"Error 404 Not Found" or "Broken Links and How to Fight Them"

We’ve already introduced you to broken links—now let’s discuss how to combat them.

Broken link (Eng. broken link)—a link that no longer works.

For example:

Why is it dangerous?

Such links:

— Create negative impressions of your site.

— Search bots penalize sites with broken links, lowering rankings.

When do they appear?

Common causes:

  • The linked page or file was deleted.
  • The site moved domains or restructured.
  • The URL was mistyped when added.

This is just a fraction of why links go dead. As your site grows, so does the risk. Regularly audit and fix them.

How to fix?

— If linking to a dead site:

Replace with a similar page.

— If the page moved:

Update the URL.

— If the page is gone irreplaceably:

Remove the link.

Eliminating broken links is a matter of patience and diligence.