404 Error

At some point in your web browsing life, you have undoubtedly encountered a 404 error message. You have received a URL entered or clicked on a link to take you to a new page, but suddenly - gasp - "Page not found".

It's not uncommon to see these types of errors while browsing the web, but if you find one on your own website, you suddenly have a problem. In this blog post, we'll go over what a 404 error message means, what it means for your marketing efforts, why websites get them, and what you can do to fix any issues you find on your industrial website.

What is a 404 error?

A 404 error message is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) status code that indicates that the server could not find the website you are trying to access. In other words, your web browser can connect to the server, but the particular page you are trying to access is not accessible. There are other types of HTTP errors, but 404 errors are the most common ones.

Are 404 errors a problem for your website?

Intuitive navigation is one of the core elements of effective web design. That's why a 404 error can be one of the most frustrating things your visitors can encounter. If a visitor can't get to the content or page they're looking for, they're likely to leave your site altogether and go to a competitor's site instead.

In addition to a poor user experience, an excessive number of 404 errors can hurt your website's SEO efforts, making you appear less frequently in search results. How. Google takes note of high bounce rates - a metric for people who come to your site but quickly leave. People will leave your site if it's poorly designed and if there are over 404 Error gives. Visit our blog for other industrial website marketing terms you should know, such as "A/B test" and "engagement rate".

Conclusion about 404 errors

It is inevitable: 404 Error will happen on your website from time to time. However, it's important to proactively and continuously monitor your website's performance to check for these errors. It's just as important as publishing quality content on your site. Google likes websites that publish content regularly - even a few times a month makes all the difference! Taking the time to update your website and perform technical reviews will help you stay ahead of the curve and keep prospects coming back for those industry leads.

« Back to Glossary Index

FAQ

What does 404 mean?

is the answer to a problem when loading a page on the Internet. It means that the page you are looking for was not found and is usually displayed when you go to a page that no longer exists or is incorrect.

Why does a 404 error message appear?

There are a variety of reasons why a 404 error message may be displayed. The most common reasons are that the specified page either does not exist, was not entered correctly, or is no longer available due to changes on the server.

How can I prevent 404 error messages from being displayed?

To avoid 404 error messages, you should always use the correct URL of the page you are looking for as well as pay attention to server changes.

Can I customize a 404 error message?

Yes, you can customize the 404 error message on your website to make it more appealing. Some web hosting services also offer the possibility to customize the error messages.

What is a soft 404 error?

A soft 404 error is an error message that is displayed when a page is not found even though it exists. This can happen when pages are no longer found correctly due to URL changes, or when server or DNS problems occur.

Can I create a 404 error page?

Yes, you can create a 404 error page to direct users to other relevant pages on your site or to inform them of other ways to contact the company.

Can 404 error messages affect my SEO?

Yes, it is possible for 404 error messages to affect user experience and therefore SEO. Therefore, it is important that you fix the 404 error messages and set up your website so that it does not have too many 404 error messages.

Can I display a 404 error log?

Yes, most web hosting services offer the possibility to display a 404 error log to determine which pages are not found. This can be helpful to find and fix errors.

Can I share a 404 error page on social media?

No, you cannot link directly to a 404 error page because those pages no longer exist. However, you can link to other pages that are relevant to the topic.

Can I avoid a 404 error message?

Yes, Basically, you can avoid some 404 error messages by setting up the right redirects and by setting up a user-friendly 404 page. However, it is impossible to avoid all 404 error messages.

With top positions to the new sales channel.

Let Google work for you, because visitors become customers.

Niels Stuck

Niels Stuck has 10 years of SEO experience and is the founder of the SEO agency "WOLF OF SEO". He gained practical experience by building 20+ affiliate sites alongside his marketing studies. Finally, he wrote his bachelor thesis about the influence of SEO on Google rankings, traffic and sales development in the form of a case study. Today, he specializes in e-commerce SEO and helps more than 80 companies build a sustainable organic revenue channel through SEO. Niels advises startups, established brands and corporations in search engine optimization of their online stores and primarily focuses on data-based content strategies and link building. He shares his knowledge about SEO and online marketing in this blog, as a speaker at conferences, in podcasts and as a guest author for OMT, Forbes, Starting Up and many more platforms.

All contributions

Social Media & Links: