It becomes quite frustrating when you type in a URL and find an error message displaying 404 not found. The error message may be due to an internal error where either the content has been deleted or moved, or the domain name does not exist any longer. In some websites, the error message is displayed in the initial stage as the URL is inappropriate from the initial stage.
This often leads to visitors’ dissatisfaction. Here’s how:
In most cases, where you find the error 404 not found, the website redirects you to the actual website that you were searching. It is mainly because the original webpage had some errors, but the developer forgot to remove it entirely from the functioning link. A proper functioning link is an advantage to the company. Thus, when there is an error message on the webpage, it affects the SEO as it mostly depends on the number of visitors visiting the site.
Often customers do not feel the need to try other keywords to search the webpage because of lack of time unless it is urgent. Hence the count of customers visiting the site starts melting down, and the ranking of the webpage is also affected badly. What should you do then?
If you want to improve the ranking of your website, it should have a well-deserved design and technique. Hence, if the search engine results give an error message, especially 404 not found, it will significantly impact the count of the visitors visiting the web page. It will be good practice to keep a check on the web pages occasionally.
Moreover, if there is an error message, you must try to resolve it as early as possible. It will help to maintain your ranking, and the visitors will not be disappointed. Here’s a quick guide on how to locate and fix 404 errors:
The first option to fix errors on your web page is to locate the exact errors obstructing it to open. You can avail yourself of numerous tools for free from the internet to locate 404 not found error messages. The tools will help you find the broken links easily so that you will fix them as soon as possible for the smooth running of your web page. Some of the best-known tools that will be able to solve the problem in locating the errors are as follows:
If you have a Google account and have registered your website through that account, you will have the freedom to use the Google search console. It is a free tool that will help you find the errors in your website. If there are any 404 not found error messages on any of the web pages, it will quickly locate them and display them in the web tool.
You will be able to monitor and resolve all server errors, including any site load that returns an error message. It is easy to use and does not require an expert to resolve your web page issues.
Click on the Google Search Console and log in with your username and password
Click on "Coverage" and select the "Excluded" tab
You will see a list of all the 404 not found error messages.
Click on each of the messages to see the complete list of the web pages.
Dead Line Checker is the easiest and fastest way to find errors on your website. It is a free application that can check your website instantly by simply entering the URL. You will get the option to either check a single web page or the whole website.
You must use Dead Line Checker more than often to identify broken links quickly and prevent you from further embarrassment. Your website will run smoothly, thus, increasing its ranking.
W3C Link checker is a powerful and free online tool that can quickly inspect the broken line of your website and display the summary. Hence, you will be able to locate your web page's errors quickly and solve them as early as possible.
You can download and install it on your computer and use it frequently to monitor the functionality of your website. An ideal tool, the W3C line checker, will help you to keep away those sleepless nights.
- There are many reasons for a webpage that returns a 404 not found error message. In some cases, the problem can be minute, but it can ruin your business if you do not take action instantly. Hence, it would be best if you came to a proper solution to fix the errors as soon as possible.
Some standard solutions will help you to fix the problem of your website:
When a visitor gets a 404 not found error message, most of the time, he will not search it again, and you will ultimately lose your customer. Hence if there is an error message on the webpage, solve it immediately by redirecting the page to the web page working on your website with the relevant information.
It will help get a positive response from your visitors as they did not have to wait long before arriving at the relevant web page.
If you find any broken links preventing your web page from opening, you must immediately try to fix it from its source. However, in some cases, when you find that you cannot fix the broken links, redirect the page to the actual page that the visitor wants to explore.
You must also make sure that the redirected page contains all the relevant information required; otherwise, they will become confused.
A website may have some dead links because you have modified the website or deleted some pages. It is a common practice where most of the dead links are left untouched. It is a severe problem for the website as it may damage the ranking.
Many websites still appear in the search engine, and hence when you try to visit the site, you get a 404 not found error message. You must regularly check the external links of your website and come to a solution whenever there is an error message.
Q1. How 404 not found error message can damage your business
Most of us use Google as the preferred search engine to find the web pages of our choice, but if a 404 not found error message pops out by visiting the site, it will create a negative impression. You will feel that the web page is not opening because of poor maintenance, and in the process, it will affect its ranking badly. The number of visitors visiting your website will ultimately ease off, and you will be responsible for ruining your business.
Q2. Why should you put links on a 404 error page?
When you try to visit a website by entering the URL and find that the page is not being displayed and returning an error message, it can become quite frustrating. You will ultimately lose the total count of visitors as it will create a negative impact. If you can put a link on a 404 error page, it will redirect the visitor to the relevant page that is trying to find.
Moreover, you must ensure that the redirected page does not get him landed on an entirely irrelevant page. It will result in the downfall of your website.
Q3. How do 404 not found affect the ranking of a website?
A 404 not found error message can seriously affect the ranking of a website, and hence you must resolve it as early as possible. If a page returns an error message, it means that the page does not exist; the search engines will not index it further.
Q4. What are the most common errors that visitors make will search a website?
Sometimes you make some common mistakes that return an error message. Hence before jumping to a conclusion, check whether if you have entered the correct URL. Try to reload the page if it shows a 404 not found message or use a search engine to get the best results.
When you are managing a website, you must have an eagle-eye as minor errors can disrupt the number of visitors. You must always check the functionality of your website and see that all the web pages are running correctly. If a visitor can easily access the website's landing page, he will be satisfied, and hence the outcome will always be positive.
An error message on your website can ruin your business. It can significantly impact your website's SEO performance. You must fix the errors at the earliest and prevent them from downfall. A well made attractively designed website always creates the count of the visitors. Hence you must make sure that it works smoothly and efficiently.
Take a look at all posts by jewel on this page, he talks about digital marketing and all aspects of online marketing made easy.
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