If you’ve ever encountered a 404 error while browsing the web, you know how frustrating it can be. A 404 error occurs when a web page cannot be found or accessed, typically due to a broken link or a deleted page. For website owners, 404 errors can have negative effects on user experience, search engine rankings, and even revenue. In this article, we’ll discuss the best practices for handling 404 errors on your website to improve user experience, maintain your search engine rankings, and ultimately increase your revenue.

Understanding 404 error page not found

Before we dive into the best practices for handling 404 errors, it’s important to understand what they are and how they occur. A 404 error occurs when a user attempts to access a web page that doesn’t exist on the server. This can happen for several reasons, including:

• The page was deleted or moved without a proper redirect.
• The user mistyped the URL.
• The link to the page is broken or outdated.
• The server is experiencing technical difficulties.

When a user encounters a 404 error, it can be frustrating and may cause them to leave your website. This can have negative effects on user experience and can ultimately lead to a loss of revenue for your business.

The Impact of 404 Errors on SEO

404 errors can also have negative effects on your website’s search engine rankings. When a search engine crawls your website and encounters a 404 error, it can interpret it as a signal that your website is not well-maintained. This can result in a lower search engine ranking and less visibility for your website.

The impact of 404 errors on SEO can be quite significant. When search engine crawlers encounter a 404 error on your website, it can signal to them that your website is not properly maintained or that it contains outdated or broken content. This can result in a lower search engine ranking for your website, which can lead to a decrease in traffic and revenue.

In addition to the negative impact on search engine rankings, 404 errors can also have a negative impact on user experience. When users encounter a 404 error, it can be frustrating and may cause them to leave your website. This can lead to a higher bounce rate and a lower average time spent on your website, which can also negatively impact your search engine ranking.

Best Practices for Handling 404 Errors

Now that we understand the impact of 404 errors, let’s discuss the best practices for handling them on your website.

1. Create a Custom 404 Page

One of the best practices for handling 404 errors is to create a custom 404 page. A custom 404 page is a web page that is displayed when a user encounters a 404 error. This page should inform the user that the page they were trying to access cannot be found, and provide links to other relevant pages on your website. By creating a custom 404 page, you can improve user experience and encourage users to continue browsing your website.

2. Implement a 301 Redirect

If a page on your website has been deleted or moved to a new location, it’s important to implement a 301 redirect. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that automatically sends users to the new location of the page they were trying to access. This can help maintain your search engine rankings and ensure that users are able to access the content they are looking for.

3. Monitor Your Website for Broken Links

Another best practice for handling 404 errors is to monitor your website for broken links. Broken links can occur when a page on your website is deleted or moved without a proper redirect, or when an external link to your website is broken or outdated. By monitoring your website for broken links and fixing them promptly, you can improve user experience and maintain your search engine rankings.

4. Use Webmaster Tools

Webmaster tools, such as Google Search Console, can be used to monitor your website for 404 errors and other technical issues. By regularly monitoring your website using webmaster tools, you can identify and fix 404 errors quickly, before they have a negative impact on your website’s search engine rankings.

5. Maintain a Well-Structured Website

Finally, maintaining a well-structured website can help prevent 404 errors from occurring in the first place. This includes using clear and concise URLs, organizing your content in a logical manner, and regularly reviewing and updating your website to ensure that it

How to Redirect Pages?

Once you have identified the pages triggering the 404 error, the next step is to redirect them to a functional page. As a best technical SEO company in Oman, here are our suggestions to redirect pages:

1. 301 Redirect

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that tells search engines and browsers that the page has been permanently moved to a new URL. This is the most recommended method of redirecting pages as it transfers the link equity to the new page and maintains the user experience.

Eg.

RewriteEngine On

RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example\.com [NC]

RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.newdomain.com/$1 [L,R=301]

In this example, whenever a user visits https://example.com, they will be automatically redirected to https://www.newdomain.com. The R=301 flag indicates a permanent redirection.

2. 302 Redirect

A 302 redirect is a temporary redirect that tells search engines and browsers that the page has been temporarily moved to a new URL. This method is not recommended for redirecting pages as it does not transfer link equity and can cause confusion for users and search engines.

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^example\.com [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://www.newdomain.com/$1 [L,R=302]

In this example, whenever a user visits https://example.com, they will be temporarily redirected to https://www.newdomain.com. The R=302 flag indicates a temporary redirection.

3. Meta Refresh Redirect

A meta refresh redirect is a method of redirecting pages by adding a meta tag to the HTML header of the page. This method is not recommended for redirecting pages as it can slow down the page load time and is not supported by some search engines.

When to Use 301 Redirects?

301 redirects are the most recommended method of redirecting pages as they transfer link equity to the new page and maintain user experience. Here are some scenarios where you should use a 301 redirect:

1. Permanently moved content

If you have permanently moved a page to a new URL, you should use a 301 redirect to transfer the link equity and maintain user experience.

2. Consolidating multiple pages

If you have multiple pages with similar content, you can consolidate them into a single page and use a 301 redirect to transfer the link equity and maintain user experience.

3. Updating URLs

If you have updated your website’s URL structure, you should use a 301 redirect to redirect the old URLs to the new ones and maintain user experience.

When to Use 302 Redirects?

302 redirects are not recommended for redirecting pages as they are temporary and do not transfer link equity. However, there are some scenarios where you can use a 302 redirect:

1. Temporary content changes

If you have temporarily moved a page to a new URL, you can use a 302 redirect to maintain user experience until the content is moved back to the original URL.

2. Testing

If you want to test a new page without affecting the original page, you can use a 302 redirect to redirect a small percentage of traffic to the new page.

When Not to Use Meta Refresh Redirects?

Meta refresh redirects are not recommended for redirecting pages as they can slow down the page load time and are not supported by some search engines. However, there are some scenarios where you can use a meta refresh redirect:

1. Delayed redirects

If you want to delay the redirect for a few seconds, you can use a meta refresh redirect to redirect the user after the delay.

2. Non-HTML pages

If you want to redirect non-HTML pages, such as PDFs or images, you can use a meta refresh redirect as it is the only option available.

404 Errors: When and How to Redirect Pages

404 errors can have a negative impact on your website’s search engine rankings and user experience. By redirecting pages, you can minimize their impact and maintain your website’s performance. Here are some tips for redirecting pages:

1. Identify 404 errors

Use Google Search Console or website crawlers to identify 404 errors on your website.

2. Redirect to relevant pages

Redirect 404 errors to the most relevant pages to maintain user experience and transfer link equity.

3. Use 301 redirects

Use 301 redirects to transfer link equity and maintain user experience.

4. Avoid using 302 redirects

Avoid using 302 redirects as they do not transfer link equity and can cause confusion for users and search engines.

5. Avoid using meta refresh redirects

Avoid using meta refresh redirects as they can slow down the page load time and are not supported by some search engines.

FAQs

1. How can I prevent 404 errors from occurring?

You can prevent 404 errors from occurring by regularly monitoring your website for broken links, updating your website’s URL structure, and redirecting outdated content to new URLs.

2. How long should I keep a 301 redirect in place?

You should keep a 301 redirect in place for as long as the redirected page is relevant. If the redirected page is no longer relevant, you can remove the 301 redirect and allow the page to return a 404 error.

3. How can I monitor 404 errors on my website?

You can monitor 404 errors on your website by using Google Search Console or website crawlers such as Screaming Frog.