An XML sitemap serves as a comprehensive file that lists all the webpages on your site that you want search engines like Google to crawl and index. It’s crucial to create it correctly, and in this article, we’ll outline some of the most common errors in XML sitemaps that can be identified through an SEO audit.

Most common errors in XML sitemaps

Can’t find XML Sitemaps – You can manually check this by adding a portion of the XML sitemap tag to the end of your website’s URL, resulting in a format like: ‘https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml’ or ‘https://www.example.com/sitemap_index.xml.’ You can also verify the presence of XML Sitemaps in both Google Search Console and your Robots.txt file. If you discover that your website lacks an XML Sitemap, the solution is to start by creating one. Following this, ensure that you include your XML sitemap in your robots.txt file and register it within Google Search Console.

XML Sitemap is not Included in Robots.txt – This error means that your XML sitemap is not included in your robots.txt file. To fix this, add the following line to your robots.txt file: Sitemap: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml

XML Sitemap(s) is not Listed in GSC – This error means that one or more of your XML sitemaps is not listed in Google Search Console. To fix this, add your XML sitemaps to GSC by following these instructions: https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/183668?hl=en&ref_topic=7225052.

3xx redirect in sitemap – One of the most common XML sitemap errors is the inclusion of pages that return a 3xx redirect. When this occurs, crawlers will follow the redirect instead of indexing the page. To fix this, make sure that all redirected pages are excluded from the sitemap. The sitemap should only include pages with the 2xx status code.

4xx client error in sitemap -This error means that there are URLs in your XML sitemap that return a 404 (file not found) error when visited. That means that the page has been deleted or replaced. If you have deleted the page, you should also remove it from your sitemap. If there is a valid page that serves as a replacement, include that in the XML sitemap. If you have moved the page to a new URL, exclude the old URL from the sitemap and add the new one instead.

5xx server error in sitemap – This error means that there are URLs in your XML sitemap that return a 500 (server error) error when visited. To fix this issue, you’ll need to contact the development team or host support, who can fix the server issue. If you need to solve the problem quickly, you should temporarily remove those pages from your sitemap until they get the 2xx status code.

Noindex page in sitemap – This error means that you have a page listed in your XML sitemap that you don’t want indexed by search engines. To fix it, remove the page from your XML sitemap.

Fix the XML Sitemap Errors on Your Website

XML sitemap errors can have a significant impact on your website’s ranking and organic traffic. If your SEO audit returned a couple of these errors, it is important that you take the time to address them so that your website can reach its full potential in terms of search engine visibility and organic traffic.

When browsing the web, you’ve likely encountered various web pages that return different HTTP status codes in response to your requests. Among these, 4xx errors are quite common and typically indicate an issue on the client’s side. These errors can range from something as simple as a missing parameter to more complex problems like an invalid URL. In this article, we’ll explore the most common 4xx client errors, delve into what causes them, and provide solutions to fix them.
 
 

Types of 4xx Client Errors

 

400 Bad Request Error

This error signifies that the server couldn’t process your request due to an issue with your request itself.

Possible causes include:

• An invalid format or unsupported method.
• Corrupt browser cache and cookies.
• DNS Lookup Cache problems.
• Attempting to upload an excessively large file to a website.

 

How to fix it:

• Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
• Refresh the page.
• Double-check the URL for typos or illegal characters.
• Compress the file to ensure it doesn’t exceed the server’s limit.

 
 

401 Unauthorized Error

This error occurs when you lack the proper authorization to access the requested content. It can be due to incorrect credentials or an attempt to access a restricted area of the website.
 

How to fix it:

• Log out and log back in with the correct credentials.
• Review the URL for any typographical errors.
• Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
• Flush your DNS.
• If using WordPress, deactivate plugins to rule out incompatibility.
• If the issue persists, contact the website’s administrator or technical support team.

 
 

403 Forbidden Error

This error arises when the server responds with a status code indicating that you lack permission to view the requested resource. Causes may include insufficient permissions or a misconfiguration in the server’s access control settings.
 

How to fix it:

• Carefully inspect the URL for errors.
• Ensure you’re specifying an actual web page file name and extension, not just a directory.
• Try clearing your browser’s history, cache, and cookies before reloading the page.
• Temporarily disable WordPress plugins.
• If the problem persists, reach out to the website’s administrator or your internet service provider.

 
 

404 Not Found Error

This error occurs when you attempt to access a web page that doesn’t exist. Reasons can include typos in the URL, outdated links, or a deleted page.
 

 

How to fix it:

• Refresh the page.
• Scrutinize the URL for typographical errors.
• Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
• Attempt to log in from another device.
• Search for the page using a search engine or the website’s internal search function.
• If the issue lingers, contact the website’s administrator.

 
*If you have changed the URL of a page, be sure to redirect the old URL to the new one. If you don’t do that, users who click on the old URL will get a 404 error. And we certainly do not want the user to remain trapped on the 404 page, we want him to always get to what he is looking for and we want to enable him to navigate through our site more easily.
 
If you’re still struggling to resolve a 4xx client error, don’t hesitate to contact the website’s administrator or your internet service provider for assistance.
 
Understanding and effectively addressing 4xx client errors are essential for a smooth web browsing experience. By following the steps outlined for each error type and adopting good browsing practices, you can navigate the web with confidence and minimize disruptions caused by these common errors.

To maintain a healthy website SEO, it’s crucial to continuously monitor for 4xx errors and address them promptly. Google Search Console serves as a valuable tool for identifying 4xx errors and other potential issues that could impact your website’s SEO performance.

Common Status Codes

Success (2xx) status codes encompass a range of responses that confirm the successful processing of your client’s request. Below, we’ve outlined some of the most common 2xx status codes and their meanings:

1. 200 – OK: This status code means the HTTP request was successful.
2. 201 – Created: The request has been fulfilled, and a new resource has been created.
3. 202 – Accepted: The request has been accepted for processing but the processing has not yet been completed.
4. 203 – Non-Authoritative Information: The server successfully processed the request but is returning information that may be from another source.
5. 204 –  No Content: The server successfully processed the request, but there is no content to return.
6. 205 – Reset Content: The server successfully processed the request, but the client should reset the document view that caused the request to be sent.
7. 206 – Partial Content: The server is delivering only part of the resource (byte serving) due to a range header sent by the client.
8. 207 – Multi-Status: The message body that follows is an XML message and can contain several separate response codes, depending on how many sub-requests were made.
9. 208 –  Already Reported: The members of a DAV binding have already been enumerated in a previous reply to this request, and are not being included again.
10. 226 – IM Used: The server has fulfilled the partial GET request for the resource using a range specification (byte serving) or some other conditional feature of the HTTP protocol.

 

The Significance of Success 2xx Pages on Your Website

Ideally, all the pages and resources (videos, images, etc.) on your website should return the Success 2xx status code. This indicates that your website is functioning properly and that visitors can find the content they’re looking for. A healthy website typically boasts a percentage of Success 2xx pages ranging from 85% to 100%.

The majority of your website’s pages returning Success (2xx) status codes is a clear indicator of a well-maintained and user-friendly site. It not only contributes to your website’s overall health but also enhances its visibility in search engine results..
 

How to Generate the Success 2xx Status Code

To ensure your website generates Success (2xx) status codes, follow these best practices:

1. Functionality Check: Make sure that your website is functioning properly and that all the pages on your website are accessible. If there are any broken links or pages that are not loading, visitors will not be able to access them and will receive an error message instead.
2. Optimize Titles and Descriptions: Use keyword-rich titles and descriptions for your website’s pages. This will help visitors find your content more easily, and they will be more likely to stay on your website longer.
3. Content Quality: Ensure that your website’s pages are well-written and informative. If visitors find your content helpful and relevant, they are more likely to visit your website again.

By following these strategies, you’ll not only secure Success (2xx) status codes but also cultivate a positive user experience, improving your website’s standing in the digital landscape. Here’s to your web success!

Are you tired of wondering why your website pages are not appearing in search results? Have you checked your GSC Coverage Analysis Report and found a list of problems and affected pages If so, you’re not alone. Many website owners experience the same problem and need help fixing it.

A website’s indexing status can be tricky to understand and maintain. Google Search Console (GSC) Coverage Analysis Report is a great tool to help you understand what’s happening. It provides a list of issues preventing your pages from being indexed, such as crawl errors, noindex tags, and blocked resources. But sometimes, it can be hard to interpret the results. 

In this post, we’ll explain some common indexing issues that can occur and help you solve them. 

“Excluded by ‘noindex’ tag”

This issue occurs when a page has a “noindex” tag in the HTML code, which tells Google not to index the page. 

The “noindex” tag can be removed by editing the HTML code of the affected page. It’s important to verify that the tag is removed from the correct page and that it’s not added accidentally to any other page.

One way to fix this issue is by using a web development tool such as Google Tag Manager, which allows you to easily manage and edit the tags on your website without manually editing the HTML code. Another way is using a plugin or extension for your CMS that allows you to manage the “noindex” tags on your pages, such as Yoast SEO for WordPress.

“Indexed, not submitted in sitemap” 

If a page is indexed by Google but not included in your sitemap, you’ll encounter this issue. This can happen if the page wasn’t properly added to the sitemap or the sitemap isn’t submitted to Google correctly.

The “Indexed, not submitted in sitemap” issue can be fixed by ensuring that all the pages you want to be indexed by Google are included in your sitemap and that the sitemap is submitted to Google correctly.

You can start by reviewing your sitemap to ensure all the pages are included. If any pages are missing, add them to the sitemap. To do this, use a sitemap generator tool that automatically creates a sitemap for your website based on its structure and content. Also, ensure that the sitemap isn’t blocked by robots.txt and is accessible for Google to crawl.

Once your sitemap is updated, submit it to Google in the Google Search Console under the Sitemap section. This allows Google to crawl and index the pages included in the sitemap. 

“Submitted URL marked ‘noindex'”

This issue happens when a page is included in the sitemap but has a “noindex” tag, which tells Google not to index the page. 

You can fix the “Submitted URL marked ‘’noindex’’’ by removing the “noindex” tag from the affected page and ensuring that Google indexes the page.

1. First, check the HTML code of the affected page and identify the “noindex” tag. 
2. Once you have identified the tag, remove it by editing the page’s HTML code.
3. After removing the “noindex” tag, notify Google that the page should be indexed. Do this by resubmitting the sitemap to Google Search Console, allowing Google to recrawl the page and index it.
   

“Crawled currently NOT indexed pages” 

This issue means that a page on your website is crawled by Google but is not indexed. This can happen if the page has a “noindex” tag, is blocked by robots.txt, or has other technical issues that prevent it from being indexed. 

To fix this issue, identify the affected pages by checking your GSC Coverage Analysis Report. Then check for common causes of this issue, such as the “noindex” tag, robots.txt block, or other technical issues.

• If a “noindex” tag causes the issue, remove the tag by editing the page’s HTML code, as explained previously.
• If a robots.txt block is the cause, check your robots.txt file to ensure that the affected pages aren’t blocked, and if they are, remove the block so the pages can be indexed.
• If the issue is caused by other technical issues, such as broken links, missing or duplicate content, or incorrect redirects, use web debugging tools such as Lighthouse to identify and fix the specific issues. 

“Indexed, though blocked by robots.txt”

This issue indicates that a page is indexed by Google but blocked by robots.txt, which is a file that tells search engines not to crawl certain pages on your website. This can happen if the robots.txt file is not set up correctly or a page is accidentally blocked.

Fix this issue by identifying and removing the block in the robots.txt file that prevents the affected pages from being crawled.

1. Check your GSC Coverage Analysis Report to identify the affected pages. 
2. Check your robots.txt file to see if they are blocked. 
3. If the pages are blocked, edit the robots.txt file and remove the block for the affected pages. Be careful when editing the robots.txt file, as a mistake can block important pages from being indexed.

You can also use tools like Google Search Console or other SEO tools to check the robots.txt file and see which pages are blocked by it. This will give you a clear picture of which pages are blocked and which ones should be allowed to be indexed.

“Product Issues Detected” 

This issue results from problems with the structured data on a product page, which can prevent Google from correctly displaying the page in search results.

Check the affected pages in your GSC Coverage Analysis Report to fix this issue. Next, look for common issues such as missing or incorrect structured data, incorrect product information, or other technical issues.

• If missing or incorrect structured data cause the issue, use tools such as Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to find and resolve the specific issues. This might include adding the missing structured data or correcting the existing structured data to ensure that it’s correctly implemented and adheres to the guidelines set by Google.
• If the issue is caused by incorrect product information, check and update the product information on the affected pages to ensure that it’s accurate and relevant.
• If the issue is caused by other technical issues (broken links, missing or duplicate content, or incorrect redirects), use web debugging tools to identify and fix the issues. 

Soft 404 

A soft 404 is an HTTP status code that is returned when a server returns a “not found” message, but the status code is not a 404. It’s called “soft” because it’s not a true 404 error, but it is considered a problem by search engines because it can prevent them from correctly identifying and indexing the page. This issue can lead to poor user experience and lower rankings in search results. 

Start by identifying the affected pages and then use the URL Inspection tool to examine the rendered content and the returned HTTP code.

• If the page and content are no longer available, return a 404 (not found) or 410 (gone) response code for the page. These status codes tell search engines that the page doesn’t exist and that they shouldn’t index the content.
• If the page or content is now somewhere else, return a 301 (permanent redirect) to redirect the user to the new location. This doesn’t interrupt their browsing experience; it also notifies search engines about the page’s new location.
• If the page and content still exist but are missing critical resources or displaying a prominent error message during rendering, try to identify why the resources can’t be loaded. It could be blocked by robots.txt, too many resources on a page, different server errors, slow loading, or extensive resources. 

Conclusion 

GSC Coverage Analysis Report is a valuable tool for identifying and addressing common issues that can prevent your pages from being indexed and appearing in search results. 

Remember to regularly monitor your GSC Coverage Analysis Report to ensure that new pages aren’t affected by these issues and that the previously affected pages are indexed properly. Doing so will improve your website’s visibility, traffic, and search engine rankings in the long run. Keep in mind that it may take time for Google to recrawl and reindex the affected pages after the sitemap is updated and submitted.

Mobile analysis in Google Search Console is a crucial aspect of optimizing the mobile version of a website. With more and more users accessing the internet through their smartphones, ensuring that your website is easy to use and navigate on a smaller screen is vital. 

In this article, we’ll explain how to use the Mobile Usability report in Google Search Console to identify and fix common issues with the mobile version of your website. By addressing these issues, you’ll improve the user experience for mobile visitors and ensure that your website performs at its best. Let’s dig in. 

The Mobile Usability Report

The Mobile Usability report in Google Search Console can identify various issues with the mobile version of a website. Here’s a list of some of the issues that the report may show:

• Clickable elements that are too close together
• A missing or improperly set viewport
• Content that is wider than the screen
• Text that is too small to read
• Viewport not set to “device-width”
• Flash content not usable on iOS

This isn’t an exhaustive list, and the Mobile Usability report may also identify other issues. You should regularly check the report and address any identified issues to improve the user experience for mobile visitors.

Clickable Elements That Are too Close Together

When the clickable elements on a website are too close together, it can be difficult for users to tap on the desired element. This can lead to users accidentally tapping on the wrong element, which can be frustrating and cause them to leave the website.

To fix this issue, try increasing the space between clickable elements or adjusting the layout of the mobile website to make the clickable elements more distinct. Also, consider using larger buttons or links, making it easier for users to tap on the desired element accurately.

A Missing or Improperly Set Viewport

The viewport is the area of a webpage that is visible to the user on their device. If the viewport isn’t set or set improperly, the mobile website may not display correctly on different devices.

To fix a missing or improperly set viewport, add a “viewport” meta tag to the HTML of your website. The viewport meta tag should look something like this:

<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1″>

This sets the viewport to the device’s width, ensuring that the mobile website displays correctly on different devices. If the viewport isn’t set to “device-width,” the mobile website may not display correctly on different devices.

Content That Is Wider than the Screen

If the content of a mobile website is wider than the screen of the device, users may have to scroll horizontally to view all of the content. This can be frustrating for users, so it should be avoided.

To fix this issue, ensure that the content of your mobile website fits within the width of the device screen. You can do this by using responsive design techniques, such as using percentages instead of fixed widths for layout elements. This makes sure the content of your website adjusts to the width of the device screen and is easy to view without horizontal scrolling.

Another good idea is testing your mobile website on different devices to ensure that the content fits within the screen width on all devices. 

Text That Is too Small to Read

If the text on a mobile website is too small to read easily, it can be difficult for users to consume the content. This can lead to users leaving the website, which can negatively impact your website’s performance.

You can fix this issue by increasing the font size of the text on your mobile website. You can do this by adding a font-size style to the relevant elements in your CSS file. For example:

p {

  font-size: 18px;

}

You can also consider using a responsive design technique that adjusts the font size based on the device screen size. This can be achieved using media queries in your CSS file. For example:

@media (max-width: 600px) {

  p {

    font-size: 16px;

  }

}

Content not Sized to Viewport

If the content of a mobile website isn’t sized to the viewport, it can be difficult for users to view the content on their device. As a result, users need to scroll horizontally or zoom in to view the content, leading to a poor user experience.

Fix this by ensuring that the content of your mobile website is sized to the viewport. A way to do this is by using responsive design techniques (e.g., using percentages instead of fixed widths for layout elements). This ensures that the content of your website adjusts to the width of the device screen and is easy to view without horizontal scrolling or zooming.

Don’t forget to test your mobile website on different devices and ensure that the content is sized correctly to the viewport on all devices. 

Flash Content not Usable on iOS

Flash content isn’t supported on iOS devices like iPhones and iPads. If your mobile website includes Flash content, it won’t be usable on iOS devices. This can be a problem if most of your mobile website’s traffic comes from iOS devices.

So, to fix this, replace any Flash content on your mobile website with a different technology supported on iOS devices. Some options include HTML5, JavaScript, or CSS3.

Conclusion

In conclusion, mobile analysis in Google Search Console is a valuable tool for identifying and fixing issues with the mobile version of a website. Regularly checking the Mobile Usability report and addressing these issues will ensure that your mobile website is optimized and performing at its best.

Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure the user experience of a website. These metrics are focused on three key areas of user experience: loading speed, interactivity, and visual stability.

Improving these metrics can help ensure that a website provides a good user experience for visitors. This can help with search engine rankings and lead to more traffic and engagement on the website. So, let us explain what these metrics are and how you can improve them!

Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) 

The first thing we want to explain is Largest Contentful Paint or LCP. LCP is a metric that measures the loading speed of a website – the time it takes for the main content of a page to load. A good LCP score is 2.5 seconds or less.

First Input Delay (FID)

Next we have First Input Delay (FID) which measures the interactivity of a website. It refers to the time it takes for a page to become interactive after a user first interacts with it. A good FID score is 100 milliseconds or less.

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS)

Finally, Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is a metric that measures the visual stability of a website. It indicates how much the layout of a page shifts during loading, and it’s the third crucial factor in determining the user experience. The ideal CLS score is 0.1 or less.

How to Improve Core Web Vitals

If you want to improve your core web vitals and, with that, your website’s user experience and usability, we’ll give you some of our best tips. 

Optimize Images

Large images can significantly impact the loading speed of a page. To improve Core Web Vitals, you can optimize the size and format of your images, and use lazy-loading techniques to defer the loading of images until they are needed. We suggest compressing your images to be under 120 KB. 

 

Reduce the Number of Third-Party Scripts

Third-party scripts, such as ads and social media widgets, can add significant overhead to a page and delay the loading of the main content. To minimize their impact, limit the number of third-party scripts on a page and use techniques like sandboxing, subresource integrity, and content security policy to prevent them from causing issues.

 

Minimize the Use of Disruptive Ads & Designate a Space for Ads

Ads that expand or animate on a page can cause layout shifts and delays in interactivity, impacting Core Web Vitals. To minimize the impact of ads, use techniques like prefetching, preloading, and lazy-loading to improve the loading speed of ads, and avoid using ads that are disruptive to the user experience.

Ads inserted into a page after it has loaded can cause layout shifts, affecting Core Web Vitals. A way to prevent this is by reserving space for ads by adding empty ad placeholders to the page layout so that the ads have a designated space.

 

Use Browser Caching

Browser caching allows a browser to store frequently-used resources on the user’s device, so that they don’t have to be downloaded again each time the user visits the website. Using browser caching can improve Core Web Vitals by reducing the amount of data that has to be downloaded each time the user visits the website.

 

Enable Compression

Enabling compression on a website allows the server to compress the size of the files it sends to the user’s browser, which can reduce the amount of data that has to be downloaded and improve Core Web Vitals.

 

Use Font-Loading Strategies

Web fonts can also cause layout shifts on a page. To avoid this, use font loading strategies like font-display: optional, font-display: swap, and font-display: fallback to ensure that fonts are loaded in a way that doesn’t cause layout shifts.

Minimize the Use of Large JavaScript Libraries

Large JavaScript libraries can add overhead to a page and delay the loading of the main content. We recommend avoiding using large JavaScript libraries unless they are absolutely necessary. Consider using smaller, more focused libraries instead.

 

Avoid Inserting Content above Existing Content

Inserting content above existing content can also cause layout shifts. To prevent that from happening, avoid inserting content above existing content and instead use techniques like prepending content or using absolute positioning to place the new content in a different part of the page.

 

Use a Layout That Doesn’t Rely on Precise Dimensions

Pages with a layout that relies on precise dimensions can be prone to layout shifts, so use a layout that is flexible and doesn’t rely on precise dimensions, such as a grid-based layout or a responsive layout that adapts to the size of the user’s device.

 

Optimize the Loading of Third-Party Resources

Third-party resources, such as fonts, scripts, and stylesheets, often add overhead to a page and delay the loading of the main content. Optimize the loading of third-party resources by using techniques like prefetching, preloading, and lazy-loading to improve their loading speed, thereby improving Core Web Vitals.

 

The Importance of Core Web Vitals

Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure the user experience on a website. Google introduced them to help webmasters and developers understand the factors contributing to a good user experience on their sites. 

These metrics are important because they help ensure that a website is fast, responsive, and visually stable, which can help improve the user experience and increase engagement. Additionally, Google has said that these metrics will become a ranking factor in its search algorithm, so it’s important for webmasters and developers to pay attention to them.

 

Conduct Regular Performance Audits

Performance audits are a way to evaluate the performance of a website and identify areas for improvement. Our advice is to conduct regular performance audits using tools like Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights, and Chrome UX Report and use the results of these audits to make adjustments and improvements to the website. This way, you’ll make sure that your Core Web Vitals are top-notch.

Getting a 404 error page is always frustrating for the user, but there is something you can do to make it a less irritating experience. By creating your custom 404 page, you can reduce the user’s stress and actually provide them with some help and guidance. Here’s how to do it right!

What Is a Custom 404 Page?

A custom 404 page is an error page that is displayed to a user when they try to access a website or web page that doesn’t exist. This page is typically designed to provide the user with information about the error and may include helpful links or suggestions to help them find what they’re looking for. Custom 404 pages are a common feature of many websites and are often used to improve the user experience and provide a more professional and polished look for the site.

Why Custom 404 Error Pages Are Valuable

Custom 404 error pages are valuable for several reasons. 

1. First, they provide a more professional and polished look for your website, which can improve the user experience and make your site more trustworthy and credible. 
2. Second, they can reduce frustration for users who encounter a page that doesn’t exist by providing helpful information and suggestions about what to do next. This can prevent users from leaving your site altogether and guide them to the correct page or content that they were looking for. 
3. Finally, custom 404 error pages can be an opportunity to add a bit of personality to your site and to differentiate yourself from competitors. A well-designed custom 404 page can be a creative and unique way to engage with your users and make a positive impression on them.

Common Mistakes to Avoid With Custom 404 Pages

There are several common mistakes to avoid when creating a custom 404 page. 

• Avoid using the default 404 error page provided by your web server or hosting provider. This page is often generic and unhelpful and can create a negative impression on your users. 
• Don’t make the page overly technical or difficult to understand. The page should be easy to read and understand and provide clear and concise information about the error and what to do next. 
• Don’t make the page too long or cluttered. It should be concise and to the point and only include the most important and relevant information. 
• Avoid making the page too “salesy” or promotional. Focus on helping the user, not on promoting your business or products.

How to Create a Custom 404 Error Page

To create a custom 404 page, follow these steps:

1. Decide on the content and design of your page. This should include helpful information about the error and may also include suggestions for what to do next, such as returning to the homepage or searching for the content they were looking for. You can also include links to other pages on your site and can add a bit of personality or branding to the page to make it more engaging.
2. Create the page using HTML, CSS, or other web technologies. You can use a text editor or an integrated development environment (IDE) to create the page and test it on your local machine to ensure it looks and functions as intended.
3. Upload the page to your web server, and configure your server to use the page as the default 404 error page. This typically involves adding a custom error page directive to your server’s configuration file and specifying the page’s location on your server.
4. Test the page to make sure it is working correctly. You can do this by accessing a non-existent page on your site and checking to see if your custom 404 page is displayed as expected.
5. Make any necessary adjustments, and continue testing until it is working correctly. Once you are satisfied with the page, you can publish it to your live site.

Why Is a Custom 404 Page Important for SEO?

Custom 404 pages can reduce the number of 404 errors on your site, negatively impacting your search engine rankings. When a search engine crawls your site and encounters a 404 error, it won’t be able to access the content on the page, which can affect how your site is indexed and ranked. By providing a custom 404 page, you can prevent search engines from encountering these errors and can help to ensure that your site is crawled and indexed properly.

Other than that, these pages lead to a better user experience, which is a key factor in SEO. When a user encounters a 404 error, they may become frustrated and leave your site altogether. This can increase your bounce rate, which is a measure of how many users leave your site after viewing only one page. A high bounce rate can indicate to search engines that your site is not providing a good user experience and can negatively impact your rankings. Providing a helpful and informative custom 404 page can reduce frustration and help users find the content they are looking for.

Finally, custom 404 pages can be an opportunity to add internal links to your site, which can improve the crawlability and indexability of your content. By including links to other pages on your site on the custom 404 page, you can help search engines discover and crawl more of your content and improve your site’s visibility in SERPs.