Difference between revisions of "Learn/404-Errors-Drive-Visitors-Away"

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==What Does "Page not found" Mean?==
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{{ArticleTemplate2
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A "Page not found" message - also called a 404 error message - is the standard response a web server gives when it can't find a requested URL, or web address.
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| Writer = SuziZiegler
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| Name = Suzi Ziegler
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| Header = 404%20Errors%20Drive%20Visitors%20Away
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| Subhead = Don't hang a "Closed" sign on your website
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| Bitly = http://bit.ly/404message
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| Date = January 13, 2011
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}}
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==Don't hang a "Closed" sign on your website==
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----
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{{SiteReportMedRecAd}}A "Page not found" message - also called a 404 error message - is the standard response from a web server when it can't find a requested URL, or web address.
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<br />
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Imagine driving across town to visit a business and finding a "Closed" sign on the door during open hours. A 404 message is like that "Closed" sign - it says your site isn't open for business. If you're trying to do business on the web, you want to make sure your site can be easily found, around the clock.
  
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Imagine someone driving across town to visit your business, and finding a "Closed" sign when they expected the store to be open. Will that person come back? They might, if you're selling something that's hard to find. But if your product is easily found elsewhere, they probably won't.
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The web is like a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week mall. People expect websites to be available all the time. When someone clicks a link to your website and gets a "Page not found" error, they'll likely regard your website as broken, or nonexistent. If they're really motivated, they ''might'' try to find your website by other means. If they aren't strongly motivated, they won't.
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It's the same story on the web. If someone gets a "Page not found" error when they follow a link to your website, or type your web address into the navigation bar of their web browser, they ''might'' try to find your website by other means...if they're really motivated. If they aren't, they probably won't.
 
  
 
==Why Do 404 Errors Occur?==
 
==Why Do 404 Errors Occur?==
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Someone can get a 404 message if they mistype a URL into a web browser navigation bar. They can also get a 404 message if they're trying to get to your site by clicking on a link that's broken. This is the most common cause of 404 errors.
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[[Image:404.png|270px|left]]
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Anyone can recieve a 404 message if they're trying to get to your site by clicking on a broken link. This is the most common cause of 404 errors.
  
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A link can become broken for a number of reasons. People often rewrite web page URLs, whether because they're reorganizing their site, or they want to enhance search-engine optimization by including keywords in the URLs, or for some other reason. When they do that, any link to that page using the old URL instantly becomes a broken link. It can't take someone to the page anymore.
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A link can become broken for a number of reasons. People often rewrite web page [[Glossary/URL|URLs]] when they're redesigning their site, or they may try to enhance search engine optimization ([[SEO]]) by including [[Glossary/Keyword|keywords]] in the URLs.  
  
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A link can also be broken because someone made a mistake when they typed the URL to make the link. These inaccurately coded links will also result in a "Page not found" error.
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When a URL gets rewritten, any link to that page using the old URL is instantly broken. It can't take someone to the page anymore.
  
 
==How to Avoid 404 Errors==
 
==How to Avoid 404 Errors==
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If you rewrite any URLs on your website, you'll want to submit these pages to the search engines, using the new URLs.
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Help would-be visitors to your site avoid the dreaded "Page not found" error by following these tips: 
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:* Submit new pages to search engines immediately.
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:** [http://www.google.com/addurl/ Submit to Google]
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:** [http://www.bing.com/webmaster/SubmitSitePage.aspx Submit to Bing]
  
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The following tips will minimize the occurrence of visitors receiving these messages when searching for your URL.
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:* Read [[Link Juice: Save Every Drop]] for tips on making sure links to old pages are changed to point to the new pages. The article includes a list of tools for locating your old links, both on your own site and around the web.
  
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:* Redirect on-site rather than take your page down. When someone arrives at your page they should find something useful even if it's simply a message inviting them to visit your new homepage or to contact you for more information. Finding "something" instead of "nothing" is the way to build trust among viewers.
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:* If you've changed the URL for a page on your website, redirect visitors to the new page from the old one, using a [[Glossary/301-redirect|301 redirect]].  
  
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:* Another option is to redirect from the host In other words, check with your hosting company to see if they offer a 404 redirect. When a user enters the URL for your former page, they will automatically be redirected to your index or home page. It's the easiest way to ensure that a potential customer is never lost due to a page not being found.
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:* You can also redirect people manually. You can revise the web page at an old URL, inviting people to visit your new page. Make sure you include a link to the new page. It's also good to offer your contact information if you think people may be confused and may need to communicate with you directly. It's a good way to build trust with your site visitors.
  
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:* Submit new pages to search engines immediately. It's a good idea is to resubmit new pages to search engines for reindexing. Although it's nice to inform visitors that the page they're looking for no longer exists, it's even better to have a new page with all the information the visitor requests when they conduct a search.
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:* You can check with your web hosting company to see if it offers a 404 redirect. When a user enters the URL for an old page, your web hosting company can redirect a visitor to a page you specify, instead of returning a 404 error.
  
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:* Check your site listings regularly to make sure they don't take potential clients to 404 pages. AltaVista.com can help you check where your pages are going. Simply type your website's name in AltaVista's search bar to give it a try. The results may surprise you.
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:* Stay organized by recording changes to your site. Then you can go back and fix links when you're done.
  
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:* Stay organized by recording site changes in a digital notebook. Don't rely on memory to stay current with your search updates. That's how things slip through the cracks.
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==Mistypes and 404 Errors==
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People can get a 404 error if they mistype your website's domain name in the navigation bar of their web browser.  
  
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==Examples==
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You can't account for every possible mistyping of your domain name. But if your domain name is easy to mistype or misspell, you can [[Learn/Getting-a-Website-for-the-First-Time|purchase these commonly mistyped domain names]]. Then create a [[Glossary/301-redirect|301 redirect]] from each of the mistypes back to your website. It's a good way to [[Website-Visibility-Report|capture website visitors]] who might otherwise go astray.
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[[Image:404.png|200px|left]]
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{{LearnBottomBio
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__NOTOC__
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| Writer        = SuziZiegler
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| Name          = Suzi Ziegler
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| Image        = Image:Pink Wig.jpg
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| AuthorWebsite = AboutUs.org
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| ShortBio      = Suzi shares her love of words with [[AboutUs.org]] as a writer and editor. <small>Have a question for Ms. Ziegler? Contact her [[User:Suzi_Ziegler|here]]...</small>
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}}This article has been [http://www.sitepronews.com/2011/04/16/404-errors-drive-visitors-away/ republished] on webmaster news site {{LinkPair|SiteProNews.com}}.

Latest revision as of 00:06, 7 November 2013

By [[User:|]] on

Don't hang a "Closed" sign on your website

A "Page not found" message - also called a 404 error message - is the standard response from a web server when it can't find a requested URL, or web address.
Imagine driving across town to visit a business and finding a "Closed" sign on the door during open hours. A 404 message is like that "Closed" sign - it says your site isn't open for business. If you're trying to do business on the web, you want to make sure your site can be easily found, around the clock.

The web is like a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week mall. People expect websites to be available all the time. When someone clicks a link to your website and gets a "Page not found" error, they'll likely regard your website as broken, or nonexistent. If they're really motivated, they might try to find your website by other means. If they aren't strongly motivated, they won't.

Why Do 404 Errors Occur?

404.png

Anyone can recieve a 404 message if they're trying to get to your site by clicking on a broken link. This is the most common cause of 404 errors.

A link can become broken for a number of reasons. People often rewrite web page URLs when they're redesigning their site, or they may try to enhance search engine optimization (SEO) by including keywords in the URLs.

When a URL gets rewritten, any link to that page using the old URL is instantly broken. It can't take someone to the page anymore.

How to Avoid 404 Errors

Help would-be visitors to your site avoid the dreaded "Page not found" error by following these tips:

  • Read Link Juice: Save Every Drop for tips on making sure links to old pages are changed to point to the new pages. The article includes a list of tools for locating your old links, both on your own site and around the web.
  • If you've changed the URL for a page on your website, redirect visitors to the new page from the old one, using a 301 redirect.
  • You can also redirect people manually. You can revise the web page at an old URL, inviting people to visit your new page. Make sure you include a link to the new page. It's also good to offer your contact information if you think people may be confused and may need to communicate with you directly. It's a good way to build trust with your site visitors.
  • You can check with your web hosting company to see if it offers a 404 redirect. When a user enters the URL for an old page, your web hosting company can redirect a visitor to a page you specify, instead of returning a 404 error.
  • Stay organized by recording changes to your site. Then you can go back and fix links when you're done.

Mistypes and 404 Errors

People can get a 404 error if they mistype your website's domain name in the navigation bar of their web browser.

You can't account for every possible mistyping of your domain name. But if your domain name is easy to mistype or misspell, you can purchase these commonly mistyped domain names. Then create a 301 redirect from each of the mistypes back to your website. It's a good way to capture website visitors who might otherwise go astray. This article has been republished on webmaster news site {{{2}}} (visit).

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