What is a 404 Error? Causes, Impact, and How to Fix It

The 404 error is one of the most common issues website owners encounter. It can be frustrating for users when they visit a webpage that doesn’t exist, and it can also harm your website’s SEO performance. In this article, we will explore what is a 404 error, its causes, impact on SEO, and how to find and fix it efficiently.

What is a 404 Error?

A 404 error, also known as the “404 Page Not Found” error, is an HTTP status code that indicates that the server couldn’t find the requested page. When you visit a webpage that no longer exists or has an incorrect URL, you’ll encounter this error. It typically appears as “404 – Page Not Found.”

So, what does error 404 mean? Essentially, it means that the link you’re trying to access is broken or doesn’t exist on the server anymore. It can happen for various reasons, including changes in the URL structure, a deleted page, or a typo in the link.

Causes of a 404 Error

There are several reasons why a user might encounter a 404 error on your website:

Broken Links: Internal or external links that lead to non-existent pages can trigger 404 errors.
Deleted or Moved Content: If a page was removed or its URL changed without proper redirection, users will face a 404 error.
URL Typos: Mistyped URLs are a common cause of 404 errors, especially when users manually enter web addresses.
Incorrect Links from Other Sites: Sometimes, external websites link to pages that no longer exist on your site.

How to Find 404 Errors on Your Website

Identifying 404 errors is essential for maintaining your site’s functionality and SEO health. Here’s how you can find 404 errors on your website:

How to Find 404 Errors Page on Website

You can manually check for broken links by navigating through your site, but this is time-consuming. To automate the process, consider using tools like Screaming Frog, Sitebulb, or online website audit tools. These tools crawl your site and provide a detailed list of broken links, including 404 errors.

How to Check Website for 404 Errors

For a more comprehensive approach, use a website crawling tool to scan your entire website for 404 errors. Tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, or Ahrefs can generate a report showing all 404 errors and other issues like broken links.

How to Find 404 Errors in Google Analytics

Google Analytics doesn’t directly show 404 errors, but you can monitor “Pageviews” for specific error pages. Set up a custom report to track visits to your 404 error pages and find out how often users encounter them.

How to Find 404 Errors in Google Search Console

Google Search Console is one of the best tools to identify and fix 404 errors. To find 404 errors in Google Search Console:

Log in to Google Search Console.
Go to the “Coverage” section under the “Index” menu.
Look for “Excluded” pages and filter by “404 errors.”

This will give you a list of pages that are returning 404 errors on your website.

Are 404 Errors Bad for SEO?

Yes, 404 errors can harm your SEO. Here’s why:

User Experience: A broken link or page that doesn’t exist frustrates visitors, leading them to leave your site. This increases your bounce rate and reduces engagement, which negatively impacts SEO rankings.
Crawl Efficiency: Search engines like Google send crawlers to index your website. If they encounter numerous 404 errors, it wastes crawl budget, which could affect the indexing of your valid pages.
Link Equity Loss: If external sites link to a page that returns a 404 error, you lose valuable backlinks that could have improved your site’s authority and rankings.

For these reasons, fixing 404 errors is crucial to maintaining a healthy site that performs well in search results.

How to Fix 404 Errors

Now that you understand what 404 errors are and why they’re bad for SEO, let’s look at how to fix them.

1. Redirect to a Relevant Page

The most common way to fix a 404 error is by setting up a 301 redirect to a relevant page on your website. This ensures that users and search engines are sent to a functional page rather than encountering an error. For instance, if a product page was deleted, redirect it to the category page or a similar product.

2. Restore Deleted Pages

If a page was deleted by mistake and is still important for your site, consider restoring it. This can be done by retrieving it from a backup or re-publishing it with the same content.

3. Fix URL Typos

Check for typos in URLs. If a user encounters a 404 error due to a misspelled URL, correcting the typo can resolve the issue. Ensure your internal links and external links are updated with the correct URL.

4. Update or Remove Broken Links

Identify any broken links that point to non-existent pages and either remove them or replace them with working links. You can use tools like Broken Link Checker or Screaming Frog to find broken links across your website.

5. Custom 404 Error Page

While this won’t fix the error, creating a custom 404 error page with helpful links or a search function can improve user experience. This ensures visitors can easily find relevant content even when the page they’re looking for is missing.

Error 404 Page Not Found: What to Do Next?

When users come across an “Error 404 Page Not Found” message, it’s crucial to avoid frustrating them further. Instead of just showing a blank error page, offer helpful options that guide them to relevant content. This can include links to popular or related pages, which can help visitors find what they’re looking for without leaving the site.

In addition to links, adding a search bar can significantly improve the user experience. It allows visitors to quickly find the information they need. Including contact information or support options can also encourage users to reach out for assistance, making them feel supported and less likely to abandon your site altogether.

FAQs

1. What causes a 404 error?

A 404 error occurs when a webpage can’t be found. This could be due to broken links, deleted content, incorrect URLs, or a server failure. It typically happens when a page has been moved or deleted without redirecting users to a new location.

2. How can I check for 404 errors on my website?

You can check for 404 errors using tools like Google Search Console, which shows any pages returning a 404 error. Alternatively, website crawlers such as Screaming Frog can help identify broken links and missing pages on your site.

3. Is a 404 error harmful to my website’s ranking?

While a single 404 error might not harm your site’s rankings, having too many can affect user experience and SEO performance. Search engines might reduce your crawl budget, and visitors may leave your site, leading to higher bounce rates.

4. How do I prevent 404 errors from occurring?

To prevent 404 errors, ensure that URLs are correctly written, set up proper redirects for moved or deleted pages, and regularly check for broken links. Keeping an updated sitemap and structure also helps avoid these issues.

5. What should I include on a custom 404 error page?

A custom 404 error page should offer helpful options like a search bar, links to popular pages, or a sitemap. You could also add contact details to assist visitors in finding the information they need.

6. How does a 404 error affect website visitors?

When visitors encounter a 404 error, they can get frustrated and leave your site, leading to a higher bounce rate. This negatively affects user experience and can deter them from returning to your site.

7. Can 404 errors be fixed automatically?

No, fixing 404 errors generally requires manual intervention. You can use redirects, restore deleted pages, or update URLs to resolve 404 errors. Automated tools can help find errors but can’t automatically fix them.

8. How do I know if a 404 error is affecting my SEO?

You can track the impact of 404 errors on SEO through tools like Google Search Console. If many of your 404 pages have been indexed or linked to, you might see drops in rankings or traffic. Regularly checking for and fixing these errors can help maintain SEO health.

Conclusion

In summary, a 404 error is an HTTP status code indicating that a webpage cannot be found. It can happen for various reasons, including broken links, deleted content, or incorrect URLs. Are 404 errors bad for SEO? Yes, they can negatively impact both user experience and search engine rankings.

By using tools like Google Search Console or Google Analytics, you can efficiently find 404 errors on your website. Once you’ve identified them, you can fix 404 errors by redirecting, restoring, or correcting the pages, ensuring a smoother user experience and better SEO performance.

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