Fix Broken Links & Set Up Redirects – Here’s Why It Matters
Broken links are one of the fastest ways to lose visitors and drop your search ranking. But with a few quick steps, you can fix broken links and keep your website strong, user-friendly, and trusted by Google.
What Are Broken Links?
Broken links are links on your website that lead to pages that don’t exist anymore—maybe you moved or deleted a page, or typed a URL wrong. When visitors (or search engines) click these links, they see an error message instead of your content.
Why Are Broken Links Bad?
- Frustrate Visitors:
People get annoyed when they can’t find what they’re looking for and often leave your site.
- Hurt SEO:
Search engines lower your ranking when they find lots of broken links, because it looks like your site isn’t maintained.
- Damage Credibility:
Too many broken links make your business look less professional and trustworthy.
How to Fix Broken Links
- Check Your Site Regularly:
Use free tools like Broken Link Checker or plugins for WordPress to scan for broken links.
- Update or Remove Links:
If you find a broken link, update it to the correct URL, or remove it if the page no longer exists.
- Set Up Redirects:
For important deleted or moved pages, use a 301 redirect to send visitors to the new location automatically.
What Is a Redirect?
A redirect is a quick way to send both visitors and search engines from an old URL to a new one.
- 301 redirect: Permanent, best for SEO.
- 302 redirect: Temporary, used for short-term moves.
Why Set Up Redirects?
- Redirects save your visitors from seeing error pages.
- They help search engines keep your SEO “juice” by passing authority from old links to the new page.
- They ensure your website’s structure stays clean and user-friendly.
Example
Say you moved your “About Us” page from /about to /about-creo. Set up a redirect from the old address to the new one. This way, anyone using the old link (or Google) still finds your page.
Quick Tips for Fixing Links
- Run a link check every month.
- Always redirect old pages to new relevant ones.
- Keep your links short, clear, and easy to update.
Keep Your Website Strong
When you fix broken links and use redirects, you make your website better for users and search engines. If you need help tracking down broken links or setting up redirects, the CreoDigitals team is just a click away!
