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Last updated on Mar 5, 2025
•7 mins read
Last updated on Mar 5, 2025
•7 mins read
Ever clicked on a link and landed on a "404 Page Not Found" error?
It’s frustrating, right?
Broken links can annoy visitors and make a website look unreliable. They can also affect search rankings.
This blog explains what broken links are, how they impact a site, and simple ways to find and fix them. A well-maintained website keeps users happy and helps with search visibility.
Let's get started!
A broken link, also known as a dead link, is a hyperlink that points to a webpage or resource that no longer exists or has been moved without proper redirection. When users click on such links, they encounter errors like “404 Page Not Found,” leading to a disrupted browsing experience. Common causes of broken links include deleted pages, changed URLs without setting up redirects, or typographical errors in the hyperlink.
In HTML code, a broken link might look like this: <a href="http://example.com/old-page">Old Page</a>. If the URL changes or the page is deleted, the link becomes broken.
Broken links, also known as dead links, are hyperlinks on a website that no longer work. These links can occur for several reasons, such as when a webpage is moved or deleted, or when a website’s URL structure changes without proper redirection. Broken links can negatively impact a website’s user experience, search engine rankings, and overall credibility. When visitors encounter broken links, it can lead to frustration and a loss of trust in the website.
Broken links can be categorized into two types: internal and external. Internal broken links occur when a link on your website points to a non-existent page within the same website. For example, if you have a link on your homepage that directs users to a blog post that has been deleted, this would be an internal broken link. External broken links, on the other hand, occur when a link on your website points to a non-existent page on another website. This can happen if the external site has removed the page or changed its URL without setting up a redirect.
Understanding the different types of broken links and their causes is the first step in effectively managing them. By regularly checking for and fixing broken links, you can ensure a smoother browsing experience for your visitors and maintain the integrity of your website.
Broken links can negatively impact your website in several ways:
• User Experience: Encountering broken links frustrates visitors, leading them to leave your site prematurely and reducing the likelihood of return visits.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Search engines like Google consider broken links as indicators of a poorly maintained site, which can adversely affect your rankings.
• Link Equity Loss: Broken internal links disrupt the flow of link equity (ranking power) throughout your site, potentially diminishing the authority of other pages.
• Conversion Rates: If broken links prevent users from accessing key pages, such as product pages or contact forms, you may lose potential leads or sales.
Checking and fixing broken links is crucial for maintaining your website's health. Regularly auditing your website to check broken links can be done using several specific tools designed for this purpose:
• Google Search Console: A free tool that provides reports on crawl errors, including broken links, helping you maintain your site’s health.
• Screaming Frog SEO Spider: A desktop program that crawls your website to find broken links, server errors, and other SEO issues.
• Broken Link Checker: For WordPress users, this plugin scans your site for broken links and missing images, allowing you to fix them directly from the dashboard.
• Online Broken Link Checker: A free online service that checks your website for dead links without the need for installation.
There are several tools available for checking and fixing broken links on a website. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Broken Link Checker: Ahrefs offers a free broken link checker tool that can scan an entire site and detect dead links. This tool provides a comprehensive list of broken links, including anchors, images, CSS links, and JavaScript files. It’s a powerful resource for identifying and addressing broken links across your website.
Link Checker: Atomseo provides a free link checker tool that can scan your website and detect broken links. The tool offers detailed information, including status codes and redirect information, making it easier to understand and fix the issues.
Dr. Link Check: Dr. Link Check is an automated tool that checks links and provides a detailed report. It can help identify links to websites that may cause harm and improve your website’s credibility by ensuring all links are functional and safe.
Ally: Ally is another useful tool for identifying broken links on a website. It provides a preview of the content and detailed feedback to help fix accessibility issues, ensuring that your website remains user-friendly and accessible to all visitors.
When choosing a tool for checking and fixing broken links, consider the following factors:
• Accuracy: Look for a tool that can accurately detect broken links and provide a comprehensive report.
• Ease of use: Choose a tool that is user-friendly and provides clear instructions on how to fix broken links.
• Features: Consider a tool that offers additional features, such as link building opportunities and SEO optimization.
• Cost: Some tools offer free versions or trials, while others may require a subscription or one-time payment.
By using a broken link checker tool, website owners can improve their website’s user experience, search engine rankings, and credibility. Regularly checking and fixing broken links can also help prevent harm to a website’s SEO and user experience, ensuring that visitors have a seamless and enjoyable browsing experience.
Once you’ve identified broken links, it’s essential to address them promptly:
Update or Remove Links: If the linked resource has moved, update the URL to the correct page. If it’s no longer available, consider removing the link or replacing it with a relevant alternative.
Implement 301 Redirects: For pages you’ve moved or renamed, set up 301 redirects to guide both users and search engines to the new location, preserving link equity.
Custom 404 Pages: Design a user-friendly 404 error page that guides visitors back to your site’s main content, reducing frustration and keeping them engaged.
Broken Link Building Opportunities: Convert competitors' most linked broken pages into broken link building opportunities by creating similar content to those dead pages. Reach out to the websites that linked to the original broken pages and request them to link to your new content instead.
To minimize the occurrence of broken links:
• Regular Audits: Schedule periodic checks (e.g., monthly or quarterly) using the aforementioned tools to catch and fix broken links promptly.
• Consistent URL Structure: Maintain a consistent and logical URL structure to reduce the chances of links breaking due to changes.
• Proper Redirects: Always set up appropriate redirects when moving or deleting pages to ensure both users and search engines can still access your content.
• Monitor External Links: Keep an eye on outbound links to external sites. If those sites remove or relocate content, update or remove the links accordingly.
Effective internal linking enhances user experience and SEO:
• Descriptive Anchor Text: Use clear and descriptive anchor text that tells users what to expect when clicking a link.
• Logical Linking Structure: Ensure your internal links create a logical flow, guiding users naturally through your content.
• Avoid Overlinking: Don't overload your pages with too many internal links, as this can overwhelm users and dilute the value of each link.
• Regular Updates: As you add new content, update older pages to include links to relevant new pages, keeping your internal linking structure dynamic and useful.
Broken links do more than frustrate visitors—they can hurt search rankings and weaken a site's credibility. Fixing them quickly keeps users happy and helps search engines trust the site. Regular checks and smart linking practices make a big difference. By staying on top of this, a website stays strong, user-friendly, and easy to find online.
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