Glossary
What is Broken link?
Broken link - a hyperlink on a website that no longer works. This can happen when the destination page has been deleted or moved without updating the link, or if there are typos in the URL.
Broken links can be frustrating for users who click on them expecting to find relevant information, only to be met with an error message. They can also negatively impact a website's search engine ranking, as they signal to search engines that the site may not have up-to-date or high-quality content.
To avoid broken links, it's important for website owners and webmasters to regularly check their sites for broken links and fix them promptly.
The Impact of Broken Links on User Experience
When users encounter broken links while browsing a website, it can lead to frustration and decreased trust in the site's content. Users may leave the site altogether if they feel like they cannot access valuable information. In addition, encountering multiple broken links can make users question the reliability of the entire site.
To improve user experience and prevent visitors from leaving your site due to broken links, it's important to regularly test all hyperlinks and ensure that they lead to functioning pages.
The Importance of Fixing Broken Links for SEO
In addition to impacting user experience, broken links can also harm a website's search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Search engines like Google prioritize websites with high-quality content that is up-to-date and easy for users to navigate. When search engine crawlers encounter numerous broken links within a site, it signals that its content may not be reliable or current.
To maintain strong SEO rankings and ensure your website appears at the top of relevant search results pages, fixing any existing broken links should be prioritized as part of your regular website maintenance.
How to Fix Broken Links
The first step in fixing broken links is identifying where they exist on your site. There are a variety of tools available that can help you scan your website for broken links, including free options like Google Search Console or paid services like Ahrefs or SEMrush.
Once you've identified any broken links, it's important to update them with the correct URL or remove them altogether if the destination page no longer exists. If the link was simply mistyped, make sure to correct it so that users can access the intended content without issue.