404 Pages

What Are 404 Pages In SEO?

404 pages are error pages that are displayed when a user tries to access a non-existent URL or webpage on a website. In SEO, it’s essential to handle 404 errors properly to maintain a good user experience and prevent loss of traffic and search engine crawl efficiency. 

Here are a few approaches for dealing with 404 pages in SEO:

• Redirect to a relevant page: Redirecting users from a 404 page to a relevant, functioning page can help maintain a good user experience and prevent loss of traffic.
• Custom 404 page: A custom 404 page can provide a better user experience and help keep users on your site, rather than leaving it.
• Return a 404 HTTP status code: Return a proper 404 HTTP status code to indicate that the page doesn’t exist, which can also help search engines understand that the page isn’t available.
• Monitor and fix broken links: Use tools to monitor and fix broken links, to minimize the number of 404 pages on your site and prevent traffic loss and search engine crawl efficiency.
• Add a search bar: Adding a search bar on your custom 404 page can help users find what they’re looking for on your site.
• Keep the design consistent with your site: Keeping the design and branding of your custom 404 page consistent with your site can help maintain a positive user experience and prevent confusion for users.
• Use clear language: Use clear language to explain the error and suggest alternative options, such as visiting the homepage or using the search bar.
• Add links to popular pages: Adding links to popular pages on your site can help users find what they’re looking for and prevent them from leaving your site.
• Log 404 errors: Logging 404 errors can help you identify and fix broken links, which can minimize the number of 404 pages on your site and improve the user experience.

By properly handling 404 pages, you can help maintain a positive user experience, preserve search engine crawl efficiency, and minimize loss of traffic.

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