Hi there! Have you ever clicked on a link, hoping to see something cool, but instead saw a “404 Page Not Found” error? It’s super annoying, right? These are called broken links. If you own a website, broken links can hurt your visitors’ experience and even your website’s rank on Google. But don’t worry! I’ll show you how to find broken links, fix them, and keep them from coming back.
You might also want to know – WordPress the link you followed has expired – Here’s the fix
What Are Broken Links?
A broken link is a link that doesn’t work. Instead of taking you to the page it’s supposed to, it shows an error or nothing at all. This can happen if:
- The page you linked to was deleted.
- The link was typed wrong.
- The page moved to a new web address.
When I started my website, I didn’t check my links often. One day, a visitor emailed me saying they couldn’t find the page they needed. I felt bad and realized I needed to learn how to find broken links and fix them. Now, I’ll help you do the same!
Why Do Broken Links Matter?
Broken links are a big problem because:
- They annoy visitors: People get frustrated when they can’t find what they’re looking for. They might leave your site and not come back.
- They hurt your Google ranking: Search engines like Google don’t like broken links. Too many can push your site lower in search results.
- They lose you money or traffic: If a broken link is on an important page (like a shop or contact page), you could miss out on sales or visitors.
This is why it’s super important to learn how to find broken links and fix them quickly.
How to Find Broken Links
Finding broken links might sound hard, but it’s actually simple. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Check Links Yourself
Go through your website and click on all the links. If one doesn’t work, you’ll know it’s broken.
- Focus on important pages like your homepage, about page, and product pages.
- Check both links on your site and links to other websites.
This takes time, but it’s free and doesn’t need special tools. I’ve found many broken links this way!
2. Use Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool that shows you problems on your website.
- Sign in to Search Console.
- Go to the Coverage section to see errors, including broken links.
- Fix the links it lists.
I use this tool a lot, and it has saved me hours of work!
3. Try Broken Link Checkers
There are tools made just for finding broken links. Some good ones are:
- BrokenLinkCheck.com: Free and easy to use.
- Screaming Frog SEO Spider: A bit advanced but great for big websites.
- Ahrefs: Paid but offers lots of details about your links.
These tools scan your site and tell you which links are broken. It’s like having a helper do the hard work for you!
How to Fix Broken Links
Now that you know how to find broken links, let’s fix them! Here’s how:
1. Fix the Link
If the link has a typo, just correct it. For example, if “example.com/blog” is written as “exmaple.com/blog,” fix the spelling.
2. Update the Link
If the page you linked to has moved, update the link to the new address.
3. Redirect the Link
If the page no longer exists, you can set up a “redirect.” A redirect sends visitors to a different page. For example, if your “About Us” page moved, a redirect can take people to the new page without showing an error.
4. Remove the Link
If there’s no replacement page, it’s better to remove the broken link. A missing link is better than a broken one.
How to Stop Broken Links
Once you’ve fixed your broken links, you’ll want to stop new ones from showing up. Here’s how:
1. Check Links Regularly
Make it a habit to check your website every few months. Use a tool like BrokenLinkCheck.com to scan your site for broken links.
2. Use Relative Links
Instead of typing out the full link (like “https://example.com/page”), use a shorter link (like “/page”). This helps when you change your website’s address.
3. Be Careful with External Links
Links to other websites break often because those sites might change or delete pages. Use a tool like Ahrefs to monitor them.
4. Ask Visitors for Help
You can add a note on your site like, “Found a broken link? Let us know!” Visitors can help you find broken links you might miss.
My Story About Broken Links
I’ll never forget the time a reader messaged me saying a link in one of my blog posts didn’t work. It was embarrassing! The link was supposed to take them to a free resource, but the page had been deleted.
I quickly replaced the link with a better resource, and the reader was happy. That day, I learned the importance of checking links regularly.
Suggested Article : How we fixed Nginx WordPress permalinks 404 error
Broken links are links that no longer lead to the intended page. They may show an error message like “404 Not Found” because the page has been moved or deleted.
You can find broken links by manually clicking through your pages, using tools like Google Search Console, or using broken link checkers such as BrokenLinkCheck.com or Screaming Frog.
To fix broken links, you can update the link with the correct URL, set up a redirect if the page has moved, or remove the link if the page no longer exists.
Broken links create a poor user experience, frustrate visitors, and can negatively affect your SEO ranking, as search engines prefer sites with working links.
Regularly check your website for broken links, use relative links when possible, monitor external links, and allow visitors to report any broken links they encounter.
Final Thoughts
Broken links can be a pain, but they’re easy to fix if you stay on top of them.
- Learn how to find broken links using tools or manual checks.
- Fix them by correcting, updating, or removing them.
- Prevent new broken links by checking your site regularly.
A website without broken links makes visitors happy and keeps Google smiling too. So, take a little time to check your links—it’s worth it!
If you’ve got questions or tips about how to find broken links, I’d love to hear from you!
