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What is a 404 status code in SEO? — Acorn Content Creation

What is a 404 status code in SEO?

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What is a 404 status code? Is it important for SEO? How do you fix it if it’s not working properly on your website? In this post, we’ll explore the answers to these questions and more. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about 404 status codes and how they can impact your website’s search engine rankings.

What is a 404 status code?

A 404 status code is an error message that is displayed when a user tries to access a page that does not exist. The code indicates that the server could not find the requested page. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a user typing in the wrong URL, or a page being moved or deleted.

What are the potential causes of a 404 status code?

There are several potential causes of a 404 status code. The most common cause is simply that the user has typed in the wrong URL. This can happen if they misremember the address of a page, or if they click on a broken link. Another common cause is that the page has been moved or deleted. This can happen if a website is updated and pages are moved around, or if a page is no longer relevant and is removed from the site.

How can you fix a 404 status code?

If you’re seeing a 404 error on your website, there are a few things you can do to fix it. The first step is to check the URL that the user is trying to access. Make sure that it is spelled correctly and that all of the characters are in lowercase. If the URL looks correct, try accessing the page from another browser or device. If the page still does not load, contact your web hosting provider and ask them to check the server logs for more information about the error.

Conclusion

A 404 status code is an error message that is displayed when a user tries to access a page that does not exist. The code indicates that the server could not find the requested page. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a user typing in the wrong URL, or a page being moved or deleted. If you’re seeing a 404 error on your website, there are a few things you can do to fix it. The first step is to check the URL that the user is trying to access. Make sure that it is spelled correctly and that all of the characters are in lowercase. If the URL looks correct, try accessing the page from another browser or device. If the page still does not load, contact your web hosting provider and ask them to check the server logs for more information about the error.

 

 

Related FAQs

A 404 status code would be displayed as an error message when a user tries to access a page that does not exist.
You can check for a 404 status code by trying to access a page on your website that you know doesn’t exist. If you see an error message, that means you have a 404 status code.
Yes, broken links can often lead to 404 status codes being displayed on your website.
If you accidentally delete a page on your website, you can try to restore it from your web hosting provider’s backups. If that doesn’t work, you can try creating a new page with similar content.
No, you should not ignore 404 status codes. If users are seeing them on your website, that means there’s a problem that needs to be fixed.
If you don’t fix a 404 status code, users will continue to see the error message when they try to access the page. This can lead to confusion and frustration, and it can also make your website look unprofessional.
You can prevent 404 status codes by ensuring that all of your links are working properly and by keeping an up-to-date sitemap.
Yes, your SEO can be affected if you have 404 status codes on your website. Google may penalize your site for having too many broken links, which can lead to a decline in traffic.
No, it’s unlikely that your site is being hacked if you’re seeing 404 status codes. It’s more likely that there are simply a lot of broken links on your site.
Yes, you can redirect 404 status codes to another page on your website. This can be helpful if you want to send users to a specific page instead of displaying an error message.

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