How to Fix 404 Errors

You’re browsing a website, excited to find the information or product you need, and then—bam!—you hit a dead end with the dreaded “404 Page Not Found” error. Frustrating, right? It’s like opening a door only to find a brick wall on the other side. These moments not only test your patience as a user but can also shake your trust in the website. Granted, 404 pages have gotten better with time and can actually transform a sour moment into a sweet one.

For online businesses, 404 errors are more than just a nuisance. They’re a sign of broken links, lost opportunities, and disrupted digital customer experiences. When customers can’t find what they’re looking for, they’re far more likely to bounce off your site, never to return. Can you hear the sound of coins washing away from you?

But here’s the good news: 404 errors are completely fixable. By understanding what causes them, learning how to track them effectively, and putting a plan in place to prevent them, you can ensure your website runs smoothly—and keeps your customers happy. In this article, we’ll dive into the causes of 404 errors, how to identify them, and actionable tips to turn those frustrating “Page Not Found” moments into seamless user experiences. Let’s fix those broken paths together!

A 404 error message is an HTTP status code indicating that a requested page cannot be found. It impacts your website in several ways:

1. Frustrated Users: Errors interrupt customer journeys, increasing bounce rates and reducing conversions.
2. Negative SEO Impact: Excessive 404 errors can harm search engine rankings by creating a poor crawling experience for search bots.
3. Lost Opportunities: Visitors encountering broken pages are less likely to engage further with your site.

Fixing 404 errors is more than just a technical task—it’s essential for delivering a seamless and positive digital customer experience. Here’s why:

1. Preserving Customer Trust

   A 404 error signals to users that a website is unreliable or poorly maintained. Frequent errors erode trust, making it less likely that users will return. Fixing 404 errors ensures that customers feel confident navigating your site.

2. Reducing Friction in User Journeys

   Digital experiences thrive on simplicity and ease of use. A broken link or missing page disrupts the flow, creating friction that could derail a customer’s goal. Addressing 404 errors removes these obstacles, enabling smoother interactions.

3. Improving Engagement and Conversions

   Users encountering 404 errors are more likely to leave without converting. Fixing broken pages ensures that users can complete desired actions, such as purchasing a product, signing up for a service, or accessing valuable content.

4. Enhancing Brand Perception

   Your website is often the first touchpoint for digital customers. A site riddled with errors reflects poorly on your brand. Addressing 404 issues demonstrates professionalism and a commitment to delivering value.

5. Supporting Omnichannel Consistency

   In today’s digital landscape, customers often interact with brands across multiple devices and platforms. Broken links and inaccessible content disrupt the omnichannel experience. Fixing these errors ensures that users can seamlessly transition between touchpoints without encountering dead ends.

Identifying 404 errors is the first step toward resolving them. Here are proven methods for detection:

1. Session Recordings (Mouseflow)

   Replay user sessions to see how visitors land on 404 pages. This can uncover broken links or misdirected navigation paths.

2. Error Tracking (Mouseflow Friction)

   Use Mouseflow’s automatic 404 friction detection to log and monitor 404 errors. This provides insights into their frequency and sources.

3. Google Search Console (Webmaster tool)

   Navigate to the “Coverage” section to view 404 errors flagged by Google. This tool identifies URLs search engines couldn’t access.

4. Crawling Tools

   Tools like Screaming Frog, Semrush or Ahrefs crawl your website to identify broken links and pages. They provide detailed reports for easy fixes.

5. Server Logs

   Check your server logs for HTTP status codes. A 404 code indicates a failed request.

Set Up 301 Redirect

• Redirecting broken URLs to working pages is the most common solution:
  • Use 301 Redirects to guide users to relevant pages. For instance, redirecting an outdated blog post to a related, updated one. Beware of server misconfiguration.
  • Redirect tools like Yoast SEO (for WordPress) or manual .htaccess edits can help streamline this process.

Restore Deleted Pages

• If a valuable page has been removed:
  • Recreate Content: Bring back the web page or old URL to recover lost traffic and maintain its SEO value.
  • Check Backups: Retrieve the deleted page from your website backups.

Fix Internal and External Links

• A broken link often lead users to 404 page:
  • Audit Internal Links: Use crawling tools like Screaming Frog to scan for internal links pointing to non-existent pages and update them. These tools often have a broken link checker and dead link checker.
  • Repair External Links: Identify external sites linking to your 404 pages using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush. Request corrections or set up redirects.

Optimize Your 404 Page

• A well-designed 404 page can minimize the frustration caused by errors:
  • Helpful Features: Include a search bar, links to your homepage, or a sitemap.
  • Engaging Design: Add branded visuals or humor to keep users engaged.
  • Custom Messaging: Tailor your message to guide users toward functional pages.

Address Common Causes of ‘page not found’ or 404 Error

• Understanding the root causes helps implement lasting solutions:
  • Incorrect URLs: Fix typos in your links or navigation menus.
  • Deleted or Moved Pages: Ensure proper redirects or restore content when necessary.
  • Dynamic URL Issues: Prevent auto-generated URLs from creating invalid pages.

Monitor and Fix Dynamically Generated URLs

• Websites like eCommerce and SaaS platforms often generate URLs dynamically, leading to potential 404 errors:
  • Custom 404 Pages: Offer alternatives like product recommendations or similar features when a product or service is removed.
  • Dynamic Redirects: Automatically redirect users from discontinued pages to the next relevant option.

Set up a notification with Mouseflow

One of the best ways to stay ahead of the impact these errors have is to set up a notification to alert you when they happen. Mouseflow captures 404 errors auto`matically as part of its friction events, and you can enable a notification to deliver you exactly the full session that produced the 404. Here is how to set it up:

1. Start a free, 14-day trial. No credit card required.
2. Install Mouseflow to automatically start capturing friction in your digital customer experience.
3. In the filtering section, go to add filter > friction events > 404. Click apply. If you are starting your trial, you probably don’t have anything yet on the screen. Don’t worry, it’ll work as soon as the 404 is detected.
4. Now, save the filter and select the notification settings. I would suggest creating a dedicated Slack channel if you have an in-house team to fix the 404s, or an email going out to your developers.
5. Don’t worry, sessions will be accessible to anyone who receives the email without the need of having to create an account.

Proactively preventing 404 errors can save you time and protect user experience:

1. Maintain Updated Sitemaps: Submit updated XML sitemaps to Google to ensure search engines have the correct URLs.
2. Monitor Backlinks: Regularly check backlinks to avoid broken external links pointing to your site.
3. Use Analytics Tools: Leverage Mouseflow, Google Analytics, and crawling tools to continuously monitor your site for new errors.
4. Establish a URL Policy: Use clear, consistent URL structures to reduce errors caused by changes or typos.

Search engines penalize sites with a high number of 404 errors because they disrupt crawling and indexing processes. Here’s how to mitigate SEO risks:

• Ensure Proper Redirects: Redirect old URL to maintain link equity. Consider creating redirects for common mistyped URL.
• Repair Internal Links: Broken internal links signal poor site health to search engines.
• Monitor Crawl Reports: Use Google Search Console to resolve crawling issues promptly.

Fixing 404 errors isn’t just about improving technical performance—it’s a critical part of creating a positive digital customer experience. Customers expect seamless, frustration-free interactions, and addressing errors like 404s shows your commitment to meeting their needs. By automatically identifying 404 errors with tools like Mouseflow, implementing solutions like redirects and page optimizations, and adopting preventative strategies, you can create a more reliable, trustworthy, and engaging digital presence.