404 error
If you surf the web, you've probably encountered the annoying 404 error code in a vain attempt to visit a website. But for website owners, this error code is more than just an annoying message - it affects your website's SEO and user experience.
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What is a 404 error?
When you click on a link in a search engine like Google, it's like asking the search engine to find a specific page for you. The search engine wants to, so it directs you to the website you clicked on. However, sometimes web server errors can occur and the search engine cannot find its way to the website, leaving you with an error code.
In short, a 404 error is a response from a web server telling you that the page you are trying to reach does not exist. The missing page is a mystery with many possible explanations - for example, the URL may have changed or been deleted.
How do 404 errors affect SEO?
A 404 error can damage your website's SEO (search engine optimization), which is a key part of digital marketing. If users click on a link to your website and get a 404 error, they are likely to get frustrated and leave your website in favor of your competitors.
This increases your bounce rate and can affect your website's ranking in search results. Ease of use is key if you want a high ranking on Google, and since 404 errors reduce your website's usability, they can lead to lower rankings.
But it's not just usability that search engines take into account. Search engines also need to understand your website, and if they encounter a 404 error code on your website, it can also affect your ranking. Search engines prefer websites that are easy to navigate and many 404 errors can make your website difficult to understand.
In other words, both user- and bot-friendliness must be top-notch if you want to rank well in search results.
How do you avoid 404 errors?
Here's a short checklist on how to fix your 404 errors in three simple steps:
- Identify your 404 errors.
- Correct the errors or restore the missing pages.
- Create a customized 404 page.
The first step to dealing with 404 errors is to identify them. There are several ways to do this - free tools include Google's free webmaster tool, Google Search Console, which gives you detailed reports on any 404 errors on your website for free. You can also use tools such as Screaming Frog and Ahrefs - see more in our article on SEO tools.
Once you've identified the errors, the next step is to fix them. You can do this by redirecting the broken links to relevant pages on your website or by restoring the missing pages.
Finally, it's important to make sure your website has a custom 404 page. A custom 404 page offers alternative links and information so that the user has not visited your website in vain. This way, you can increase usability - even if 404 errors occur.
It's important to remember that a single error won't ruin your digital marketing strategy. But a collection of smaller issues - such as multiple 404 errors - can hamper your ranking in search results. Many little things.
More good advice
It's important to keep in mind that a 404 error usually doesn't affect your website's visibility on search engines - as long as the URLs that cause 404 errors don't actually exist on your website.
If you want to fix a 404 error, you first need to assess whether it's even worth fixing. This is often not necessary if the error does not harm your website's visibility on search engines. It may be if the error comes from a URL that doesn't exist on your website. For example, you will often discover this if you look at the Google Search Console page report.
If the error is coming from a page that actually exists on your website, it may be because the page often has its URL misspelled. If a URL is misspelled frequently or contains a word that can be spelled in multiple ways, you can link the common misspellings to the correct page using redirects.
Avoid creating fake content and redirecting to your homepage, as this only makes it harder for search engines to decode your website and does not help your digital marketing.
At the end of the day, your digital marketing strategy is crucial to your website's success. By handling 404 errors effectively, you can improve the user experience, optimize your website for search engines and ensure your digital marketing is as effective as possible.
Test your knowledge of 404 errors
What is a 404 error code?
A 404 error code is a response from a web server telling you that the page you are trying to reach does not exist on the website.
How do 404 errors affect SEO?
A 404 error can damage your website's SEO because it reduces the website's usability - usability is key in SEO.
How can I identify my 404 errors?
You can identify your 404 errors using tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs or Screaming Frog that give you detailed reports of any 404 errors on your website.
More concepts
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