In the digital world, every website owner faces the issue of correctly handling 404 error pages. A solution that sometimes seems simple is to redirect all such pages to the main page using a 301 redirect. However, is this approach the best? Let’s take a closer look.
What is a “404” page?
A 404 (NOT FOUND) error page is a special web page that is shown when a visitor tries to go to a URL that is no longer valid or never existed. It is an important way to tell users that the content they want is not there. This helps to avoid confusion and helps users understand the situation.
Why is it not recommended to redirect these pages to the main page?
Redirecting every 404 page to the main page may seem like a simple solution (and a common mistake), but it can actually lead to bad results.
First, this approach can annoy visitors. When they click on a link and suddenly find themselves on the home page, it can make them feel frustrated and lose trust in your website.
Second, redirecting every 404 page to the main page can negatively affect how search engines work. When a search engine bot finds a 404 page, it knows that the content is no longer there and moves on to index other URLs. But if you redirect it to the main page, it can create a loop, which makes it harder for search engines to index your site and can hurt your site’s position in search results. This is because the content of the page the bot is looking for does not match the content of the page it is redirected to.
An example of a Chrome extension you can use
How to properly handle missing content?
There are better ways to handle missing content:
- Redirect to a new URL that matches the content of the old one: If the content has been moved, use a 301 redirect to the new URL. This will help keep the page’s ranking and give visitors access to the information they need.
- Find and fix broken internal links on your site: If there are no similar pages, scan your site for broken links and remove them. This way, you won’t link to missing content.
Why use a “301” redirect and not other types?
A 301 redirect, or permanent redirect, is a code that tells search engines that a page has moved permanently. When a user or search engine bot tries to access a URL that has been redirected with a 301 redirect, they are automatically sent to the new URL. But it is not good to use this method too much. Too many redirects (like broken pages) slow down indexing and show that your website is not good.
Other types of redirects, like 302 or 307, are temporary. So, when the system re-indexes your site, it keeps finding that something might change and does not show your page in search results.
So, a 301 redirect is the best choice for permanently moving content because it keeps the page’s ranking in search engines and makes it easy for users.
But, redirecting every 404 page to the main page is not a good idea. It can hurt how visitors feel and how search engines work. Instead, it is better to use the correct methods for handling missing content. This will help keep your site user-friendly and good for search engines.
Anna Matiushchenkova – SEO specialist