Status Code 404 is a crucial aspect of SEO and digital marketing that every website owner should be aware of. This error code indicates that the requested web page cannot be found on the server, which can negatively impact a website's user experience, search engine rankings, and overall digital marketing efforts.
In this post, we will answer six of the most popular questions about Status Code 404 and provide valuable insights for SEO, content marketing, ad tech, video marketing, and other digital marketing strategies.
Status Code 404 is an HTTP response code that indicates that the requested web page cannot be found on the server. This error message can occur due to various reasons, such as broken links, deleted pages, wrong URLs, or server issues.
Status Code 404 can have a significant impact on a website's SEO performance. If search engines encounter multiple 404 errors on a website, they may assume that the site is not well-maintained and lower its ranking in search results. Moreover, broken links can also harm the user experience and discourage visitors from returning to the site.
To find and fix Status Code 404 errors on your website, you can use various tools such as Google Search Console, SEMrush Site Audit, Ahrefs Site Explorer, or Broken Link Checker. Once you identify the broken links or pages causing the errors, you can redirect them to relevant pages or create new content to replace them.
Preventing Status Code 404 errors requires proactive measures such as regularly monitoring your website's links and pages using tools like Google Analytics or Screaming Frog. Additionally, you can implement best practices such as avoiding URL changes or deleting pages without proper redirects.
Status Code 404 can also affect ad tech and video marketing efforts. If your website contains broken links or missing pages, it may lead to ad campaigns or video ads not being delivered correctly. This issue can result in wasted advertising spend and lower ROI.
To monitor Status Code 404 on your website, you can use various tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, or crawling software like Screaming Frog. These tools can provide detailed reports on the number of 404 errors, their source, and the affected pages.
