How To Get Rid of 404 Errors

404 errors are more than just frustrating for website visitors, they can be the reason you lose valuable prospects and customers. The key to understanding how to get rid of a 404 error is to first understand what they are and what causes them. Let’s take a look at a few tips and strategies to get rid of 404 errors.

Understand what a 404 error is. A 404 error is essentially, your fault. While many people may believe that it’s something with the server, a 404 error essentially means you’ve sent your visitor to a page that doesn’t exist. The code 404 essentially means, a client error, a general syntax or spelling error, and a bad or unauthorized request.

404 Errors can then be caused by:

* Mistyped urls
* Mistyped urls in external links or internal links
* Moving documents on your website, thus changing the structure
* Renaming documents
* Using mixed case file names
* If your purchased a used domain, it's possible that search engines and external sites have old documents indexed
* Worms and viruses
* Broken links (meaning the page is no longer where it used to be)

Finding and Fixing 404 Errors

Because a number of things can cause 404 errors, it’s important to have a tool to identify 404 errors so you know what to do to fix them. There are several tools that can help you resolve your 404 errors, one such tool is the Google Webmaster tool. It not only identifies your 404 errors but also shows you why they’re happening so all you have to do is go to the source. For example, if your visitors are receiving a 404 error because a link was misspelled then all you have to do is fix the link.

Custom 404 Pages

One option to ensure your visitors always have someplace to go and are not left frustrated enough to click away is to create a custom 404 page. This page will ideally provide a link back to your home page, perhaps a link to your category index page, a search option, a link to your sitemap, and even a link to your most popular content. It will also, ideally, contain a cheerful message that let’s people know, in a fun way, that the page or site they were seeking was not found.

404 errors aren’t any fun for anyone. Using webmaster tools and creating a custom 404 error can go a long way toward alleviating the headaches them and the headaches they cause.

Tagged with: case file • client error • custom 404 pages • google • spelling error • unauthorized request

Filed under: Business Management • Customer Service • How To Information • Internet • Online Marketing

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