A high-performing website requires more than quality content and strong backlinks. It needs a seamless user experience and consistent technical SEO maintenance. One of the major issues that affects both is the 404 error. These errors can harm SEO performance, reduce engagement, and lower your website’s credibility.
This guide by Akalp Techno Media explains what 404 errors are, why they matter, and how you can identify and fix them effectively.
What Is a 404 Error? How Does It Affect Your Website?
A 404 error occurs when a user attempts to access a webpage that doesn’t exist or has been moved without a 301 redirect. The server responds with the code 404 – Not Found.
When visitors encounter this error, they often leave the site immediately. This leads to a poor user experience and weakens SEO rankings.
Why Fixing 404 Errors Is Important
1. User Frustration
Visitors landing on broken pages are more likely to leave your site quickly, which damages trust.
2. Loss of Traffic
If users cannot find the content they need, long-term organic traffic drops.
3. Negative SEO Impact
Search engines consider multiple 404 pages as a sign of poor website maintenance, which can lower your search rankings.
Common Reasons for 404 Errors
Deleted Pages
Removing content without adding a redirect causes broken links.
Incorrect or Mistyped URLs
Small spelling errors in URLs lead to 404 issues.
Moved or Renamed Content
If content is relocated without a 301 redirect, old links break.
Broken External Links
Backlinks from other sites pointing to non-existing URLs also produce 404 errors.
How 404 Errors Affect SEO and User Experience
Effects on User Experience
- Increased bounce rates
- Reduced visitor engagement
Effects on SEO
- Poor crawlability for search engines
- Lower domain authority due to frequent errors
Types of 404 Errors: Hard and Soft
Hard 404 Errors
These occur when the server returns a true 404 status code, indicating the page is missing.
Soft 404 Errors
These appear like error pages but return a 200 status code, confusing Google crawlers and harming SEO health.
How to Find 404 Errors on Your Website
1. Google Search Console
Use the Coverage Report to identify URLs returning a 404 status.
2. Website Crawlers
Tools such as Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and SEMrush detect broken links.
3. Analytics Tools
High exit rates or sudden traffic drops can indicate hidden 404 issues.
4. Manual Checking
Test important URLs and navigation links manually.
Step-by-Step Guide to Fixing 404 Errors
Step 1: Identify the Cause
Determine whether the issue is due to deleted pages, incorrect URLs, or moved content.
Step 2: Apply Redirects
Use 301 redirects to point users from old URLs to the correct pages.
Step 3: Restore Valuable Content
If a deleted page had high traffic or backlinks, restoring it can improve SEO rankings.
Step 4: Update Internal Links
Ensure all internal linking points to valid and active pages.
Step 5: Create a Custom 404 Page
A high-quality custom 404 page helps guide users to relevant content instead of leaving the website.
A strong custom page includes:
- Links to popular pages
- A search bar
- Clear messages
- Proper branding
Step 6: Monitor Regularly
Continuous monitoring helps prevent new 404 errors from affecting performance.
What Is a Custom 404 Page?
A custom 404 error page appears when users visit a page that doesn’t exist. Instead of a generic message, a well-designed error page improves user retention and reduces bounce rates.
Essential Elements of a Custom 404 Page
- Friendly, informative tone
- Helpful navigation links
- Strong branding
- Engaging, relevant content
Conclusion
Fixing 404 errors is crucial for maintaining a healthy website, improving SEO performance, and ensuring a smooth user experience. Through regular monitoring, proper redirects, optimized internal links, and effective custom error pages, you can enhance website credibility and support better search engine visibility.
At Akalp Techno Media, we help businesses identify and resolve technical SEO issues to maintain strong digital performance.
FAQs
1. What causes 404 errors?
Deleted pages, incorrect URLs, content moved without redirects, and broken external links.
2. How can I find 404 errors?
Using Google Search Console, SEO crawlers, analytics tools, or manual checks.
3. What is the difference between hard and soft 404 errors?
Hard 404 returns a true error code. Soft 404 returns a 200 OK but behaves like a missing page.
4. How do I create a custom 404 page?
Include navigation links, branding, clear messages, and search functionality.
5. Why is fixing 404 errors important for SEO?
It reduces bounce rates, improves crawlability, and strengthens overall SEO signals.
