A 404 Error Page is displayed when a browser requests a page that the server cannot find. This error is commonly referred to as a “Page Not Found.” 404 errors can occur for a number of reasons: the URL was misspelled, the page was deleted, or it was moved without a proper redirect.
From an SEO perspective, 404 errors can be problematic. If a user encounters too many 404 pages on your site, they may leave the site, which increases the bounce rate and can negatively affect your search engine rankings. Additionally, search engines may interpret a high number of 404 errors as a sign of a poorly maintained site.
To mitigate these effects, it is important to create a custom 404 page. A good 404 page not only informs the user that the requested page does not exist, but also offers helpful alternatives to keep the user on your site. This can include links to the most popular pages, an internal search bar, or a brief explanation and a link to the home page. For example:
<h1>¡Ups! Page not found</h1> <p>It looks like the page you are looking for does not exist. Try searching for something else or go back to the previous page <a href="/">home page</a>.</p>
Additionally, web analytics tools like Google Analytics allow you to monitor 404 errors to quickly identify and fix problems. If you find that a specific URL is generating a lot of 404 errors, you can implement a 301 redirect to a relevant page or fix the link.
