What is a 404 Not Found Error?

One of the most common errors encountered in the internet world, the "404 Not Found" error is an error message displayed to the user when a web page they are trying to visit cannot be found on the server. In addition to users not being able to reach a specific page, this error can also be encountered with messages such as "404 – File or Directory Not Found". This can be quite annoying because users cannot access the information they are looking for and usually leads to them leaving the site.

Why Do You Get a 404 Not Found Error?

A 404 Not Found error can be caused by various reasons and usually one of the following situations leads to this error:

1. Incorrectly Directed Links: Incorrectly directed links used on websites can cause a 404 error. This applies to both internal and external links.
2. Files Transferred to the Wrong Folder: Moving files to the wrong folders on the server can cause this error message.
3. Deleted or Removed Files: Links associated with files that have been deleted from the website or removed from the server can result in a 404 error.
4. Changing File Names: If file names are changed on the website, the old links will no longer work, resulting in a 404 error.

How to Detect 404 Errors?

It is not always easy to detect 404 errors. Especially on large and multi-page websites, these errors can be time-consuming to detect. However, tools such as Google Webmaster Tools, Google Search Console and Google Analytics can be used to detect these errors. With these tools, you can detect errors on your site and make the necessary adjustments.

How to Fix 404 Errors?

In order to fix a 404 error, it is first necessary to determine the source of the error. Once the cause of the error is determined, you can fix the problem by following these steps:

1. Fix Wrong Redirects: You can fix wrong redirects so that users can reach the correct pages.
2. Make a 301 Redirect: If a page has been permanently moved, you can redirect the old URL to the new URL with a 301 redirect.
3. Temporary Redirects: In case of short-term page removals, you can make a 302 redirect to direct users to a temporary page.
4. Make Site Updates: If file names or link paths have changed, you can eliminate these errors by completely updating the site.

What are the Disadvantages of the Not Found Problem?

• Reduced User Trust: 404 errors are a damages trust in your site. This can cause your site's reliability and users to abandon the site.
• Damage to Brand Image: Frequently encountered 404 errors negatively affect your brand's image, which can cause loss of users and customers in the long run.
• Deterioration of SEO Performance: Not fixing 404 errors for a long time can negatively affect your search engine ranking. An increase in the bounce rate reduces your SEO performance.
• Paid Advertising Losses: Since users encountering a 404 error will not be able to shop from your site, your advertising expenses may be wasted.

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