What is 404 Not Found? How to Fix the Error
A 404 Not Found error is an HTTP standard response code indicating that the browser was able to communicate with a given server, but the server could not find what was requested. In the eyes of search engines like Google, a high volume of 404 errors signals a "decaying" website, which can lead to a drop in crawl frequency and domain authority.
Key Technical Causes:
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URL Alterations: Changing a page's slug without implementing a redirect.
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Asset Misplacement: Moving image or JS files to a different directory.
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Broken Inbound Links: External sites linking to a page you've since deleted.
The Professional Fix Strategy:
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Audit: Use tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog to identify all 404 instances.
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301 Redirects: If the content moved, use a permanent 301 redirect.
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Custom 404 Page: Design a page that helps users find what they need (search bar, popular links) instead of a blank error screen. This keeps "Bounce Rate" low.
