How to Fix 404 Page Not Found Error in Search Console
If you are a Website Owner, you may have come across the 404 error page, also known as the page not found error. This can happen when a user tries to access a page that doesn't exist on your website or when a page has been moved or deleted. When Google crawls your website and finds a 404 error, it can negatively impact your search engine rankings. In this article, we will discuss how to fix the 404 page not found error in Search Console.
What is a 404 Page Not Found Error?
A 404 error occurs when a user tries to access a webpage that doesn't exist on your website. It can happen due to various reasons, such as a mistyped URL, a broken link, or a page that has been deleted or moved to a different location. When a user encounters a 404 error, it can negatively impact their experience on your website and may cause them to leave your website. Moreover, when Google crawls your website and finds a 404 error, it can hurt your search engine rankings.
Why is Fixing 404 Errors Important?
Fixing 404 errors is important for several reasons. Firstly, it can improve the user experience on your website. When users encounter a 404 error, it can be frustrating for them, and they may leave your website. By fixing 404 errors, you can ensure that users can access the content they are looking for, which can improve their experience on your website and increase engagement.
Secondly, fixing 404 errors can improve your search engine rankings. When Google crawls your website and finds a 404 error, it can negatively impact your search engine rankings. This is because Google considers 404 errors as a sign of poor website maintenance and can penalize your website by reducing its visibility in search results.
How to Find 404 Errors in Search Console?
Before you can fix 404 errors, you need to identify them first. You can do this by using Google Search Console, which is a free tool provided by Google to help you monitor and maintain your website's presence in search results.
To find 404 errors in Search Console, follow these steps:
1. Login to Google Search Console
2. Click on your website's property
3. Navigate to Coverage - Error
4. Click on the "Not found" tab to see the list of URLs that return a 404 error
How to Fix 404 Errors in Search Console?
Now that you have identified the 404 errors on your website, you can start fixing them. Here are some ways to fix 404 errors in Search Console:
1. Redirect the Page
If the page has been moved to a new location, you can redirect the old URL to the new URL using a 301 redirect. This will tell search engines that the page has been permanently moved to a new location, and they should update their index accordingly. You can use a redirect plugin or add the redirect code in your .htaccess file.
2. Restore the Page
If the page has been deleted or removed accidentally, you can restore it from a backup. If you don't have a backup, you can recreate the page and ensure that it has the same URL as the old page. This will ensure that any links to the old page will still work, and you won't lose any link juice.
3. Create a Custom 404 Page
If you can't restore the page or redirect it, you can create a custom 404 page that provides users with useful information and options. This can include a search bar, links to popular pages, or a call-to-action to contact you. A custom 404 page can improve the user experience.
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