I think we all know how frustrating and damaging 404 errors can be for any website. They may get annoyed, your ranks will drop and your site will lose its credibility and reliability. They arise when a requested page is not available, this can be due to deleted page content, mistakes made in entering the HTTP address, or due to poor site transfers. If you are experiencing this problem, you are not alone in facing the same problem. Establishing 404 errors is an essential technical SEO procedure that not only improves user experience but also guarantees that search engines are capable of crawling and listing your site.
The first step in addressing 404 errors is identifying them. Tools like Google Search Console provide detailed reports under the Coverage section, highlighting broken URLs and their frequency. For a more thorough audit, SEO tools like Screaming Frog and Digital agencies like AKIJ BPO are invaluable for identifying internal and external links that lead to 404 pages. By leveraging advanced tools and expertise, they can efficiently uncover these errors and implement actionable solutions to resolve them.
A common fix is setting up 301 redirects, which guide users from the broken URL to a relevant page. This preserves user experience and retains the link equity of the original URL. For links from external sites, tools such as Ahrefs’ Broken Link Checker can help you locate problematic backlinks. Reaching out to webmasters or redirecting these links ensures no traffic or authority is lost.
Another important step is to create a unique 404 page and correctly configure your permalink structure. If a site has a well-organized 404 page with easily understandable navigation, search bar, and links to popular articles, a user will not leave the site frustrated. Since broken links harm a healthy website, one can audit the site for the link with broken links and constantly check for the new 404 error with the help of Google Analytics or UptimeRobot.
In this guide, we’ll explore 8 actionable technical SEO techniques to fix 404 errors and elevate your website’s performance.
Why 404 Errors Harm Your SEO and User Experience
404 errors are caused by a situation where a user visits a page he or she believes exists but in fact, it does not. They may occur realizing broken links, void pages, or improper URL addresses. Unfortunately, these errors disrupt the user experience and negatively impact your SEO by:
- Wasting crawl budget.
- Providing low quality and irrelevant signals to the search engines.
- Increasing your bounce rate.
Correcting these mistakes as soon as possible can make a difference in terms of rankings, visitors retention and usability of your site.
8 Technical SEO Techniques to Fix 404 Errors
1. Conduct Regular Crawl Audits
The process of addressing 404 errors begins with a crawl audit that examines all of the pages on a website, or on specific areas of interest. Use tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, or Ahrefs to:
- Find a list of link and URL problems.
- Divide them further: Internal Links Errors External Links Errors
Pro Tip: There should be a requirement to perform audits of the site on a quarterly basis in order to identify developing problems.
2. Set Up 301 Redirects for Deleted Pages
If you’ve removed a page permanently, redirect its URL to a relevant page using a 301 redirect. This ensures:
- Retention of link equity (SEO juice).
- A seamless user journey.
Example: If “old-blog-post.html” is deleted, redirect it to a related post or the homepage.
3. Leverage Custom 404 Pages
It is however preferable to avoid the occurrence of 404 errors; for users who come across them should have a positive experience. A custom 404 page can:
- Links any additional information to other pages of the website.
- Encourage the user to continue down the right path by placing a search bar on the page.
- Look like they represent your brand tone and style.
Bonus Tip: You may want to include humor or give your 404 pages a creative twist so that recalling them will be easy.
4. Fix Broken Internal Links
Broken internal links can confuse users and waste your crawl budget. Tools like SEMrush or Moz can help you locate these links and fix them quickly.
Actionable Tip: Use relative URLs in your internal links to minimize errors during site migrations.
5. Monitor and Update External Links
Links from other web sites to your site can also cause 404 errors if the URL of the destination changes. Use link monitoring tools like Ahrefs or Broken Link Checker to:
- Look for links pointing at such pages that are no longer in existence.
- Send an email, phone call or contact them in person to make the necessary corrections, or to set up 301 redirects.
6. Utilize XML Sitemaps
Make sure that your XML sitemap index is always updated, and it matches the actual blueprint of your site. This helps search engines:
- Index your pages correctly.
- Do not crawl URLs with the frequency of visits and existent scraping in the known URLs as well as URLs that are no longer existent.
SEO Insight: This means that after implementing new changes to your sitemap, it should be resent to Google Search Console.
7. Implement URL Canonicalization
Canonical tags inform search engines about the primary version of a page, preventing duplicate content issues that could lead to 404 errors.
Pro Tip: Always use canonicalization on dynamic or session-based URLs.
8. Fix Typos and Incorrect URL Structures
Manual errors, like typos in URLs or inconsistent formatting, often cause 404 errors. Standardize your URL structures by:
- Using lowercase letters.
- Avoiding special characters.
- Maintaining a consistent naming convention.
Example: Use “/about-us” instead of “/About_Us123.”
Frequently Asked Questions About How AKIJ BPO Addresses 404 Errors
Q1: How does AKIJ BPO identify 404 errors on a website?
In structural audits AKIJ BPO has been known to employ sophisticated methods such as the Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, and Ahrefs. These tools find broken internal and external links, the web addresses which lead to 404 error pages. The team also constantly scans client’s sites in order to address new problems as they receive them.
Q2: What solutions does AKIJ BPO provide for fixing 404 errors?
AS is soon rectified in the system Once the errors are pointed out, AKIJ BPO uses corrective measures specific to the client company policy. The most recognizable strategies to implement are the 301 redirects to help the users find appropriate content, internal linking, and backlinks issues with non-working links. Other web developers incorporate customized 404 pages to improve the utilization of the site and to minimize wearer frustration.
Q3: How does AKIJ BPO ensure a smooth process when resolving 404 errors?
AKIJ BPO has a proper work flow In their organization.. First, the analysis is carried out to determine the cause of mistakes that had been made by the team. Then, they organize an action plan checking the most urgent pages first, for example, the URL receiving the most hits, URLs that are linked to outside sources. Communication with the client must not be a one-time thing, this is to ensure that the parties are on the same side.
Q4: Can AKIJ BPO prevent 404 errors from reoccurring?
Yes, a basic thing that AKIJ BPO gets right in terms of getting rid of future mistakes is the application of an action plan. These are to include periodic checks of the site, alert tools for constant tracking, and maintenance of site links both internal and external. Also, they offer SEO training and advice on how to manage or upload content effectively.
Q5: How does fixing 404 errors benefit a business with AKIJ BPO’s support?
When addressing 404 errors, AKIJ BPO ensures website visitors get what they are looking for, increases the site’s reliability and ranking, and consequently increases the site’s opportunities for a better SEO ranking. It should lead to enhanced consumer rankings in the search engines, increased user engagement, and improved ways of user interface or navigation that can provide enhanced positive results for the overall digital marketing strategies.
Conclusion
404 errors are more than just an inconvenience—they’re a roadblock to your SEO success. Implementing these 8 technical SEO techniques ensures your website remains user-friendly, search engine optimized, and free from costly errors. By proactively managing 404 errors, you safeguard your rankings and deliver an exceptional user experience.
Ready to Eliminate 404 Errors?
Let AKIJ BPO help! Our team offers customized SEO solutions to fix 404 errors and optimize your website for peak performance. Contact us today to enhance your digital presence.
