What is 404 Not Found? How to Fix Errors & Improve SEO

404 Not Found is something that everyone has encountered when visiting a website. This can be frustrating for visitors, and having links that lead to a 404 Not Found error negatively impacts the quality of your website and is harmful for SEO. This is why most businesses that invest in SEO regularly check for any broken links resulting in 404 Not Found errors. Today, we will help you understand what this error means and how it can affect your website.

What Does a 404 Not Found Page Mean?

404 Not Found is an HTTP status code sent from a web server to a browser when the browser attempts to access a web page that the server cannot locate. This immediately indicates that the server cannot find the requested page. Causes may include an incorrect URL, a page that has been moved, or server misconfigurations. Encountering 404 Not Found errors is a negative signal for any website, as broken links harm your site’s quality. If your website contains broken links, you should update or remove them to ensure users access the correct and fully functional content. This practice is crucial for maintaining strong SEO performance. Related article: What is On-page SEO?

Common Reasons Why Websites Show 404 Not Found Errors

To effectively fix 404 errors, it’s essential to identify the root cause. Here are some typical reasons why this error may occur:

• Incorrect URL – Sometimes users enter incorrect or misspelled URLs, causing the server to fail to locate the requested page.
• URL Changes – Changes to website structure or moving pages without proper redirects can lead users to old URLs resulting in 404 errors.
• Deleted Pages – Removing a webpage without informing search engines or users can cause the previous URLs to return 404 errors.
• Server Issues – Technical problems or misconfigurations between the server and database can also cause 404 errors.
• Hacking or Intrusions – Some 404 pages may result from targeted attacks aimed at disrupting access to specific content or resources.

Learn more: How to Create SEO-Friendly URLs

Negative Impacts of 404 Not Found Errors on Your Website

Links that lead to 404 Not Found pages can severely damage your website’s credibility and user experience. Key impacts include:

SEO Performance

If your website has multiple 404 Not Found pages, it may impact your SEO performance. Search engines may interpret these errors as missing or outdated content, reducing your website’s credibility and potentially lowering its rankings in search results.

Poor User Experience

Visitors who encounter 404 Not Found errors are likely to perceive your website as unreliable or poorly maintained. This diminishes user trust as they cannot access the intended content, affecting your website’s reputation and authority.

Reduced Website Traffic

If visitors frequently encounter 404 Not Found errors, they are more likely to leave your site and search for information elsewhere. Search engines may also reduce your site’s visibility in search results due to poor SEO performance caused by these broken links.

How to Check for 404 Not Found Errors on Your Website

1. **Google Search Console** – Register and verify your site with Google Search Console. Under “Coverage” or “Coverage Report,” you can review reported 404 Not Found URLs and investigate their causes.
2. **Link Checking Tools** – SEO professionals often use tools to monitor website quality and detect broken links leading to 404 Not Found pages, generating reports of problematic URLs.
3. **Google Analytics** – Identify broken links by navigating to “Behavior” -> “Site Content” -> “All Pages” in Google Analytics. Review pages with URLs displaying 404 Not Found errors.
4. **Manual Testing** – Regularly test each page on your website to detect broken links. If you find URLs leading to 404 Not Found pages, trace their origin and determine whether URLs were changed or pages removed.

How to Fix 404 Not Found Errors

1. **Refresh the Page** – Sometimes the issue is temporary, such as a connection error. Try refreshing the page by clicking your browser’s refresh button or pressing F5.
2. **Check the URL** – Ensure the URL is correctly typed or copied without missing characters or misplaced slashes. Verify the content through the main site’s homepage if needed.
3. **Use the Website Search** – Many sites have a search feature to help you locate specific content. Using relevant keywords may help you identify whether the link in question was valid or not.
4. **Contact the Source Website** – If the broken link originates from an external site, reaching out to clarify whether the URL has been removed or renamed can help you update or remove the link on your own site for better quality.

Conclusion

Any website may encounter 404 Not Found errors, which can significantly harm your SEO performance. If you discover broken links on your site, act promptly to correct them by checking whether pages have been moved or deleted. Removing or updating broken links helps improve user experience and ensures your website remains SEO-friendly and trustworthy for both users and search engines. If your business website struggles to rank well, unresolved 404 Not Found errors may be the cause. Visit our Digital Marketing Agency to take advantage of our professional SEO services to help your site achieve first-page rankings with expert support tailored to your business.