How to Fix “Not found (404)” in Google Search Console

Introduction

For website owners, encountering "Not found (404)" errors in Google Search Console (GSC) can be a source of frustration. These errors indicate that Google's crawlers, the automated programs that scour the internet to index websites, attempted to access a page that no longer exists, resulting in a 404 HTTP response code. This can negatively impact user experience and search engine optimization (SEO) if the affected pages were significant traffic drivers or had valuable backlinks pointing to your site.

Unearthing "Not Found (404)" Errors in GSC

1. Accessing Google Search Console:

1. Begin by logging in to your Google Search Console account.
2. Once logged in, select the appropriate website property you want to analyze.

2. Navigating to Coverage Reports:

1. Head over to the Index menu within GSC.
2. Click on Coverage to delve into detailed indexing reports for your website.

3. Identifying 404 Errors:

1. To isolate 404 errors, utilize the filter option within the Coverage report and select the "Not found (404)" status. This will generate a list of URLs that Google's crawlers couldn't locate on your website.

[Screenshot 1: Google Search Console Coverage Report with 404 filter applied]

Understanding and Prioritizing Your 404 Errors

Not all 404 errors are created equal. Here's how to strategically assess and prioritize which ones demand your immediate attention:

Traffic and Backlinks:

Gauge the significance of the 404 pages using tools like Google Analytics and GSC. Consider factors like:

• Did the page generate a substantial amount of traffic?
• Did it possess valuable backlinks from other websites that could be contributing to your site's overall SEO ranking?

Impact Analysis:

Prioritize fixing errors that affect high-traffic pages or those with critical backlinks. These pages hold the most potential to negatively impact your website's user experience and SEO performance if left unaddressed.

Effective Strategies for Fixing 404 Errors

Once you've identified the most critical 404 errors, you can employ various strategies to rectify them:

Option 1: Restore or Update the Page

If the content of the 404 page was removed unintentionally, consider the following course of action:

• Restoring the Page: If the content is still relevant and valuable to your audience, restore the page to its original URL. This ensures that users who have bookmarked the page or possess links to it can still access the content.
• Updating Content: For pages with outdated content, consider revitalizing the information to maintain its relevancy and usefulness for your visitors.

Option 2: Implementing 301 Redirects

For situations where pages have been permanently removed from your website, implementing a 301 redirect is the recommended approach:

• Choosing the Target URL: The 301 redirect should point the user from the non-existent URL (the 404 page) to a relevant and informative page on your website that offers similar content or value to the user.
• Setting Up Redirects: The method for implementing 301 redirects varies depending on your website's technical setup. Here are some common approaches:

• Website Hosting Control Panel: Many website hosting providers offer user interfaces within their control panels to manage redirects.
• .htaccess File (Apache Servers): For Apache servers, you can edit the .htaccess file located in your website's root directory to implement redirects.
• Plugins (e.g., Yoast SEO for WordPress): Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress often have plugins specifically designed to manage redirects easily.

Option 3: Enhancing User Experience with Custom 404 Pages

In scenarios where a suitable redirect isn't possible, you can create a custom 404 page to improve user experience:

• Designing a Helpful 404 Page: Craft a user-friendly 404 page that offers valuable resources to visitors who encounter the error. Consider including elements such as:

• Links to popular or related content on your website.
• A search bar to allow users to find the information they seek.
• Clear site navigation to help users explore other sections of your website.

Monitoring and Adjusting Post-Fixes: Maintaining a Healthy Website

Fixing 404 errors is just the first step. Here's how to ensure your website remains healthy and functions optimally:

• Verifying Redirects: Once you've implemented 301 redirects, it's crucial to verify that they're functioning correctly. There are online tools available that allow you to test redirects and ensure they're sending users to the intended destination.
• GSC Review: Regularly revisit your Google Search Console to monitor the number of 404 errors. As you fix existing errors, the number should decrease over time. This helps you gauge the effectiveness of your efforts.
• Adjusting Strategies: Based on ongoing monitoring and user feedback, be prepared to make adjustments to your redirects and content strategies. For instance, if a particular redirect isn't delivering the desired results in terms of user engagement, you might need to refine it or explore alternative solutions.

Best Practices for Managing 404 Errors: Proactive Prevention

By adopting these best practices, you can proactively prevent 404 errors from cropping up in the future:

• Regular Monitoring: Schedule regular checks within Google Search Console to identify new 404 errors as soon as they arise. Addressing them promptly minimizes the potential impact on user experience and SEO.
• Consistent URL Structure: Maintain a consistent URL structure for your website. Frequent changes to URLs can lead to broken links and consequently, more 404 errors.
• Educational Outreach: Educate all team members involved in website management about the importance of managing redirects and maintaining URL integrity. This ensures everyone understands how their actions can impact website functionality and SEO.

Conclusion: Keeping Your Website on Top

By proactively managing "Not found (404)" errors through Google Search Console, you can significantly enhance your website's user experience and maintain optimal search engine performance. Implementing thoughtful redirects, creating informative custom 404 pages, and continuously monitoring your website's health are all essential components of a successful digital strategy. Remember, a website free of 404 errors not only provides a smoother experience for visitors but also signals to search engines that your site is well-maintained and deserves a prominent position in search results.