Prerequisites
Before starting, I need to verify that the URL currently fails. This confirms the redirect isn't already configured elsewhere.
curl -URI https://landing.pokebearswithsticks.com
This should return a connection error or 404, confirming the URL needs configuration as below:
Step 1: Create the Bulk Redirect Rule
I navigate to the Cloudflare dashboard and access the Bulk Redirects section under Rules > Settings > Bulk Redirects as below:
Click "Create Bulk Redirect List" if this is the first redirect, or "Add" to an existing list, however is this example I already have a list so I will be editing that list I have already, the redirect lists will be below the bulk redirect rules - I need to click on the one I have already:
Then you need the option to Add url's from here choose the manual option:
That will the give you the option to add a redirect URL:
I will enter the redirect details:
- Source URL: landing.pokebearswithsticks.com
- Target URL: https://bloguk.z13.web.core.windows.net/
- Status Code: 301 (permanent)
- Preserve query string: Enable to pass URL parameters
- Save the redirect entry.
This will then show you the re-direct in the list of re-directs as below, we need to save and exit at this point:
Step 2: Enable the Bulk Redirect Rule
After adding the redirect, I must enable the Bulk Redirect rule itself. This is often overlooked but critical.
In the Bulk Redirects overview, I locate my redirect list and ensure the toggle switch is set to "Enabled". Without this, the redirects won't function despite being configured.
I already have this rule and I can confirm it is enabled as below, as I have 3 redirects now not 2:
Step 3: Test the Redirect (It Will Still Fail)
I test the URL again:
curl -URI https://landing.pokebearswithsticks.com
At this point, the redirect still fails. This is expected because Cloudflare can only redirect traffic it receives - the domain's DNS must point to Cloudflare first.
Step 4: Configure DNS Records
I navigate to DNS management in the Cloudflare dashboard and add the necessary records:
- Type: A
- Name: landing
- IPv4 address: 192.0.2.1 (Cloudflare's dummy IP for redirect-only domains)
- Proxy status: Proxied (orange cloud ON)
The proxy status MUST be enabled (orange cloud) for Bulk Redirects to function. DNS-only records (grey cloud) bypass Cloudflare's edge and won't trigger redirects.
Step 5: Verify the Redirect Works
After DNS propagation (usually within minutes for new records), I test again:
curl -Uri https://landing.pokebearswithsitcks.com
This should now return:
HTTP/2 301
location: https://landing.pokebearswithsitcks.com
This is confirmed below as you can see I get a HTTP 200 as this resource now resolves in DNS to the redirect rule:
Common Issues and Solutions
Redirect not working after DNS configuration:
- Verify the DNS record shows the orange cloud (proxied)
- Check that the Bulk Redirect rule is enabled
- Confirm the source URL in the redirect matches exactly (including www vs non-www)
SSL/TLS errors:
- Cloudflare automatically provisions Universal SSL certificates
- If seeing SSL errors immediately after setup, wait 15-20 minutes for certificate provisioning
Redirect loops:
- Ensure the target URL doesn't redirect back to the source
- Check for conflicting Page Rules that might interfere