A site with a deep archive has a problem: most of the good stuff is buried where nobody scrolls. A “surprise me” link is a cheap fix. Click it, land somewhere you would never have found on your own. I built this to add exactly that: a link that drops a reader onto a random published post.
It works off a URL trigger. Point any link at /?random=true and the plugin picks a published post at random and sends the reader there. You can put that link in a menu, a button, or a bit of footer text. No widget to place, no page to configure.
What you get
- A random-post redirect fired by a URL parameter
- Link to /?random=true and the reader is sent to a random published post
- Nothing to set up beyond making the link
Who it’s for
Sites with a large back catalogue that would otherwise stay buried. A long-running blog, a recipe site, a quote collection, anything where a random pick is a small pleasure rather than a frustration.
How to install
- Upload and activate the plugin.
- Add a link anywhere on your site pointing to /?random=true.
- Label it “Surprise me” or whatever fits your voice.
When NOT to use this
If your archive is thin, random redirect lands readers on the same few posts and the trick wears off fast. It pays off when there is real depth to draw from.
Status note
This is an archived plugin. Originally published on WordPress.org, now maintained on GitHub (opens in new tab) and reviewed for security. Still works on current WordPress. No new features planned.
File details
License: GPL-2.0-or-later
Tested with: WordPress 6.7 · PHP 8.1+
Format: .zip
Other downloads from this practice
- Easy Popular Posts. A single template tag, no settings page.
- Easy Recent Posts. Recent posts via a template tag, no admin overhead.