Understanding and Fixing 404 Errors

404 errors are a common issue on the internet, and understanding how to handle them is crucial for maintaining a healthy website. These errors occur when a user tries to access a page that cannot be found on the server. This article will explore what 404 errors are, why they matter, how to identify them, and the best practices for fixing and preventing them.

What is a 404 Error?

Definition

A 404 error, also known as “HTTP 404 Not Found,” is an HTTP status code that indicates the server could not find the requested webpage. This error message is displayed when the URL does not correspond to any existing page on the website.

Common Causes of 404 Errors

• Deleted Pages: Pages that have been removed or deleted from the website.
• Broken Links: Incorrect URLs or typos in the links pointing to the page.
• Moved Pages: Pages that have been moved to a different URL without proper redirection.
• Incorrect URL Input: Users entering incorrect URLs in the browser address bar.

Why 404 Errors Matter

User Experience

404 errors can frustrate users and lead to a poor user experience. When users encounter a 404 error, they may leave the website, increasing the bounce rate and reducing overall engagement.

SEO Impact

Search engines do not like 404 errors because they indicate a poor site structure and can hinder crawling and indexing. A high number of 404 errors can negatively impact your site’s SEO, leading to lower rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Loss of Link Equity

When external sites link to pages that return 404 errors, you lose the potential link equity that could have been passed to your site. This loss can affect your site’s authority and ranking potential.

Identifying 404 Errors

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a powerful tool for identifying 404 errors. The Coverage report in Search Console lists all the URLs that return 404 errors, along with details about when the errors were detected and how often they occur.

Steps to Identify 404 Errors in Google Search Console:

1. Log in to Google Search Console.
2. Select your property.
3. Navigate to the “Coverage” report under the “Index” section.
4. Look for “Not found (404)” errors and click on them to see the affected URLs.

Website Crawlers

Tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and SEMrush can crawl your website and identify 404 errors. These tools provide detailed reports on broken links, allowing you to quickly find and fix them.

Steps to Use Screaming Frog:

1. Download and install Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
2. Enter your website URL and start the crawl.
3. After the crawl is complete, navigate to the “Response Codes” tab.
4. Filter for “Client Error (4xx)” to see all the 404 errors.

Server Logs

Analyzing server logs can help you identify 404 errors by showing all the requests that result in 404 status codes. Tools like AWStats or Google Analytics can help you analyze these logs and identify problematic URLs.

Fixing 404 Errors

Redirecting Deleted or Moved Pages

When a page is deleted or moved, set up a 301 redirect to guide users and search engines to the new or relevant page. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that passes most of the link equity from the old URL to the new one.

Example of a 301 Redirect in .htaccess (Apache Server):

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Redirect 301 /old-page.html https://www.example.com/new-page.html

Correcting Broken Links

Identify and fix broken links on your website. Update incorrect URLs and typos in your internal linking structure, and reach out to external sites linking to your broken pages to request an update.

Steps to Correct Broken Links:

1. Use a website crawler to identify broken links.
2. Update the broken links with the correct URLs.
3. If the broken links are external, contact the site owner and request a link update.

Creating a Custom 404 Page

A custom 404 page can improve user experience by providing helpful information and guiding users to other parts of your site. A well-designed 404 page should include:

• A Friendly Message: Inform users that the page they are looking for cannot be found.
• Navigation Links: Provide links to the homepage, popular pages, or a site search box.
• Contact Information: Offer a way for users to report the broken link or contact you for help.

Example of a Simple Custom 404 Page (HTML):

html

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<!DOCTYPE html>

<html lang=”en”>

<head>

    <meta charset=”UTF-8″>

    <meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0″>

    <title>Page Not Found</title>

</head>

<body>

    <h1>Oops! Page Not Found</h1>

    <p>We’re sorry, but the page you’re looking for doesn’t exist.</p>

    <a href=”https://www.example.com”>Go to Homepage</a>

    <a href=”https://www.example.com/contact”>Contact Us</a>

</body>

</html>

Regular Audits and Maintenance

Regularly audit your website to identify and fix new 404 errors. Use tools like Google Search Console and website crawlers to monitor your site and address issues promptly.

Steps for Regular Audits:

1. Schedule monthly audits using website crawlers.
2. Review Google Search Console for new 404 errors.
3. Fix identified errors and update internal links as needed.
4. Monitor server logs for any unexpected 404 errors.

Using the robots.txt File

If there are pages you do not want search engines to crawl, specify them in the robots.txt file. However, avoid blocking pages that already return 404 errors, as search engines need to see these errors to understand the page’s status.

Example of a robots.txt File:

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User-agent: *

Disallow: /private-page.html

Preventing Future 404 Errors

Planning Site Structure

Carefully plan your site structure and URL hierarchy to minimize the chances of creating 404 errors. Avoid frequent changes to URLs and ensure that any changes are properly redirected.

Monitoring External Links

Keep track of external links pointing to your site and ensure they remain valid. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to monitor backlinks and identify any broken links.

Consistent URL Naming Conventions

Use consistent and descriptive URL naming conventions. Avoid using special characters or unnecessary parameters that can lead to broken links.

Keeping Sitemaps Updated

Regularly update your XML sitemap to reflect changes in your site structure. Submit the updated sitemap to search engines to ensure they have the latest information about your site.

Understanding and fixing 404 errors is crucial for maintaining a healthy website. These errors can negatively impact user experience, SEO performance, and link equity. By identifying and addressing 404 errors promptly, you can improve your site’s overall performance and provide a better experience for your users. Follow the best practices outlined in this article to fix existing 404 errors and prevent new ones from occurring. Regular audits, proper redirects, and a well-designed custom 404 page can help you manage and mitigate the impact of 404 errors on your website.