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What is Error 404?
A common HTTP error code indicating that the requested page could not be found on the server.
Description
In the digital marketing industry, Error 404 is a status code that tells users and search engines that a webpage no longer exists or can't be found. This can happen for various reasons, such as broken links, mistyped URLs, or deleted pages. From a marketing perspective, encountering a 404 error can be detrimental to user experience and negatively impact SEO performance. Users who hit a 404 page are likely to leave the site, increasing bounce rates. Meanwhile, search engines may interpret multiple 404 errors as a sign of a poorly maintained website, which can lower a site's ranking. Therefore, it’s crucial for digital marketers to regularly monitor and fix 404 errors to ensure smooth navigation and retain user engagement.
Examples
- An e-commerce website links to a discontinued product page, resulting in a 404 error. Users trying to access the product page are met with a message that the page no longer exists, leading to potential loss of sales.
- A blog post on a popular website includes a link to an external resource that has been removed. When readers click on the link, they receive a 404 error, which disrupts their reading experience and may cause them to leave the site.
Additional Information
- Regularly use tools like Google Search Console to identify and fix 404 errors on your site.
- Create custom 404 error pages that guide users back to the main site or suggest alternative content to keep them engaged.