404 errors pose a considerable threat to SEO. These errors signify broken links or missing content on your website, which can have detrimental effects. Not only do they create a poor user experience by leading visitors to dead ends, but they also hinder search engine crawlers from effectively indexing your site. Consequently, this can result in decreased visibility and lower rankings on search engine results pages (SERPs). It's crucial to promptly address and rectify any 404 errors to maintain your site's SEO health and preserve its credibility and authority in the eyes of both users and search engines.

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If you have Google search console setup, head to the pages section under the indexing drop down to identify all your 404 URLs. Alternatively, you can use a free online redirect checker tool to check the status of your 404’s.

However, alternatively, having 404 errors is not the end of the world if the intention behind the 404 is because you’ve purposely removed a page from your website. In that case, leave it as a 404, but you can provide alternative routes for your users. Put your creative thinking cap on and create other journeys on the 404 page. Include sections that are popular to help the user continue their journey.

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While we are on this topic of 404, you should probably also know other known common redirections types and their purpose & meaning:

• 301 redirection - a 301 is a redirection signal that tells search engines and browsers that a website has permanently moved to a new address. You would use this when you have a new improved design page of lets say old webpage a, now redirects users to the new URL b.
  

• 302 redirection - Think of a 302 redirection like a "Temporary Relocation" sign at a store. Imagine your favourite coffee shop is getting renovated, so they temporarily move to a spot across the street. They put up a sign at the old location saying, "We're temporarily located across the street."

A 302 redirection is similar to that sign. It tells search engines and browsers that a webpage has temporarily moved to a new address, but it will be back to the old address soon.

Is your website suffering from 404 errors? Let Blurry Marketing help you identify and optimise them to enhance your SEO performance. Contact us today and ensure your visitors find what they’re looking for!