A
soft 404 error occurs when a page returns a 200 OK HTTP status code (indicating the page exists) instead of the
appropriate 404 Not Found status code.
This
can happen when the server doesn't find the requested page but serves a generic
"Page Not Found" page
instead.
An
actual 404 error, on the other hand, occurs when the server cannot find the
requested page and returns a 404 Not Found status code.
It's
generally worse to have soft 404 errors because search engines may interpret
them as valid pages, leading to indexation issues and potentially affecting
your site's SEO.
Having
both types of errors can confuse users and search engines, so it's best to
address and fix them promptly.
How 404 Error Affects Your Site's SEO
404
errors can affect your site's SEO in several ways:
1.
Indexation Issues: Search engines
may remove pages with 404 errors from their index, which can lead to a decrease
in organic traffic if important pages are affected.
2.
User Experience: Users encountering
404 errors may become frustrated and leave your site, increasing your bounce
rate. This can indirectly impact your site's SEO as search engines consider
user engagement metrics when ranking pages.
3.
Link Equity Loss: If external
websites link to pages on your site that result in 404 errors, you lose
potential link equity (SEO value) from those links. This can impact your site's
authority and ranking in search results.
4.
Crawl Budget Waste: Search engine
crawlers spend time and resources crawling pages on your site. If they
encounter many 404 errors, they may spend less time crawling valid pages,
potentially affecting your site's overall visibility in search results.
To
lessen the negative impact of 404 errors on your site's SEO, it's essential to
regularly monitor for broken links, fix them promptly, and provide helpful
error pages or redirects when necessary.
How You Could Fix 404 Error
To
fix a 404 error on your website, follow these steps:
1.
Identify the Broken Link: Use
website auditing tools or check your site's analytics to identify the URLs
returning 404 errors.
2.
Update Internal Links: If the broken
link is within your website, update the link to point to the correct URL or
remove the link if the page no longer exists.
3.
Redirect Old URLs: If the page has
been permanently moved to a new URL, set up a 301 redirect from the old URL to
the new one. This tells search engines and users that the content has moved
permanently.
4.
Customize 404 Page: Create a custom
404 error page that provides helpful information to users, such as a search
bar, links to popular pages, or a sitemap. This can improve user experience and
keep visitors engaged on your site.
5.
Monitor for Future Errors: Regularly
check for broken links and 404 errors using website auditing tools or Google
Search Console. Address any new errors promptly to maintain a healthy website.
By
following these steps, you can effectively fix 404 errors on your website and
improve user experience while maintaining your site's SEO performance.
Examples of Custom 404 Error Pages
Here
are a few examples of custom 404 error pages:
1.
GitHub's Octocat: GitHub's 404 page
features their mascot, the Octocat, holding a hammer with a broken link. It
includes a search bar and humorous message, encouraging users to explore other
parts of the site.
2.
LEGO's Missing Page: LEGO's 404 page
showcases a LEGO construction worker searching for missing bricks. It includes
a search bar and links to popular sections of the website, along with playful
animation.
3.
HubSpot's Interactive Page:
HubSpot's 404 page is interactive, allowing users to play a game of
"Pac-Man" with the 404 error message as the game board. It's engaging
and provides entertainment while users navigate away from the broken link.
4.
Blue Fountain Media's Creative Design:
Blue Fountain Media's 404 page features a visually appealing design with a
large illustration and a message informing users that the page they're looking
for can't be found. It includes a search bar and links to popular pages.
5.
MailChimp's Helpful Suggestions:
MailChimp's 404 page provides helpful suggestions and links to resources for
users who can't find the page they're looking for. It includes a search bar and
links to support documentation and the homepage.
These examples demonstrate how custom 404 error pages can be creative, engaging, and helpful to users, ultimately improving the overall user experience on a website.