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 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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Help would-be visitors to your site avoid the dreaded "Page not found" error by following best practices:
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Help would-be visitors to your site avoid the dreaded "Page not found" error by following these tips:
  
 
:* Submit new pages to search engines immediately.
 
:* Submit new pages to search engines immediately.
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:** [http://www.bing.com/webmaster/SubmitSitePage.aspx Submit to Bing]
 
:** [http://www.bing.com/webmaster/SubmitSitePage.aspx Submit to Bing]
  
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:* See our article, [[Link Juice: Save Every Drop]], for tips on making sure links to old pages are changed to point to the new pages. The article also includes a list of tools for locating your old links, both on your own site and around the web.
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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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:* If you've changed the URL for a page on your website, redirect visitors to the new page from the old one. Even if you've resubmitted your changed URLs, and done your best to locate old links and correct them, you may have missed some links. If someone arrives at an old web page and finds your contact information, or an invitation to visit your new page -- with a link, of course -- you'll be giving them something much better than an error message. That's a good way to build trust with site visitors.
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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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:* 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.
 
:* 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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:* Stay organized by recording changes to your site. Then you can go back and fix links when you're done.
 
:* Stay organized by recording changes to your site. Then you can go back and fix links when you're done.
  
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==Examples==
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==Mistypes and 404 Errors==
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[[Image:404.png|200px|left]]
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__NOTOC__
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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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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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{{LearnBottomBio
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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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