Wang Dajun: Custom 404 error page Details

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We often hear the "Custom 404 error page" This concept, the old webmaster are certainly very familiar with the new webmaster or just close to SEO new people may not understand, then what is 404? Why do I need 404 pages? 404 What is the impact of SEO? 404 What's The impact on users? How do I set up 404 pages? And a custom 404 error page What should I pay attention to? below Wang Dajun to take you to understand.

What is 404

404 is an HTTP error code, that is, the requested Web page does not exist. The first "4" of code 404 represents the client error. such as the wrong web address, the last two digits represent a specific error message (about code, Wang Dajun Network Marketing Blog has a "Wang Dajun: The meaning of the IIS state Code Summary", interested to see). The 404 page is the page that is returned when the user enters the wrong link or accesses a non-existent address. The goal is to tell the viewer that the page they are requesting does not exist or that the link is wrong, and that the user is directed to use other pages of the site instead of closing the window to leave.

Why do I need 404 pages

Search engine spider when request a URL to get "404" state response, that means that the URL is no longer indexed and the page is deleted from the index database by feedback to the datacenter, although the deletion process may take a long time; when the search engine gets "200" Status code, the URL is considered valid and is indexed and included in the index database. Therefore, customizing the 404 error page is not only a good way to enhance the user experience, but also is very important for search engines.

404 Impact on users

What does the user do when the user accidentally accesses a nonexistent page and does not set the error prompt? No doubt, of course, to close the window directly away. So setting up a 404 page is also equivalent to doing a user's prompt page, when the user visited a nonexistent page will go to the 404 page, and then because you have a friendly hint on this 404 page, and there is a link between the homepage and the main columns page, the user is likely to click again into your homepage.

404 What's the impact on SEO

When a page on your site is deleted, the corresponding link address is not valid, but your address of this page because the search engine has been included, it is likely to exist in the search engine database, spiders will also as usual to climb this link. When the spider comes crawling in fact you this page no longer exists, then the spider will return a message-"blocked". If your site has a lot of such pages, such as changing the program, delete the data, and so on, so that the spider often encounter "dead end", then your site is very likely to be k or down right. So at this time need to make a 404 page, 404 pages on the need to add your site's homepage link and main columns of the link. This way when spiders crawl to a nonexistent page will go to this 404 page, because this 404 page has a homepage connection, so the spider will continue to crawl along this connection. Also some people use the website map as 404 pages, also this truth. Here Wang Dajun remind everyone, remember not to 404 errors directly to the home page.

Tip: Wang Dajun, push a core team member, Blue Beacon Public Welfare organization member. To see the author more articles please search "Wang Dajun Network Marketing" or login Wang Dajun Network Marketing Blog.

How do I set up 404 pages?

First into the space of the Control Panel. Here is an example of a host used by the Wang Dajun Network Marketing Blog (depending on the different background operations of the host).

1, click on the Space Control Panel "custom error page", you can see a "Custom error page" Panel (figure I);

2, in the "Custom error page" that can see the relevant action items and instructions (figure I);

3, because the Wang Dajun Network Marketing blog 404 page file name is 404.html, so in 404 error entry directly into the "404.html" (see figure II);

Figure I

Figure II

Set up the space, we make a good 404 page upload to space. Because in the above space setting I set to 404.html as Wang Dajun network Marketing blog 404 pages, So here I made a name "404.html" page, and uploaded to the site's root directory.

At this point, the custom 404 error page is set up, you can enter the browser to the wrong address test.

Custom 404 Error page Considerations:

1, make sure the custom 404 error page returns "404" Status Code

When you make a custom 404 error page, just focus on whether the 404 error page will be displayed normally, without noticing that the 404 error page Returns the status code is "404". When we set up a good page should be checked, if not, it needs to be handled accordingly, otherwise it will have a bad impact on the site.

Check 404 error page Return status code you can use the Server header Check tool, you can go to the page in the image below, as long as you enter a site in the URL does not exist, and then look at the return of the HTTP header, to ensure that the return is "404", If it's not going to go back to check setup. As pictured,

2, 404 error page Return "200" status code problem

As shown above, Wang Dajun Network Marketing Blog Query 404 error page Return status code, return is "200", then what kind of situation? Then the search engine will think that the "Non-existent Web page" exists, which will affect the optimization effect. For example, if my site has two such non-existent URLs, then if the site's custom 404 error page Returns a status code of "200", then the search engine will assume that the two pages are present and included in the index database, The point is that the result is that the two different URLs have the same Web content, and this page content is the content of the custom 404 error page. Duplicate texts like these are extremely unfriendly to search engines. This will greatly reduce the weight of the site, or the site to search engine friendliness. If your site is such a "nonexistent page" too much, then the repeatability will be more serious, so be sure to set up 404 error pages to ensure the return of the status code is "404".

You may ask why my return status code is "200" without modification because some settings are only available to the space provider and are currently being contacted. In addition, because my blog content page is not much, the impact will not be too big, for the user experience temporarily sacrificed a bit of search engine friendliness.

3, 404 error page Return "302" status code problem

This is the above and you mentioned, remember not to point 404 errors directly to the home page, that is, when you visit the site of a wrong page will jump directly to the home page. From the SEO point of view, because the 404 error returned may be 200 status code, also may be 302 status code, so anyway or the search engine is not friendly, there is a more serious consequence is if the direct jump to the home page, it is likely to lead to the site's home page in search engines can not find, Your home page can not be crawled and included, the severity of the consequences can be imagined.

Search engine on the "302" error, or think that the page is there, but only temporarily changed the address, it will be included, but also will lead to duplicate the phenomenon of text. So if your 404 error page Returns a status code of 302, be sure to correct it, otherwise the risk is great.

4, a good design of the 404 error page can help you avoid losing the trust of users, potential to establish your user relationship and to retain your users, so that they browse your site longer. We can refer to the following points:

A. Provide a concise description of the problem, with easy words to eliminate the frustration of visitors, so that visitors to move to a place rather than back.

B. Provide a reasonable solution to assist visitors to complete the visit objectives.

C. Provide a personalized and friendly interface to enhance the access experience.

For those who are not very good at making the page, you can tell us a shortcut, that is, to save the other person's 404 pages directly after the modified use.

Above is Wang Dajun on the custom 404 error page Detailed and simple introduction, which involves some code, about the code, Wang Dajun Network Marketing Blog has a "Wang Dajun: The meaning of the IIS state Code Summary" article, the code is not too familiar to friends can look. Welcome to Exchange and supplement.

Wang Dajun, a member of the core team, the Blue Beacon Public welfare organization. To see the author more articles please search "Wang Dajun Network Marketing" or login to Wang Dajun Network Marketing Blog (www.wangdajun.net). Network Marketing Communication 2 groups: 127511980, Tencent Micro-Bo Exchange Group: 112984178, Tencent Weibo: http://t.qq.com/junyue18198 welcome free reprint, reprint, please retain the original author information, thank you for your cooperation!