Hitting a “404 Not Found” page when you’re trying to visit a part of a website is a common online annoyance.
For Nigerian business owners, seeing this error on your site can be particularly concerning as it directly blocks our visitors, potentially costing you customers and affecting how people see your brand.
While it might seem like a small technical hiccup, these 404 errors can have a real impact. But don’t worry! This guide will break down what a 404 error means, why it happens, how it can affect your business in Nigeria, and most importantly, what you can do about it.
What Exactly are 404 Errors?
Whenever your web browser tries to open a webpage, it sends a request to the website’s server. The server then sends back a status code to tell your browser what happened with that request. You’ve probably heard of some of these codes.
Codes that start with ‘4’ (like 404) usually mean there’s an issue with the request from the user’s side, or the resource itself isn’t available.
A 404 Not Found error means the server could be reached, but it could not find the specific page or file that was requested. Think of it like going to a shop and asking for a specific item; the shop is open, but they just don’t have that particular item in stock.
Why 404 Errors Can Hurt Your Nigerian Business Website
A few stray 404 errors might not seem like a big deal, but if they become common on your site, they can create problems:
- Poor User Experience (UX): When potential customers in Nigeria click a link to your site and hit a “Page Not Found” wall, it’s frustrating. They might give up and go to a competitor.
- Missed Opportunities: If that missing page was for a key product, service, or important information, you’ve just lost a chance to engage a potential buyer or inform a client.
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Issues: Search engines like Google aim to provide users with good experiences. If their bots frequently crawl your site and find many 404 errors, they might see it as a sign of a poorly maintained website. This can affect how your site ranks in search results for people looking for businesses like yours in Nigeria. It also means search engines might waste time trying to find pages that don’t exist.
- Damaged Brand Image: A website with broken links and missing pages can appear unprofessional or neglected, which isn’t the impression you want to give.
7 Common Reasons You’re Seeing 404 Errors
Understanding why 404 errors occur is the first step to fixing them. Here are some frequent causes:
- URL Typos: The user might have typed the web address incorrectly, or a link pointing to your page (either on your site or another site) has a typo.
- Deleted or Moved Page: The page might have been removed, or its URL changed, without setting up a proper forward (a redirect) to its new location.
- Broken Links: You might have internal links on your own website pointing to pages that no longer exist, or external websites are linking to a non-existent page on your site.
- Incorrect Redirects: Sometimes, redirects are set up improperly, leading to a 404 instead of the intended page.
- Permalink Structure Changes: If you change how your website creates URLs (common in systems like WordPress) without updating old links, it can lead to 404s.
- Issues After a Redesign or Migration: When moving your website to a new server or giving it a major update, links can sometimes break if not managed carefully.
- File/Directory Name Changes: If you changed the name of a file or folder on your server directly, any links pointing to the old name will break.
How to Find and Fix 404 Status Codes on Your Site
Dealing with 404 errors involves a bit of detective work, but it’s manageable.
If you’re a visitor to a site and see a 404:
- Double-check the URL you typed for any mistakes.
- Try refreshing the page (Ctrl+R or Cmd+R).
- Go back to the website’s homepage and try to find the page using the site’s navigation or search bar.
If you’re a Nigerian business owner or managing your website:
- Use Google Search Console: This free tool from Google is invaluable. If you’ve verified your site with it, Google Search Console will report 404 errors it finds when trying to index your website. Look under “Coverage” or “Pages.”
- Employ Website Crawling Tools: Tools like Screaming Frog (has a free version), SEMrush, or Ahrefs can crawl your entire website much like a search engine does, identifying broken internal and external links that lead to 404s.
- Check Your Website’s Internal Links: For smaller sites, you can manually check links. If you use a Content Management System like WordPress, there are plugins available that can help find broken links.
- Review Server Logs: If you’re more technically inclined, your website’s server logs record every request and its status code, which can help pinpoint 404s.
Once you’ve found the errors, here’s how to address them:
- Correct Link Typos: If a link is simply misspelled, fix it.
- Restore Deleted Content: If a page was accidentally deleted but is still needed, restore it.
- Implement 301 Redirects: This is very important. If you’ve temporarily moved a page or deleted it, set up a 302 redirect from the old URL to the most relevant current page. This tells browsers and search engines the page has a new permanent home, and it helps pass along any SEO value.
- Update or Remove Broken Links: Change internal links to point to the correct URLs or remove them if the content is no longer relevant.
- Create a Custom, Helpful 404 Page: Instead of a generic “Not Found” message, create a custom 404 page that matches your brand, apologizes for the inconvenience, and provides helpful options like a search bar, links to popular pages, or a way to contact you. This can turn a frustrating experience into a more
Preventing 404 Errors from Happening Again
Being proactive is better than constantly fixing issues. Here are some tips:
- Regularly Audit Your Site: Make checking for broken links a part of your routine website maintenance.
- Always Use 301 Redirects: When you intentionally change a URL or remove a page, immediately set up a 301 redirect.
- Be Careful with URL Changes: If you update your website’s structure or page names, ensure all old links are redirected.
- Double-Check New Links: When adding new content or links, verify they point to the correct addresses.
- Establish a Content Process: Have a clear plan for what happens when content is updated or removed to ensure links are managed.
Don’t Let 404s Frustrate Your Website Visitors
Ensuring your website is easy to navigate and free of dead ends is key to providing a good customer experience and maintaining your site’s health. While 404 errors are common, they shouldn’t be ignored.
Is your website suffering from 404 errors or other technical glitches? At Edens Digital, we help Nigerian businesses keep their websites running smoothly.
From technical troubleshooting like fixing 404 errors and setting up proper redirects to ongoing website maintenance and SEO health checks, we’re here to support you every step of the way
Contact Edens Digital today for a thorough website check-up and dependable support!
