Fixing 404 Errors to Boost Your Website’s SEO

The 404 error: a frustrating experience for users and a potentially devastating blow to your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). When a user attempts to access a non-existent page on your site, they’re met with an error message that can lead to a terrible user experience and even a lost sale. But 404 errors can have a more insidious impact on your site’s SEO, making it harder for search engines to crawl and index your content. In this article, we’ll explore the reasons behind 404 errors, how to find them, and most importantly, how to fix them to improve your site’s SEO and user experience.

Let’s start with the basics: what is a 404 error? It’s a status code that indicates a requested page cannot be found. Whenever a page loads in a browser, it has a response status code in the HTTP header that usually isn’t visible to viewers. These responses are grouped into five categories: Informational responses (1xx), Successful responses (2xx), Redirection messages (3xx), Client errors (4xx), and Server errors (5xx). A 404 error falls under the client errors category, indicating that the page the viewer is trying to reach can’t be found on the server.

The Types of 404 Errors

There are two types of 404 errors you need to watch out for: hard 404s and soft 404s. While you’ll have probably come across a hard 404 request when browsing a website at some point, you’re unlikely to see a soft 404 error unless you get notified by Google Search Console. A soft 404 happens when a non-existent page on your site displays a not found message to users but returns a 200 OK status to search engines. This tells Google and other search engines there’s a page at that URL, leading to unnecessary crawling and indexing efforts.

What Causes 404 Errors?

• 404 errors can occur when you’ve deleted or removed pages from your site recently without redirecting their URLs. This leads to a broken link that search engines will try to crawl, resulting in a 404 error.
• 404 errors can also occur when you’ve relaunched or transferred your domain and failed to redirect all your old URLs to the new site. This can cause confusion for search engines and users alike, leading to a poor user experience and a negative impact on your SEO.
• Sometimes 404 errors can be the result of changing a page’s URL. Altering any part of the URL, whether it’s a category name or the page’s slug, will result in a 404 error. Even mistyping a URL in an internal link can result in a 404 page and a broken link.

The Impact of 404 Errors on Your Site

A large number of 404 errors can spell big trouble for your website. Let’s start with the user’s viewpoint. Continually running into 404 errors when browsing your site will result in a terrible user experience. Even finding one 404 error can be enough to send a visitor packing. It gets worse, because 404 errors can also damage your rankings. 404 errors aren’t a ranking factor per se, and Google won’t penalize you directly for having lots of them. However, the more broken links your site has, the harder it will be for Google and other search engines to crawl your site. Link equity won’t be passed around your site well, either, leading to a drop in rankings.

How to Find 404 Errors

Site crawlers like Screaming Frog are a great way to find broken links that lead to 404 errors quickly. Screaming Frog is also free if your site has 500 URLs or less. Simply click on Response Codes in the top menu and filter for Client Error 4XX to get a list of every page returning a 404 error. Site crawlers won’t give you a complete list of 404 errors, however, as they only show broken links. But you can find every 404 error on Google Search Console. Google Search Console provides a list of every 404 error Googlebot finds on your site, including both hard 404s and soft 404s. Simply login to the Search Console, click Coverage, and select the Excluded tab.

How to Fix 404 Errors

• Redirect the URL to a relevant page on your site. This can be done using a 301 redirect, which permanently redirects the user to the new URL.
• Remove the URL from your site’s sitemap. If the URL is no longer valid, it’s best to remove it from your site’s sitemap to avoid confusion for search engines and users.
• Use a 404 error page that provides value to the user. Instead of a simple error message, consider using a 404 error page that provides alternative content or a search bar to help the user find what they’re looking for.

Conclusion

404 errors are a common problem that can have a significant impact on your site’s SEO and user experience. By understanding what causes 404 errors, how to find them, and how to fix them, you can improve your site’s crawlability, user experience, and search engine rankings. Remember to use site crawlers like Screaming Frog to find broken links, and Google Search Console to find every 404 error on your site. By taking the necessary steps to fix 404 errors, you can ensure that your site remains healthy and continues to attract and engage visitors.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can prevent 404 errors from harming your site and improve your overall search engine rankings. Remember to stay vigilant and regularly check for 404 errors on your site to ensure that your users and search engines have a positive experience.

Key Takeaways

• 404 errors can have a significant impact on your site’s SEO and user experience.
• Understanding what causes 404 errors is crucial to fixing them.
• Site crawlers like Screaming Frog can help you find broken links that lead to 404 errors.
• Google Search Console provides a list of every 404 error on your site.
• Fixing 404 errors can improve your site’s crawlability, user experience, and search engine rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)