What is the 404 error?
The error 404 is a status code HTTP which indicates that the server cannot locate the requested page or resource at a specific URL. This occurs when a link points to a page that has been deleted, moved or renamed. It is a common problem that, if not addressed correctly, can affect both user experience and performance. SEO of a web site.

Although the design and content may differ, most 404 error pages include the following common elements:
- Main messageGenerally, clear and direct phrases such as "404 Not Found", "Page not found", or "Sorry, this page is not available" are presented. This message is key for the user to understand that an error occurred.
- Description of the problemA brief explanation is usually added informing the user of the reason for the error, such as that the requested URL does not exist, is misspelled, or is no longer available.
- Navigation optionsTo enhance the user experience, many custom 404 error pages include useful links, such as a button to return to the home page, a navigation menu, or a search bar that allows the visitor to explore other content on the site.
- Visual design and brandingModern sites often make 404 error pages an extension of their visual identity. This can include colors, typography and branding styles, which minimizes user frustration. In some cases, creative or humorous elements are used to soften the impact of the error, such as funny illustrations, puns or interactive animations.
A well-designed 404 error page not only reduces user frustration, but can also be an opportunity to reinforce brand image and guide the visitor to other relevant content within the website.
HTTP code categories
The HTTP status codeserror codes, such as the 404 error, are part of a standardized system for communicating the status of requests between browsers and servers. These codes are organized into five main categories:

These codes not only help identify technical problems, but are also essential for optimizing the user experience and improving overall website performance.
Hard" and "soft" 404 errors
404 errors can be divided into two main categories: "hard" and "soft"each with different implications for users, search engines and a website's SEO.
Hard" 404 errors
A "hard" 404 error occurs when a page is not available in its entirety and the server responds correctly with an HTTP 404 status code.
- Clear communication with search enginesThis response indicates to both users and search engines that the page does not exist. This prevents search engines from wasting resources trying to crawl or index it.
- Impact on search enginesWhen search engines detect "hard" 404 errors, they usually remove these pages from their indexes, preventing them from appearing in search results.
Soft" 404 errors
A "soft" 404 error, on the other hand, occurs when a page appears to load correctly and returns a 200 status code, but the content shows that it is, in fact, unavailable.
- Problem with status codeThis happens when the page displays an error message or a placeholder page without returning the appropriate HTTP 404 code.
- Confusion for search enginesFor example, a page labeled as "Page not found" but containing little or no relevant content may be misinterpreted by search engines, which may treat it as a low-value page instead of excluding it from the index.
Impact on SEO
Both types of errors can negatively affect SEO:
- Hard" 404 errorsAlthough they are clearer to search engines, too many may indicate link management problems or outdated content.
- Soft" 404 errorsThese are particularly problematic because search engines may misinterpret your intent and continue to index pages that do not add value, which dilutes the relevance of the website.
To minimize the impact, it is crucial to regularly monitor 404 errors and ensure that non-existing pages correctly return HTTP 404 code, while implementing 301 redirects when necessary.
Impacts of 404 errors
404 errors can generate a series of negative consequences for your website, especially if they appear on pages that should be accessible. Below, we explain the main impacts:
1. Poor user experience
404 errors directly affect the user experience by preventing visitors from accessing the content they want to see.
Imagine you are browsing the Keycode services page and you click on a button that says "Read more".

Instead of directing you to the expected information, you end up on a 404 error page.

User options:
- Spend more time searching for similar information, which is frustrating and less efficient.
- Deciding not to continue the search, which leaves the user dissatisfied and with a negative perception of the site.
In both cases, the user experience is affected, diminishing trust in your brand and reducing the chances that the visitor will return to your site.
2. Search engines cannot rank your page.
For a page to rank in search results (SERP), it must first be indexed by search engines.
How a 404 error impacts:
- If a search engine crawls a page and finds a 404 error, it recognizes that the page does not exist and decides not to index it.
- This means that the page will not be visible to users through searches, losing potential traffic opportunities.

3. Reduction of presence in SERP
Pages with 404 errors can negatively affect your website's visibility in search results. Search engines do not index pages with these errors, which means that fewer pages from your site will be available to be displayed in the SERPs.
In addition, links pointing to pages with 404 errors lose their value, which reduces the authority of your domain. This can cause your site to be perceived as less trustworthy by search engines, thus affecting your ranking.
As a result, the reduced visibility of your site in SERPs can translate into a drop in organic traffic, as fewer people will access your page through search.
How to identify 404 errors on your website
You can find 404 errors on your website by manually checking each link to make sure it does not lead to a "page not found" error page. However, this method can be very tedious and time consuming. In addition, differentiating between "hard" and "soft" 404 errors can be tricky.
To facilitate this process, you can use the following tools and methods to scan your website for 404 errors on a large scale:
1. Use the Semrush Site Audit Tool
The site audit tool of Semrush can identify more than 140 technical problems on your website, including 404 errors. It also provides recommendations on how to fix these problems.
If 404 errors are found, the tool will display them in the "Errors" section of the report, with a summary of the URLs that return the 4XX status code. From there, you can quickly identify URLs with 404 errors and correct them.

2. Use the dead link checker tool
Dead Link Checker is a tool that scans your website for broken or dead links, which are links that do not direct the user to the expected destination due to a 404 error.
The tool will show you the status of each broken URL, the text of the original link and the URL that returned the 404 error. This way, you can quickly locate broken links and fix them.

3. Check the Google Search Console
Google Search Console provides reports on your website's performance in Google search results, including a page indexing report showing URLs with "hard" and "soft" 404 errors.
If Google finds 404 errors on your site, it will display them in the page indexing report under the "Not Found (404)" and "Soft 404" rows. These reports will allow you to see the specific URLs that are generating 404 errors and help you fix them to improve the user experience and your site's search engine performance.

Do you need to fix 404 errors on your website?
Not all 404 errors require immediate resolution. If you have removed pages from your website and do not want users to access them, the associated URLs should return 404 errors, which tells search engines not to index or rank that content.
Tip: To maintain a good user experience, remove links to these unwanted pages from your website. This will prevent users from trying to access them.
If you want to make certain pages that currently show 404 errors accessible or redirect traffic to them, then you need to fix this.
How to fix the error 404 not found on your site
Although Google may detect a "404 not found" error on a page, it will continue to crawl, but less frequently and possibly stopping altogether.

There are several methods to fix 404 errors before the next Google crawl:
- Correct the link that causes the 404 error
If a link on your website leads to a 404 error page due to a typo, correct the link to point to the correct page. - Redirect the URL that causes the 404 error
Set up a redirect so that users are automatically directed to the correct page. This is useful if you moved the content of a page to a new URL. This will prevent users from landing on an error page. - Adding content to page with a 404 error
If you want to make a URL that is currently giving a 404 error accessible, add content to that page. Once the page has content, the 404 error will disappear because the server will be able to locate the resources at that URL. - Remove the URL causing the 404 error from your website (and redirect it)
If you no longer need a URL that generates a 404 error, remove it from your site. This will prevent users from reaching that page. If necessary, set up a redirect so that users arriving at that URL from bookmarks or external links are redirected appropriately. - Restore a clean .htaccess file
If your .htaccess file is corrupted, this could cause 404 errors on your site. To fix this, replace the damaged .htaccess file with a clean version. This is a technical process that may require the help of a developer if you are not familiar with editing this file.

Ready to optimize your website?
Don't let 404 errors affect your users' experience and your search engine rankings. At KeycodeWe can help you identify and fix these problems to improve the performance of your website.
Written by Barbara Cabrera/Marketing Analyst