How To Find And Fix Broken Links Complete Guide

Introduction

Broken links are a common problem that can affect your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). In this post, we’ll explore what broken links are, how they can impact your website’s SEO, and how to find and fix them easily.

What are Broken Links?

Broken links, also known as dead links, are hyperlinks that no longer work. They can occur when a website is moved or deleted, or when a link is mistyped. 

 There are two types of Broken links, internal broken links and external broken links.

Internal broken links point to pages within your own website that no longer exist.

External broken links point to pages on other websites that no longer exist.

How Do Broken Links Affect SEO?

Broken links can have a negative impact on your website’s SEO. Search engines like Google use crawlers to index websites. 

When they encounter a broken link, they may assume that the website is outdated or poorly maintained. This can lead to a lower search ranking for your website.

In addition, broken links can prevent search engines from being able to crawl and index your site properly. This can result in lower visibility for your website in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Different Types Of Broken Links In SEO

There are three main types of broken links:

Broken internal links are links on a website that point to other pages on the same website, but the pages no longer exist or have been moved. Broken internal links can be caused by a variety of things, such as typos in the URL, pages being deleted, or pages being moved without updating the links.

Broken or Dead backlinks are links on other websites that point to pages on your website, but the pages no longer exist or have been moved. Broken backlinks can be a problem for your website's search engine optimization (SEO), as they can make it difficult for search engines to crawl and index your website.

Here are some other types of broken links that you may encounter:

• 404 Page Not Found - This is the most common type of broken link, and it occurs when the page that the link is pointing to no longer exists.
• 400 Bad Request - This type of error occurs when the server does not understand the request that is being made.
• 410 Gone - This error occurs when the page that the link is pointing to has been permanently deleted.
• 500 Internal Server Error - This error occurs when the server encounters an unexpected error.
• 503 Service Unavailable - This error occurs when the server is overloaded or unavailable.

Broken links can be caused by a variety of things, such as:

• Typos in the URL

Typos in the URL can lead to user confusion and loss of credibility, impacting website traffic and trust. It's crucial to ensure error-free, easy-to-spell URLs for a seamless user experience.

• Pages being deleted

Pages being deleted on the site can disrupt user experience and harm SEO efforts, causing broken links and negative user perception. Regularly check and restore deleted pages to maintain site integrity.

• Pages being moved without updating the links

Moving pages without updating links can result in broken links, leading to a poor user experience and negatively impacting SEO. Ensure all internal and external links are updated when pages are relocated to maintain site functionality and credibility.

You can easily update if you're using WordPress website. 

• Websites going offline

Websites going offline disrupt user access, harm reputation, and impact SEO rankings. Regular monitoring, reliable hosting, and prompt issue resolution are essential to maintain online presence and user trust.

• Websites changing their domain name

Websites changing their domain name can cause confusion, disrupt SEO rankings, and lead to lost traffic. Properly implement 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones to maintain search visibility, preserve backlinks, and ensure a seamless user experience during the transition. You can change it or 301 redirect in WordPress.

• Broken code

Broken code on a website can cause functionality issues, slow loading times, and poor user experience. Regular code audits, debugging, and testing are essential to identify and fix errors, ensuring smooth website performance and user satisfaction.

For users, broken links can lead to frustration and confusion. For website owners, broken links can damage their website's reputation and make it difficult for search engines to crawl and index their website.

There are a number of tools and services available that can help you to find and fix broken links on your website. It is important to regularly check your website for broken links and to fix them as soon as possible.

How to Find and Fix Broken Links

Finding and fixing broken links is essential for maintaining your website’s SEO. Here are some easy ways to find and fix broken links:

1. Use a web-based SEO audit tool: There are many web-based tools available that can help you find and fix broken links on your website. Some popular ones include Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Sitechecker.

2. Use Google Search Console: Google Search Console is a free tool that can help you identify broken links on your website. Simply navigate to the Response Codes or Crawl Errors section to see a list of URLs with 404 errors and their sources.

3. Use a website like Broken Link Check: Broken Link Check is a free online tool that allows you to enter your website URL and captcha code to find broken links.

Once you’ve identified the broken links on your website, it’s time to fix them. Here are some tips for fixing broken links:

1. Remove the link: If the linked-to site has been deleted or removed, remove the link from your website.

2. Redirect the link: If the linked-to site has moved, redirect the link to the new location.

3. Correct the URL: If there is a typo in the URL, correct it.

Final Thoughts

Broken links can have a negative impact on your website’s SEO. By finding and fixing broken links on your website, you can improve your search engine ranking and increase visibility in SERPs. Use the tips outlined in this post to find and fix broken links with ease.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions or if there’s anything else I can do for you.