A 404 Error, is an HTTP status code that indicates that the server cannot find the requested resource. This error typically occurs when a user attempts to access a webpage that has been moved, deleted, or never existed. Encountering frequent 404 errors can negatively impact both user experience and website rankings.
When search engines crawl a website and discover multiple 404 errors, it may interpret this as poor site maintenance or low-quality content. This can lead to decreased visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs) and lower overall traffic. Additionally, users who encounter a 404 error are likely to leave the site quickly, resulting in higher bounce rates.
To mitigate the effects of 404 errors on SEO, you should regularly monitor your website for broken links using tools such as Google Search Console or third-party tools like Semrush or Ahrefs. Implementing custom 404 pages with helpful navigation options can also enhance user experience by guiding visitors back to functional areas of the website rather than leaving them at a dead end.
