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Hello everyone, as an SEO manager, I would like to talk about some important tips. These are the links we call broken links, how we should clean these links and what action we should take, I will explain step by step.
While websites go through constant change and update processes, some links may become inoperable over time. Such links are called "broken links" and usually result in a 404 error. But you should also tell your software team that if the site is hosted in the backend, these links in the main file of the site should also be updated and cleaned. Broken links, which pose a significant problem in terms of both user experience and SEO, how can we handle them technically, come on, I will explain this in detail. In this article, I will discuss the causes, detection, effects and solution methods of broken links in detail for you.
Definition and Causes of Broken Links
Broken Links and 404 Errors: A Technical Review
Broken links are links on a website that do not reach the target URL. The main reasons for this are:
- Deleted Pages: The target URL no longer exists
- Mistyped URLs: The link was entered incorrectly
- Domain Changes: The website was moved to a different domain name
- Linked Site Down: External sites are inaccessible
- Temporary Server Problems: The target site is temporarily down
What is a 404 Error?
The 404 error is an error code among the HTTP response codes that means "Not Found". The browser tells you that the page the user is trying to access is not available on the server. The main reasons for this error are:
- Page moved or deleted
- Changes to URL structure
- Incorrect redirect or missing htaccess rules
The Effects of Broken Links on SEO and User Experience
Broken links have negative effects on both search engines and visitors:
- SEO Perspective: When search engine bots encounter broken links, they may assume that the page is of poor quality and may lower the ranking.
- User Experience: Users may be more likely to abandon a site when they encounter broken links.
- Site Authority and Trustworthiness: A large number of broken links can reduce the trustworthiness of a site.
Detecting Broken Links
There are actually several methods to detect broken links and they are as follows:
- Manual Checks: Manually testing links on your website
- Google Search Console: Finding broken links through the “Crawl Errors” section
- SEO Tools: Tools like Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, and SEMrush can automatically detect broken links
- Online Broken Link Checker Tools: You can scan links on your site with various web-based tools.
What are the Solution Methods for 404 Errors?
I have compiled the following technical methods for you to fix 404 errors:
- -301 Redirects: Redirect old links to new relevant pages
- Designing Custom 404 Pages: Creating custom error pages to provide a better experience for users
- Link Updates: Editing broken or invalid links
- Performing Regular Audits: Scanning the website periodically to detect errors in advance
Preventive Strategies I have prepared for you
The following methods can be used to prevent broken links:
- Testing links regularly
- Permanently redirecting (301 redirect) pages that have moved
- Using external links to trusted sources
- Being careful when creating internal links
- Implementing a comprehensive content management policy on the website
Final Details and Conclusion
Friends, broken links and 404 errors are actually serious problems that negatively affect both user experience and SEO performance. I hope you take this serious problem into consideration.
However, these problems can be minimized by using the right detection and correction methods. You should ensure that webmasters regularly check the links and apply redirection rules correctly and design user-friendly error pages, https etc. redirects - permanent and temporary - are among the best practices for dealing with broken links. For detailed broken links, I am sharing with you the latest article where Google pays attention to important issues.
What does Google consider a broken link?
For a better web experience, it is very important to detect broken links in advance and solve them with effective strategies.
Last Update: 11 Mar, 2025
