When browsing online, you may encounter a 404 error, signaling that the website server is reachable but the particular page you’re looking for isn’t there. Knowing what this error means can help you explore problems and get to the content you need. This article explains 404 errors and how to fix 404 errors for both website visitors and owners.
What is a 404 Error?
A 404 error is an HTTP status code that indicates the requested page could not be found on the server. This typically occurs when a user attempts to access a URL that has been deleted, moved without redirection, or mistyped. It’s one of the most common issues encountered while browsing the web, and while it might seem harmless, repeated encounters with 404 errors can harm both user experience and search engine rankings.
404 errors display differently depending on the browser or website design. Sometimes, you’ll see a generic message like “404 – Page Not Found,” and other times it may be accompanied by a custom-designed error page. Regardless of the design, the underlying message is the same: the requested resource is missing.
Why Should You Fix 404 Errors?
1. Preserve User Experience
Encountering a 404 error can be frustrating for users, especially if they’re looking for important information. Too many broken links may cause users to lose trust in your website and leave altogether. Fixing these errors keeps your visitors on track and engaged.
A fast-loading website is just as important as a functional one. While fixing 404 errors ensures users aren’t hitting dead ends, improving site speed optimization ensures they don’t bounce due to slow load times. Both factors play a crucial role in keeping users engaged and reducing frustration.
2. Maintain SEO Health
From an SEO perspective, finding how to fix 404 errors is crucial. Search engines like Google crawl websites to evaluate the quality of their content and structure. If they hit too many 404 errors, it can signal poor maintenance or outdated content. This can reduce your site’s authority and negatively impact your rankings.
3. Recover Lost Traffic
Pages returning a 404 error could be pages that previously had inbound links or were ranking well. When such pages break, you miss out on valuable traffic and link equity. Redirecting these pages or recreating their content can help you recover lost visibility.
4. Strengthen Site Structure
Fixing 404 errors allows you to streamline internal linking and ensure that all paths on your site lead somewhere meaningful. This contributes to better navigation and structure, which search engines and users both appreciate.
What to Do If Your Site Has 404 Errors?
Identifying and fixing 404 errors is a multi-step process. Here’s how to approach it:
How to Identify 404 Errors on Your Site?
The first step in resolving the issue is to locate where the errors exist. There are several ways to do this:
- Google Search Console: Under the Coverage section, Google highlights pages with crawl errors including 404s.
- Web Server Logs: Reviewing your server logs helps you track which URLs are returning 404 status codes.
- SEO Tools: Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Screaming Frog, SearchPie can crawl your site and identify broken links efficiently.
- Manual Checks: Occasionally, users or your own team may encounter a 404 page and report it.
Once identified, note whether the 404 page is expected (e.g., a page you intentionally removed) or unexpected (a page that should be working).
SEO Tools How To Fix 404 Error
SEO tools not only help identify 404 errors but also assist in resolving them:
- Ahrefs Site Audit: Ahrefs shows a list of all broken pages and links, along with their referring pages. This helps you know where to place redirects.
- SEMrush Site Audit: Another excellent tool for spotting technical issues like 404 errors. It offers actionable suggestions on how to fix them.
- Shopify SEO app – SearchPie SEO & Speed Optimization: Designed specifically for Shopify, SearchPie offers a user-friendly interface to identify broken links and set up redirects directly. It helps streamline technical SEO tasks and manage 404 errors without deep technical knowledge.
After identifying the broken pages, here’s what you can do:
1. Implement 301 Redirects
If a page has been permanently moved or deleted, set up a 301 redirect to point users (and search engines) to a relevant alternative. This ensures link equity is preserved and users still reach helpful content.
2. Recreate the Missing Content
If the page was deleted by mistake or still holds value, consider recreating it. This is especially useful if the page previously ranked well or attracted backlinks.
3. Fix Internal Links
Sometimes the error is due to a wrong internal link. Use tools to locate and correct these links across your site.
4. Customize the 404 Page
Having a custom 404 page with helpful links and a search bar can reduce bounce rates and guide users back to working parts of your website.
5. Remove Outdated External Links
If external websites are linking to a now-nonexistent page, consider reaching out and asking them to update the link. If that’s not possible, use a 301 redirect as a fallback.
With SearchPie, all the steps can be wrapped up in a few clicks! Once you’ve got the full report on your site’s broken links, you can select the 404-error links and hit the button Fix Now to redirect them to another link.
Moreover, by enabling Auto-scan and fix button, all the broken links will be auto-detected and redirected to your desired location on the website.
Conclusion
Understanding how to fix 404 error issues is essential for any website owner or digital marketer. While a single error might seem trivial, multiple 404s can damage your SEO efforts, reduce user trust, and cause you to lose valuable traffic.
With tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and SEMrush, you can easily identify and manage broken links. Remember to implement proper redirects, recreate valuable content when necessary, and monitor your site’s performance regularly.
Investing the time how to fix 404 errors not only strengthens your site’s technical foundation but also enhances user experience and improves your rankings in search results.