address Using Allowlist or Denylist (Free)

With WPForms, you can also control who can submit your form based on their email address. This is done with an allowlist (only certain addresses or domains can submit) or a denylist (block specific addresses or domains from submitting).

Note: This method doesn’t block users based on their physical location. Instead, it filters submissions using the email domain, which is the part of the email that comes after the “@” symbol.

For instance, in jane@example.com, example.com is the domain.

Some email domains end with a country-specific code, like:

• .au → Australia
• .cn → China
• .uk → United Kingdom
• .us → United States

Using this method, you could block entries from country-specific domains like .cn and .uk to reduce irrelevant submissions.

However, keep in mind that this won’t stop users from those countries if they use generic email addresses such as gmail.com or outlook.com.

Step 1: Install and Activate WPForms

To get started, you’ll need to install and activate the free WPForms plugin. If you’re new to this, we have a complete guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Step 2: Choose or Create a WordPress Form

Upon plugin activation, go to the WPForms » All Forms page and click ‘Edit’ on your existing form to add the country restrictions.

If you don’t already have a form, you’ll need to create one first.

WPForms makes this super easy with its library of premade templates and AI form builder. You can have a professional-looking contact form ready in minutes without starting from scratch.

You can follow our guide on how to create a contact form in WordPress to get set up quickly.

Step 3: Set up Allowlist / Denylist

Once your form is open in the WPForms visual editor, make sure you add the ‘Email’ form field from the left column into the form preview on the right.

Keep in mind that this method won’t work if your form doesn’t have an Email field.

After doing that, click on the field to open its settings in the left column. Then, switch to the ‘Advanced’ tab and scroll down to the ‘Allowlist/Denylist’ section.

By default, the ‘None’ option is selected, meaning there are no restrictions on which email addresses can submit the form.

You can change this by selecting one of the following options:

• Denylist: The email addresses or domains you specify will be blocked from submitting the form.
• Allowlist: Only the email addresses or domains you specify will be allowed to submit the form.

Once you make your choice, a text box will appear where you can enter the email addresses or domains you want to allow or block. Keep in mind that you will need to add each entry on a new line.

To filter form submissions by country, you must use an asterisk (*) before the country code.

For example:

• *.au — matches all email addresses ending in .au.
• *.us — matches all email addresses ending in .us.
• *.uk — matches all email addresses ending in .uk.
• *.cn — matches all email addresses ending in .cn.

This method is highly flexible, allowing you to combine country-based rules with individual email addresses for precise control over who can submit your form.

When you’re done, click the ‘Save’ button at the top to store your changes.

Once you do that, your form will be updated automatically if you have already published it on your website.

Step 4: Embed Your WordPress Form

If you created a new form during this tutorial, then you’ll need to add it to your page using the WPForms block in the WordPress editor.

To find out how to do that, you can see our beginner’s guide on embedding forms in WordPress.

Things to Keep in Mind When Blocking Form Entries by Country

Blocking form submissions from certain countries is a powerful way to reduce spam and focus on the leads that matter most.

However, it’s not a foolproof solution, and there are some important points to remember when using country-based restrictions:

• 🌐 VPNs or proxy servers can bypass the IP-based country restrictions used in Method 1. However, they do not affect email domain filtering (Method 2).
• ❗Blocking entire countries might unintentionally exclude legitimate users who are potential customers.
• 🛡️ Country blocking works by matching a user’s IP address to their location using large databases. While WPForms keeps these databases updated, no system is 100% perfect.
• ✅ Always double-check that your local audience isn’t accidentally included in the blocked countries.

Remembering these tips will help you use country restrictions more effectively without frustrating genuine visitors.

Tip: Layer Additional Spam Protection for Stronger Security

Blocking certain countries is a great first step, but it won’t catch every unwanted submission. Adding extra spam-prevention tools makes your forms more reliable and keeps your inbox cleaner.

Here are some additional strategies to improve your form’s security:

• Use CAPTCHA or reCAPTCHA to prevent automated spam submissions.
• Enable keyword filtering to block common spam phrases.
• Use password-protected forms for sensitive content or internal submissions.
• Limit form submissions by IP address to prevent repeated spam attempts.
• Use conditional logic to show or hide fields only when necessary, reducing form misuse.
• Consider HIPAA-compliant forms if you’re collecting medical or private health information.

For more tips, you can see our guide to preventing contact form spam.

Frequently Asked Questions About Preventing WordPress Form Spam

Even with country restrictions and email filtering in place, it’s normal to have a few questions about protecting your WordPress forms.

I’ve put together the most common concerns I’ve seen from WordPress users, so you can confidently manage your forms without running into issues.

1. Can I block a country without using a plugin?

Yes. You can block a country at the server level by editing your .htaccess file on Apache or by using the NGINX GeoIP/GeoIP2 module to deny IP ranges assigned to that country.

However, this approach is advanced and risky. A single typo can take your site offline, and country IP ranges change over time, so rules need ongoing updates. For most beginners, using WPForms’ built-in Country Filter is the safer, easier option.

2. Will blocking countries in my forms affect my website’s SEO?

No. Blocking form submissions with a plugin like WPForms does not affect your website’s SEO because it only prevents users from submitting the form. Search engine bots can still view and crawl your content normally.

3. Can users bypass country blocking with a VPN or proxy?

Yes. Users with a VPN or proxy can bypass IP-based blocking (Method 1) by making it appear as if they are in an allowed country. However, VPNs do not affect email domain filtering (Method 2), so combining both methods gives stronger protection.

4. Do I need WPForms Pro to block countries?

Yes. The Country Filter feature is available only in WPForms Pro, so you’ll need the premium version to use it.

5. Can I use these methods together?

Yes. You can and should use both methods together for the strongest protection. For example, you could use the Country Filter (Method 1) to deny submissions from countries where you don’t do business, and then add the email Denylist (Method 2) to block common spam domains.

I hope this article helped you learn how to block WordPress form entries from certain countries. You may also want to see our beginner’s guide on how to auto export WordPress form entries and our detailed comparison of Contact Form 7 vs. WPForms to find the best option for your website.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How I Block WordPress Form Entries From Certain Countries first appeared on WPBeginner.