# Soft 404 vs 404 Errors: How They Impact SEO and Rankings In today’s digital world, your website’s health is critical to your online success. Even small errors like broken pages can hurt your search engine rankings and affect user experience. Two common errors that website owners face are 404 errors and soft 404 errors. In this guide, we will explain what these errors are, how they affect your SEO and rankings, and most importantly, how to fix them. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of these errors and how to maintain a healthy website. What is a 404 Error? -------------------- ![404-status-code](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/Hyc50oU9ll.png) ### Definition of a 404 Error A 404 error is one of the most well-known errors on the internet. When you try to visit a web page that does not exist, your browser shows a 404 Not Found message. Technically, it is an HTTP status code. HTTP status codes are codes sent by a web server to tell browsers what is happening when they try to access a page. A 404 means that the page cannot be found. ### Common Causes of 404 Errors 404 errors happen for several reasons, including: 1. Broken Links: Sometimes, links on your website or other websites may point to pages that no longer exist. 2. Deleted Pages: If you delete a page but the URL is still accessible or linked elsewhere, visitors will see a 404 error. 3. Incorrectly Typed URLs: Even a small typo in the web address can lead to a 404 page. 4. Server or Website Migration Issues: When moving a website to a new server or changing your URL structure, some pages may break if not redirected correctly. ### How 404 Errors Appear to Users When a user clicks on a broken link, the browser typically shows a 404 Not Found page. This can be a default page provided by the server or a custom page designed by the website owner. While 404 pages are normal, having too many broken pages can frustrate visitors and hurt your site’s credibility. What is a Soft 404 Error? ------------------------- ### Definition of Soft 404 A soft 404 is a bit trickier than a standard 404. Unlike a regular 404, a soft 404 appears to load correctly. The server sends an HTTP 200 OK response, meaning the page is technically live, but the content is missing or unhelpful. Google and other search engines detect that the page actually doesn’t provide real content. In other words, it looks like a real page but is treated as “not found” by search engines. ### Common Causes of Soft 404s Soft 404s often occur because of the following: 1. Empty Pages: Pages with “No content available” messages can be seen as soft 404s. 2. Redirects to Irrelevant Pages: If a broken page redirects users to unrelated content, it may count as a soft 404. 3. Misconfigured Server Responses: Sometimes, the server responds with HTTP 200 even though the page is empty or invalid. ### How Soft 404s Affect Users Soft 404 pages confuse visitors. The page appears normal, but there is no valuable content. This can make users leave the website quickly, increasing your bounce rate and hurting overall user experience. Key Differences Between 404 and Soft 404 Errors ----------------------------------------------- Understanding the [differences between 404 and soft 404 errors](https://tattvammedia.com/seo/404-vs-soft-404-errors/) is important for website owners and SEO professionals. Feature 404 Error Soft 404 Error HTTP Status Code 404 200 (but content missing) Search Engine Treatment Treated as “Not Found” and de-indexed Detected as “Not Found” despite appearing live User Experience Clear message that page is missing Confusing, as page seems live but offers no value Example Deleted blog post Empty product page with generic message SEO Impact of 404 Errors ------------------------ ### Crawling and Indexing Issues Search engines like Google use bots to crawl your website. When they find 404 errors, they understand that these pages no longer exist and will eventually remove them from the index. While a few 404s are normal, a large number of broken pages can cause crawling inefficiencies. Google may spend time crawling these pages instead of valuable content. ### Link Equity Loss 404 pages can lead to lost link equity. If other websites link to your deleted page, those backlinks are wasted unless you redirect the page. Internal links pointing to 404 pages can also hurt your website’s SEO. ### User Experience & Rankings 404 pages can frustrate users, making them leave your site. Search engines take user experience into account when ranking pages. Websites with many 404 errors may be seen as low-quality, which can indirectly impact search rankings. SEO Impact of Soft 404 Errors ----------------------------- [https://youtu.be/arXrqXdcI4Q?si=gGhsPAjm5kVG6bHM](https://youtu.be/arXrqXdcI4Q?si=gGhsPAjm5kVG6bHM) ### Crawling Confusion Soft 404s create confusion for search engines. Because the server sends a 200 status code, Google may continue crawling these pages unnecessarily. For websites with many pages, this wastes crawl budget, which is the time search engines spend indexing your site. ### Indexing Problems Soft 404 pages may stay in the search index even though they provide no value. This can dilute your website’s quality in the eyes of search engines and hurt overall SEO performance. ### User Engagement Issues Visitors landing on soft 404 pages may leave quickly because the content is missing or irrelevant. High bounce rates and low engagement metrics can reduce your site’s ranking over time. How to Identify 404 and Soft 404 Errors --------------------------------------- ### Using Google Search Console Google Search Console is a free and powerful tool for identifying website errors. * Coverage Report: This report shows all 404 errors and soft 404s detected by Google. * Insights: You can see which URLs are affected and whether Google treats them as 404 or soft 404. ### Using Crawling Tools There are several crawling tools that help find broken pages: 1. Screaming Frog: Detects 404s and soft 404s quickly. 2. Ahrefs: Helps identify broken backlinks and internal links. 3. SEMrush: Tracks crawl errors and helps fix them efficiently. These tools provide detailed reports and allow you to take corrective actions quickly. ### Manual Checking Methods You can also check pages manually: * Server Response Codes: Use browser developer tools or online tools to check HTTP status codes. * Content Evaluation: Make sure each page has meaningful content and is not empty. Manual checks are useful for small websites, but automated tools are essential for large sites. How to Fix 404 and Soft 404 Errors ---------------------------------- ### Fixing 404 Errors 1. Redirect to Relevant Pages (301 Redirects): If a page is deleted, redirect it to a related page to preserve link equity. 2. Restore Deleted Pages: If possible, recover important pages that were mistakenly deleted. 3. Update Internal and External Links: Fix broken links within your website and request updates for external links. ### Fixing Soft 404 Errors 1. Provide Meaningful Content: Empty or low-value pages should have useful content. 2. Ensure Correct HTTP Response Codes: If the page doesn’t exist, return a proper 404 status code instead of 200. 3. Avoid Misleading Redirects: Redirect users to relevant pages only, not unrelated content. ### Best Practices to Prevent Errors 1. Regular Site Audits: Check your website periodically for broken links and soft 404s. 2. Proper URL Structure: Maintain a clear and consistent URL structure to avoid accidental errors. 3. Monitoring Tools and Alerts: Set up alerts for broken pages using tools like Google Search Console or automated SEO software. Conclusion ---------- 404 and soft 404 errors may seem small, but they can have a significant impact on your website’s SEO, user experience, and rankings. * 404 Errors: Clearly indicate that a page is missing and should be fixed with redirects or restored content. * Soft 404 Errors: Confuse both users and search engines and should be corrected with meaningful content and proper HTTP status codes. By regularly monitoring your website, fixing broken links, and ensuring all pages provide value, you can maintain a healthy site that ranks well on Google and provides a positive user experience.