What to Know:
– Google’s John Mueller recently addressed the issue of 404 errors reported in Search Console.
– 404 errors occur when a webpage is not found or has been removed.
– These errors can negatively impact a website’s search rankings and user experience.
– Mueller advises website owners to fix 404 errors by either redirecting the missing page to a relevant one or creating a custom 404 page.
– He also suggests monitoring the crawl errors report in Search Console to identify and fix any recurring 404 errors.
– Mueller emphasizes the importance of providing a good user experience and ensuring that all pages on a website are accessible and functional.
The Full Story:
Google’s John Mueller recently addressed the issue of 404 errors reported in Search Console and provided guidance on how to handle them. 404 errors occur when a webpage is not found or has been removed. These errors can negatively impact a website’s search rankings and user experience.
Mueller advises website owners to take action when they encounter 404 errors. He suggests two main approaches to fixing these errors:
1. Redirecting the missing page: If a webpage has been permanently removed or moved to a different URL, website owners should set up a 301 redirect from the old URL to a relevant and equivalent page. This ensures that users and search engines are directed to the correct page instead of encountering a 404 error.
2. Creating a custom 404 page: If a webpage no longer exists and there is no relevant replacement, website owners should create a custom 404 page. This page should provide helpful information to users, such as a search bar or links to popular pages, to help them navigate the website and find the information they are looking for. A well-designed custom 404 page can improve the user experience and reduce the negative impact of 404 errors.
In addition to these solutions, Mueller recommends monitoring the crawl errors report in Search Console. This report provides information about the URLs on a website that Google was unable to crawl successfully. By regularly checking this report, website owners can identify and fix any recurring 404 errors, ensuring that all pages on their website are accessible and functional.
Mueller emphasizes the importance of providing a good user experience and ensuring that all pages on a website are accessible. He states that while 404 errors are a normal part of the web, website owners should strive to minimize them and provide helpful alternatives to users when a page is not found.
In conclusion, website owners should take 404 errors seriously and take steps to fix them. Whether through redirects or custom 404 pages, it is important to ensure that users and search engines are directed to relevant and useful content. Regularly monitoring the crawl errors report in Search Console can help identify and address any recurring 404 errors. By providing a good user experience and ensuring that all pages on a website are accessible, website owners can improve their search rankings and enhance the overall user experience.
Original article: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-search-console-404-errors-report/499751/