The 404 error, also known as "page not found", is an error message encountered on the internet when a requested web page does not exist or is no longer accessible.
This error can be frustrating for users and harm the user experience of your e-commerce website. Fortunately, there are several solutions to fix 404 errors and improve navigation on your site.
Understanding the causes of a 404 error on an e-commerce site
Various reasons can explain the appearance of a 404 error:
Typo in URL:
A simple input error can generate a 404 error.
Page deleted:
If you deleted a page from your website, the old link to that page will no longer work.
URL change:
If you have changed the URL of a page, the old link will no longer be valid.
Server problem:
Server-side technical issues can also cause 404 errors.
Broken external link:
If you have included a link to an external website that is no longer accessible, this may generate a 404 error.
Identify 404 errors on your website
It is important to monitor your website for 404 errors. These tools are often used for quick error identification:
Google Search Console:
This free tool from Google allows you to view 404 errors present on your e-commerce website.
SEO tools:
Many SEO tools, like SEMrush or Ahrefs, offer 404 error detection features.
Log analysis:
Your server logs may also contain information about 404 errors.
Fix 404 errors
Several solutions exist to correct 404 errors:
Repair the link:
If the error is due to a typo in the URL, simply correct the error.
301 redirects:
If you deleted a page, you can set up a 301 redirect to an existing similar page.
Update internal links:
If you changed the URL of a page, remember to update all internal links that point to that page.
Contact the host:
If the issue is related to a server issue, contact your hosting provider so they can resolve it.
Remove Broken External Links:
If you have included links to external websites that are no longer accessible, remove these links.
Tips for preventing 404 errors on your e-commerce site
Follow these tips to prevent 404 errors:
Check the URLs carefully:
Make sure there are no typos in your website URLs.
Schedule URL changes:
If you need to change a page's URL, plan for the change and update all internal links accordingly.
Use a redirect tool:
Use a redirect tool to manage 301 redirects.
Monitor your website:
Use the tools mentioned above to monitor your website and detect 404 errors.
Hire a specialist website agency:
If you do not have the skills necessary to get your website back into shape, contact an SEO agency directly for a quick website audit .
404 errors are sometimes unavoidable, but it is important to correct them quickly to improve the user experience and SEO of your e-commerce site. By following the tips in this article, you will be able to fix 404 errors and improve the quality of your website.
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