Are 404 Errors Affecting your SEO and Website?

The error message displaying “404 Not Found” is a common response status code generated by search engine results; stating that the HTTP server did try to locate the requested URL but the targeted web based content could not be found due to a broken link. 404 error messages are usually displayed when the requested web based content have been deleted from the requested site, incorrect and misspelled links have been provided to the targeted content, or the link structure (permalink) of the website has been changed completely. Such error messages provide negative user experience and can harm the reputation of the supporting sites providing reference links for such content. Also, sometimes important links from other such domains can be missed and relevant reference material made inaccessible.

Difference between 404 Error, DNS Error And “Server Not Found” Messages

404 Error is different from DNS Error, also resulting from dead links, wherein content is being moved to a different domain altogether, and the requested URL redirected to an invalid server name (server name does not exist). In 404 Error, the server is traceable as per the web browser’s request, but the targeted content is no longer available. Also, this error is different from “server not found” messages, wherein contact with the target server itself could not be established by the web browser.

Scouting 404 Error Pages with Google Webmaster and WordPress Redirection Plugin

404 Errors are not exactly SEO-friendly; hence it is better advised not to have a big list of such pages for your web based sites or blogs. SEO is all about optimizing positive user experience for the netizens, and the 404 error messages are a hindrance to that end. The basic step is to first, identify the potential 404 pages by accessing the Google Webmaster tool. You need to select “Crawl errors” from the Google Webmaster tool dashboard, and then click on “Not found” to get the list of your links. Now, you can select individual links and choose the “linked from” option to examine the link routes. Additionally, Redirection Plugin by WordPress can be used to check and redirect 404 pages from your console.

Fixing 404 Error Pages for Your Domain: Best Practices

• Once you have discovered the potential 404 error pages, you may use 301 Redirect to fix your dead links and redirect them to the applicable web based article or category.
• If the misspelled or incorrect link from some other domain is the reason for your 404 error message, then you can place a request with the webmaster to correct the link or use a 301 Redirect yourself.
• In case no relevant web based article, post or category, is available on your website based on the targeted topic, and then you can simply leave it as a 404 error page, which will be de-indexed by Google after a certain period.
• Additionally, you may yourself de-index 404 error pages from your web index with the help of Google Webmaster removal tool. However, this step is only recommended in case you have a small number of 404 error pages which can be manually handled. For bigger batches of 404 error page de-indexing, it is better letting Google handle them on your behalf and follow the previous step mentioned.
• An interesting way to utilize a 404 error page to provide a positive user experience is to remodel such a page by adding a search index, displaying relevant posts as per user targeted query or promoting some bestselling web posts or articles from your web gateway.

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About The Author:
Jask is a web design company in Birmingham and Neil is a senior content manager at Jask. He love writing on technology and SEO. He also emphasize on utilizing the best SEO techniques that are white hat and search engine friendly for getting long term profitable results.

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How To Make 404 Page For Blogger (FULL 404 PAGE)

Hello guys, today I'm going to show you how to make a 404 page for your blogger blog! I found this way by my self because I really didn't like that 404 ERROR blogger give, and wanted to make a full 404 page like normal websites.

So here are the steps in the video bellow:

1. Make a new blog, call it whatever you want

2. Change to blogger old interface

3. Click on design of the new blog, then Edit Html (Design > Edit HTML)

4. Look at the bottom of the page, you will find "Revert To Classic Template" > Click on that

Now you will be able to change the whole code of the blog, with no errors! in other words fully deface it!

5. Paste your 404 page inside that blog, then save it.

6. Go to your Domain Name host and add that blog as 404.YourWebsite.COM (Note:- You can change to anything not 404.yourwebsite.com, but i thought 404.yourwebsite.com will look better)

7. Now go to Your main blog, click on Settings > Search Preferences 

8. You Will find custom 404 page there, click on "SET" and paste this code in it:

<script type="text/javascript"><!-- window.location = "http://404.securitygeeks.net" //--></script>

9. Change the link in the Code to your 404 page blog, to redirect the user to it.

Now whenever someone open a broken link, the blogger 404 error message will have this javascript will run and redirect him/her to the 404 page!

Now watch this video for more Understanding!

               

The code:
<script type="text/javascript"><!-- window.location = "http://404.securitygeeks.net" //--></script>

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UPDATED!
after Blogger removed the classic theme, the video above is not fully useful now. BUT, now here is the new way to FULLY change the blogger page (deface it) with the new theme.
1.Click on your blog, and then click on "Template"
2.Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see something like this:

3. Click on "Revert to classic templates" and you will see something like this:

4. Now click on "Revert to classic template", and you're DONE!
now you will be able to change the main index :)

Enjoy =)

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