404 Error

404 errors often occur when pages are deleted, URLs are changed without redirects, or links are misconfigured. While a small number of 404s is normal, excessive or unhandled errors can signal poor site maintenance to both users and search engines. More importantly, they break the user journey, especially when users are coming from search or external links.

Why It Matters

‍From an SEO perspective, unresolved 404s can waste crawl budget and weaken site structure. From a UX perspective, they create friction and increase bounce rates. A well-designed 404 page turns a dead end into a recovery point by guiding users back into the experience.

Example

‍A user clicks an outdated blog link from Google and lands on a 404 page with no navigation, causing them to leave the site entirely.

Best Practice

‍Create a custom 404 page that includes clear navigation, search functionality, and relevant links or content suggestions. The goal is to re-route users, not lose them.