#781: How to Find & Fix 404 Errors on Your Website
Episode description
404 errors indicate a previously existing, indexed page that is currently not available. The easiest and most reliable way to find 404 errors on your site is through Google Search Console. Sometimes, a 404 error is the result of changing a URL or deleting an old page. Redirects tell users and web crawlers that the URL they're trying to access is not directly valid, but instead should lead to a different page. Google has a helpful guide for developers trying to create redirects, but I'll cover the basics here.
The more visible the page with a 404 error is, the higher the priority it is to correct it. The Google Search Console alerts a website owner when a sharp increase in 404 errors occurs. Customizing a 404 Error Landing Page is an important part of any website's overall SEO strategy. Creating a custom 404 error page is highly recommended. The design of the error page should match the website. Simplicity is important.
An explanation of why a user landed on the 404 page instead of the intended page should be present. Links to similar pages being attempted to be visited should be provided. A 404 error on a website can be fixed by finding the mistyped link source and performing an edit. A 301 redirect redirects the incorrect link toward the correct web address. Not putting a 301 redirect in place may cause a business to lose customers. Website 404 errors are inevitable. How often you check in is largely dependent on the size, complexity, and visibility of your site. If you have a 100-page website with new pages being added and removed daily, it's in your best interest to check for crawl errors every few days.
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