Picture this: you’ve worked hard to attract visitors, but one of them clicks a dead link. They land on a 404 error not found page and bounce away without buying. Let’s fix that. In this post, you’ll find seven quick ways to fix broken links and keep customers on your site.
Monitor Broken Links
Your first step is hunting down broken links sitewide. Tools like Screaming Frog and Google Search Console find URLs returning a 404 error code. Regular audits reveal 404 error causes before customers click away.
- Run a full site crawl at least once a month
- Check Search Console’s Not Found report weekly
- Review server logs for unexpected 404 spikes
Set Up Alerts
You don’t want to wait for a customer to report a broken link. Want to know as soon as a URL breaks? Set up instant notifications with your monitoring tool so you get a ping in Slack or email.
- Configure alerts for any new 404 error
- Track high-traffic pages separately
- Set thresholds to avoid alert fatigue
Redirect Dead URLs
Whenever you delete or move content, make sure you redirect the old address. Implementing a 301 redirect preserves link equity and guides visitors to relevant pages. A solid 404 error redirect strategy stops lost traffic in its tracks.
- Redirect removed blog posts to similar live content
- Update redirects after a site migration
- Test redirects with a crawl tool before going live
Customize Error Pages
A plain default 404 page feels like a dead end to users. Instead, design helpful layouts with search fields, site maps, or popular links. Check out custom 404 error pages for inspiration, then match your brand voice.
- Add a clear link back to your homepage
- Offer a search box with predictive suggestions
- Highlight top product or blog categories
Audit External Links
Broken links aren’t just internal, they affect your external reputation too. Outgoing dead links frustrate users, and inbound 404s steal your backlink value. Use backlink tools to spot and fix these issues fast.
- Run an external link audit quarterly
- Contact site owners to update outdated links
- Redirect high-value inbound 404s to relevant pages
Use Tracking Tools
Error tracking platforms help you stay one step ahead of 404 errors. By capturing session recordings and monitoring HTTP status codes, you can diagnose and resolve broken pages quickly. Check out our 404 error troubleshooting guide for tips.
- Enable session recordings on error pages
- Automate log analysis for HTTP status codes
- Integrate alerts with your project management tool
Educate Your Team
Building a 404-free site requires team alignment. Document your link management process and train content creators to double check URLs. When everyone owns broken-link prevention, you’ll save time and improve user experience.
- Create a simple redirect playbook
- Train editors on URL best practices
- Hold monthly reviews of broken-link reports
Key Takeaways
- Audit your site regularly to find broken links before they hurt conversions
- Set up real-time alerts so you fix issues before customers notice
- Use 301 redirects to preserve link equity and guide users to the right pages
- Customize error pages with search and navigation to keep visitors engaged
Which strategy will you try first?
Let us know in the comments below. Then check out how to fix 404 errors for a detailed walkthrough.
source https://localseoagency.co.za/404-error-not-found/
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