Published September 6, 2026.
A citation can return 200 and still stop supporting the sentence beside it. Source-link maintenance therefore needs both a technical check and a brief editorial check.
Test access first
Request the cited URL and record redirects, access failures, and significant destination changes. Do not replace an inaccessible source with the first page that repeats the same statistic.
Recheck the supported claim
Open the relevant section and compare definitions, population, date, and units with the article. A newer report may use a different sample, so it should not automatically overwrite the earlier number.
Choose the repair type
Restore the authoritative link when its location changed. Replace the citation when a comparable primary source exists. Narrow or remove the claim when evidence no longer supports it. Add an archive link only when publication rights and context are clear.
Keep the original trail
Record the former URL, observed failure, replacement rationale, claim changed, and review date. This prevents the next maintainer from treating an intentional scope change as an accidental edit.
Divide responsibility
BusinessGrowthAssistant can run link checks and prepare candidate repairs. A subject owner should approve changes that alter a benchmark or conclusion. Technical availability is evidence about a URL, not evidence that a claim remains true.
Frequently asked questions
How often should sources be checked?
Prioritize volatile and decision-critical sources; use a slower rotation for stable standards and archival material.
Should redirected links always be updated?
Update them when the final destination is authoritative and still supports the same claim.