3 simple steps to a customized 404 error page and why you should make one!
When you own a website you probably have some pages which aren’t on your server anymore but are still indexed by the search engines. When visitors stumble onto such a page they will see a 404 error page as you can see in the image below:
If you don’t know what a 404 error page is check the 404 error page explanation from Wikipedia.
Chances are that these users will click the “back-button” and will never return to your website again. He’s expecting to see a webpage with information (or whatever the search engine result claimed) but all he sees is a error-page.
When is a 404 error displayed
Visitors can run into your 404 error pages for different reasons:
- Find the page in the search engine results (and clicks the link);
- Types the wrong URL in the address bar of his browser;
- Find the (wrong/dead) link on another website;
- Bookmarked a page which doesn’t exist anymore.
Creating your own customized 404 error page in 3 simple steps
But did you know you can customize your own 404 error page? Customizing your 404 error page is a breeze. So make your 404 error page work for you instead working against you with these 3 simple steps…
Step 1: Create your own 404 error page in HTML or PHP
When you are going to create your own 404 error page keep the following tips in mind:
- Use the same design as the rest of your website;
- Include a link to your homepage;
- Include a link to your FAQ;
- Include a link to your sitemap;
- Include a search form;
- Use the same navigation bars as the rest of your website
Very important: make sure visitors can see that the page they are on doesn’t exist anymore!
Save this file as: my404.html (or save as .PHP if you like)
Step 2: Edit your .htaccess file
If you already have a .htaccess file on your server open it. Otherwise open Wordpad (or any text editor).
Add the following line to the .htaccess file:
ErrorDocument 404 /my404.html
Save the file. If it’s a new .htaccess file save it as .htaccess (and NOT .htaccess.txt).
Step 3: Upload and testing
Almost done… Just upload the two files you just created to your root directory. Now test your new customized 404 error page by going to a page on your website which doesn’t exist anymore.
And presto, there is your own customized 404 error page!
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Comments
Always good to prepare. You’re right. :-)~
Wanna add a little bit of fun to this?
Here’s a 404 page that should only be displayed if you’re 18 or older…lol
Don’t worry, it got 34 Sphinns, it won’t bite..just a little SEO humor is all…
http://learningseobasics.com/archives/20
Absolutely good advice. I can imagine lots of improvement to the 404 pages. However, making a customized one instead of the standard pages is absolutely number one.
Don\t insult your visitors by providing them a standard message telling them it is their fault that they arrived on the wrong page.
That’s funny..A porn site spammer tried to leave a comment with you and it showed up in my mailbox because I have replies going there! lol..I see you removed it though. *-)
He slipped thru the spamfilter
Nice write up on the 404 error page.
I was just putting together a blog post of my own about why & how to do this but now I think I’ll just link back to this post.
Why mess with perfection eh!
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Thanks!,
well, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch
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