Server header status codes are essential for communicating the status of a page to search engines, indicating whether the page is available, moved, or, in the case of a 404, does not exist. However, a subtle but resulting change, a soft 404, can cause confusion.
Soft 404s are similar to 404s in that they indicate to the visitor that content is missing. However, rather than informing search engines that the page does not exist, it directs users to indexed “error” pages that have little value. Understanding the difference between soft 404s and regular 404s and why these errors should be fixed is important for anyone looking to accurately optimize their site for search engine optimization (SEO). is.
For example, suppose you visit ww.example.com/example-page. When you load the page in your browser, you will see an error page and the server will return a 404 server header status. This is expected behavior. However, soft 404s occur in the following scenarios: When I load ww.example.com/example-page in my browser, the page returns a 302 server header status and temporarily redirects the browser to a page that looks like an error page, but returns a 200 OK server header status .
Visitors will continue to see the error page. However, the bot interprets the 302 redirect as a signal to keep the bad URL indexed (since the redirect is temporary), and his 200 OK status for the error page means the error page can also be indexed. To do. So in the latter scenario, her two URLs that I don't want to include in the index will end up being indexed.
About server header status codes
Server header status codes are essential to Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) responses. These codes guide users and search engines through the paths of the web.
Server header status codes are divided into five categories:
- Informational (1xx): Acknowledges receipt of the request and indicates that continued processing is in progress.
- Success (2xx): Indicates that the request was successfully received, understood, and accepted.
- Redirect (3xx): Informs the client that further action should be taken (usually a URL redirect).
- Client error (4xx): Indicates a client-side error, such as requesting a page that doesn't exist.
- Server Error (5xx): Refers to a server error in performing a valid request due to an internal problem.
Common codes include 200 OK (successful request), 301 Moved Permanently (relocated page), and 500 Internal Server Error (server failure). Within that list is a 404 Not Found code, indicating that the content is stuck where it was expected. As with other technical SEO factors, its importance lies in maintaining a clean, user-friendly site experience and the need for careful site development and management.
What is a soft 404?
A soft 404 is an error that indicates that the page does not appear to the user, but the search engine was unable to notify the correct status code. Unlike standard 404s, which directly declare the existence of a page with an explicit status code, soft 404s are more elusive and are often caused by server misconfigurations or incorrect redirects. Basically, a soft 404 returns a dead-end page without properly notifying search engine crawlers of the error, causing indexing issues.
Soft 404s create a disconnect between the user experience and search engine expectations, threatening your SEO efforts. These fake errors can mislead search engines into indexing worthless pages and waste crawl budgets on content that doesn't contribute anything to users' search queries.
Identifying soft 404s
The first step to fixing these tricky code errors is identifying soft 404s. Google Search Console (GSC) is a great place to start, especially if you receive an email letting you know that this type of error was discovered in GSC. To find out where soft 404s are specifically flagged, go to[インデックス作成]>[ページ]>[ページがインデックス付けされない理由]Go to.[Reason]Find Soft 404 in the column and click it to see a list of URLs.
To manually check for soft 404s, you need to navigate to a page that appears to be worthless or that may not be properly configured to display content. Look for pages that display error messages or display no content with a 200 OK status code, which is a sign of a soft 404. URLs caused by broken links or stale redirects are common culprits, so pay close attention. By thoroughly inspecting your site, you can find and fix these to improve your SEO efforts.
Crawl tools like Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, and Semrush can also flag pages exhibiting soft 404 characteristics by analyzing response codes and content signals. Performing an audit is generally a good idea. An audit can tell you what adjustments you need to make and see which parts of your site are communicating effectively.
Fixing soft 404 issues
Once you find soft 404s, fix them to maintain your site's SEO health and provide a positive user experience. There are several options for fixing these issues, depending on the type of page, time available, and technical ability.
Fix soft 404 errors in the following ways:
- Fix HTTP status codes: Verify that pages that should not exist return 404 Not Found or 410 Gone status codes.
- Custom 404 page design: Custom pages redirect visitors to content on your site instead of leaving them. Provide value to your visitors by displaying a search bar, navigation options, and links to new, trending, or relevant content.
- Optimize thin page content: If a page is flagged because content is missing, but it should be on the page, improve the page with long-form related content that helps remove ambiguity. improve.
- Use redirects appropriately: For pages that have been moved or no longer exist, implement a 301 Moved Permanently code to redirect to the most relevant existing page.
If you find a soft 404, consider the most appropriate fix from three page-specific options: code fix, optimization, and redirect. Although custom pages are not required, they are a practical and comprehensive supplement, and are a kind of safeguard against 404 pages that users may encounter. Depending on your site's goals and strategy, implementing one or more of these fixes can improve the overall health and usability of your site.
Handling soft 404s effectively is necessary to maintain your website's integrity and search engine rankings. By focusing on daily vigilance, strategic content management, and technical accuracy, you can overcome these challenges with confidence.