What Are Soft 404 Errors And How To Fix Them

In the world of search engine optimization (SEO), understanding and managing errors is important to ensure a website's smooth functioning and visibility. Among these errors, one that often confuses webmasters and SEO professionals alike is the soft 404 error. Unlike its more straightforward counterpart, the traditional 404 error, a soft 404 error is subtle and can impact a website's SEO performance if not addressed properly. This blog dives into the complexities of soft 404 errors, their implications, and the steps to fix them effectively.

Addressing soft 404 errors isn't just about fixing technical glitches; it's about ensuring every user finds value in every visit, turning potential dead ends into opportunities for engagement and growth.

Understanding Soft 404 Errors
A standard 404 error occurs when a user or a search engine tries to access a page that does not exist on the server. The server responds with a 404 status code, indicating that the page is not found. This clear communication allows search engines to deindex the page and users to understand that the content they were looking for is unavailable. However, a soft 404 error is less straightforward. A soft 404 error occurs when a server returns a 200 OK status code, indicating that the page has loaded successfully, but the content on the page suggests that the resource is missing or unavailable.

For example, if a user tries to access a page on an e-commerce site that no longer sells a particular product, the server might still return a 200 OK status, but the page content might say "Product not found" or "This item is out of stock." To a search engine, this signals a problem. The server is effectively telling the search engine that the page exists and is valid, while the content of the page indicates otherwise. This distinction can lead to poor user experience and inefficient crawling and indexing by search engines.

Identifying Soft 404 Errors
The first step in addressing soft 404 errors is identifying them. Search engines like Google provide tools to help webmasters detect these errors. Google Search Console is a particularly useful tool for this purpose. In the Coverage report, Google lists all the pages it considers to be soft 404s. Webmasters can also use other SEO tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and SEMrush to identify potential soft 404 errors.
Additionally, manually checking the website can help identify these errors. This involves visiting pages that might have outdated or missing content and ensuring they return the appropriate status codes.

Fixing Soft 404 Errors
Once soft 404 errors have been identified, the next step is to fix them. Here are some effective strategies to address and fix soft 404 errors:

1. Return the Correct Status Code
The most straightforward solution is to ensure that pages with missing or unavailable content return a proper 404 or 410 status code. A 404 status code indicates that the page is not found, while a 410 status code indicates that the page is gone permanently. This clear communication allows search engines to deindex these pages and prevents them from wasting crawl budgets on non-existent content.

2. Create Custom 404 Pages
Custom 404 pages can enhance user experience by providing helpful information and navigation options. Instead of a generic "Page not found" message, a custom 404 page can include links to popular pages, a search bar, and suggestions for related content. This helps keep users engaged and reduces the likelihood of them leaving the site immediately.

3. Implement Redirects
In cases where a page has been moved or its URL has changed, implementing a 301 redirect to the new page can be an effective solution. This tells search engines that the page has been permanently moved to a new location, preserving the SEO value of the original page. However, it is important to avoid redirect chains, where one redirect leads to another, as this can confuse search engines and degrade user experience.

4. Update Content Regularly
Regularly updating the content on the website can prevent soft 404 errors. This includes checking for outdated pages, broken links, and content that no longer serves a purpose. By keeping the content fresh and relevant, webmasters can ensure that their pages provide value to users and search engines alike.

5. Improve Internal Linking
Improving internal linking can help search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of the website. This involves linking related pages and ensuring that important pages are easily accessible. By doing so, webmasters can reduce the chances of search engines encountering soft 404 errors.

6. Use Canonical Tags
For pages with similar or duplicate content, using canonical tags can help search engines understand which page is the primary version. This prevents search engines from indexing multiple versions of the same content, reducing the likelihood of soft 404 errors.

Monitoring and Maintenance
Fixing soft 404 errors is not a one-time task. It requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure new errors do not arise. Regularly checking Google Search Console and other SEO tools can help webmasters stay on top of potential issues. Additionally, conducting periodic site audits and content reviews can help identify and address problems before they impact the website's SEO performance.

Case Studies and Examples
To illustrate the impact of fixing soft 404 errors, consider the following case studies:

Case Study 1: E-commerce Website
An e-commerce website noticed a significant drop in organic traffic. Upon investigation, they found numerous soft 404 errors for pages that listed out-of-stock products. By updating these pages to return a 404 status code and creating custom 404 pages with product recommendations, the website saw an improvement in crawl efficiency and a subsequent increase in organic traffic.

Case Study 2: Content-Rich Website
A content-rich website with a vast archive of articles discovered that many old articles were returning soft 404 errors due to broken links and outdated content. By conducting a thorough content audit, updating or removing outdated articles, and implementing redirects where necessary, the website improved its overall SEO performance and user engagement metrics.

ConclusionSoft 404 errors are a subtle yet significant issue that can impact a website's SEO performance and user experience. By understanding what soft 404 errors are, why they matter, and how to fix them, webmasters can take proactive steps to maintain the health of their websites. Utilizing tools like Google Search Console, implementing proper status codes, creating custom 404 pages, and regularly updating content are all effective strategies for addressing soft 404 errors. With ongoing monitoring and maintenance, websites can ensure that they provide valuable content to users and perform well in search engine rankings.