What is an Error 404?

A 404 error means the page was not found. Too many 404s can harm user experience, though they don’t directly cause SEO penalties.

Why You See Error 404

Imagine clicking on a link expecting helpful information but landing on a blank page saying “404 Not Found.” Frustrating, right? A 404 error happens when the server can’t find the requested URL. It could be due to a broken link, deleted content, or a mistyped URL.

For website owners, handling 404 errors properly is important. If ignored, they can hurt user experience and waste crawl budget. But if managed smartly with redirects or custom error pages, they can even turn a negative experience into a positive one.

Common Causes of Error 404

Several reasons trigger a 404 error:

• Broken Internal Links: Incorrect linking within your site.

• Deleted or Moved Pages: Content removed or relocated without proper redirection.

• Mistyped URLs: User or webmaster typing errors.

• Incorrect Backlinks: External sites linking to a page that doesn’t exist.

• Server or CMS Issues: Sometimes technical misconfigurations create false 404s.

Why Error 404 Matters in SEO

While occasional 404s are normal, too many can damage your SEO and user trust. Here’s why:

• Poor User Experience: Visitors may leave if they can’t find what they need.

• Higher Bounce Rates: Users quickly exit broken pages, signaling poor quality.

• Crawl Budget Waste: Search engine bots waste time crawling non-existent URLs.

• Lost Link Equity: Backlinks pointing to 404 pages pass no authority.

• Missed Conversions: Users abandoning the journey before reaching key pages.

Do’s & Don’ts of Handling 404 Errors

Do’s:

• Create a helpful custom 404 page with navigation options.

• Set up 301 redirects for removed or moved pages.

• Regularly monitor 404 errors in Google Search Console.

• Fix broken internal and external links.

• Offer search functionality on 404 pages to guide users.

Don’ts:

• Don’t ignore 404s they impact SEO over time.

• Don’t redirect all 404s to the homepage (confuses users).

• Don’t leave orphaned content without proper handling.

• Don’t rely solely on plugins manually audit critical pages.

• Don’t let important backlinks point to dead pages.

About 404 Errors

1. “A few 404s will ruin my SEO.” False only excessive or unhandled 404s cause problems.

2. “Every 404 must be redirected.” Not true some outdated pages are better left as 404.

3. “Custom 404 pages are unnecessary.” Wrong they improve user experience.

4. “404 errors mean my whole site is broken.” False it usually affects individual URLs.

5. “Search engines penalize sites for 404s.” They don’t penalize, but poor management affects ranking indirectly.

FAQs

What is an Error 404?

An Error 404 is an HTTP status code that means the page a user requested cannot be found on the server.

Why do I get a 404 error?

You get a 404 error when the page is deleted, moved without a redirect, or the URL is mistyped.

Do 404 errors affect SEO?

Yes, too many unhandled 404 errors can harm SEO by affecting crawl efficiency and user experience.

How do you fix a 404 error?

You can fix it by setting up 301 redirects, correcting broken links, or restoring the missing page.

Should I redirect all 404 errors?

No, only redirect important pages. Outdated or irrelevant content can remain as 404.