27 February 2025

Fixing Broken Links (404 Errors)

404 errors (Page Not Found) can harm user experience and SEO. Fixing them helps maintain website credibility and improves search engine rankings.

1. Identifying & Fixing 404 Errors

How to Identify 404 Errors?
- Use the following tools to detect broken links:
- Google Search Console - Check "Coverage" → "Not Found (404)" section.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider - Scans for broken links on your website.
- Broken Link Checker - Online tools like Broken Link Check.
- Google Analytics - Monitor 404 error pages under "Behavior" → "Site Content".

How to Fix 404 Errors?
- Update the URL - If the link points to a non-existent page, correct the destination.
- Restore the Page - If the page was mistakenly deleted, recreate it.
- Remove Broken Links - Edit internal links pointing to deleted pages.
- Redirect Users - Set up 301 or 302 redirects to guide users to a relevant page.

2. Redirecting with 301 & 302 Redirects

- What are Redirects?
Redirect automatically send users and search engines from a deleted or outdated URL to a new one.

- 301 Redirect (Permanent Redirect)
- Best for permanently moved or deleted pages.
- Passes full SEO value to the new page.
- Recommended for changing URLs without losing ranking.
            - 302 Redirect (Temporary Redirect)
- Used for temporary changes (e.g., maintenance, A/B testing).
- Does not pass SEO value like 301 redirects.

How to Set Up Redirects?
- Using .hatches (For Apache Servers)
Add the following code in your .hatches file to permanently redirect a URL:
Redirect 301 /old-page https://www.yourwebsite.com/new-page

- Using WordPress Plugins 
- If using WordPress, Plugins like Redirection or Yoast SEO Premium can easily manage redirects.
- Using cPanel (For Hosting Control Panels)
1. Go to cPanel → Redirects.
2. Select 301 or 302 Redirect
3. Enter the old and new URL.
4. Click Add Redirect.

Conclusion
Fixing broken links improves SEO, user experience, and website Credibility. Regularly monitor 404 errors and implement 301 redirects to prevent losing traffic.