A broken link is a hyperlink on a website that no longer leads to its intended destination. Instead, users and search engines encounter an error page, typically displaying messages like “404 Not Found” or similar errors.
These links can emerge due to various reasons, such as the destination page being deleted, moved without proper redirection, or having a misspelled URL.
In the context of SEO, a broken link is detrimental as it can hinder both user experience and website performance. This GetFound article will discuss the concept of broken links, their types, and why addressing them is essential for maintaining an optimized website.
The Basics of Broken Links in SEO
A broken link is disruptive to the flow of navigation on a website by leading users to non-existent or inaccessible pages. Broken links can occur in both internal links and external links.
Understanding the distinction between these types is crucial:
1. Internal Broken Links
These happen when links within your website fail to lead to the correct destination. For example, if a product page is removed without a redirect, any links pointing to it become broken.
2. External Broken Links
These occur when your website links to a page on another website that no longer exists or has moved. For instance, citing a research article on another website that has since been removed creates an external broken link.
Both types can negatively affect your website’s performance, making it essential to monitor and fix them regularly.
Common Causes of Broken Links
Broken links can result from several issues, including:
- Deleted Pages
When a page is permanently removed without implementing a redirect.
- Changed URLs
Modifying a URL without updating links pointing to it.
- Server Issues
Problems with the hosting server that make pages temporarily or permanently unavailable.
- Misspelled URLs
Typos or formatting errors in the link’s structure.
- Expired External Links
Linking to external content that has been removed or relocated.
Identifying these root causes helps prevent the recurrence of broken links and ensures a smoother user experience.
How Search Engines Interpret Broken Links
Search engines, like Google, encounter broken links when crawling your site. While one or two broken links may not significantly impact your rankings, a large number of them can signal poor maintenance or low-quality content.
Key implications include:
- Crawl Errors
Search engine crawlers may struggle to navigate your site effectively, missing critical pages.
- User Frustration Signals
High bounce rates or low dwell time caused by broken links can indicate poor user experience, indirectly affecting your rankings.
- Reduced Indexing Efficiency
Broken internal links can hinder the crawling and indexing of other important pages on your site.
These factors highlight why addressing broken links is vital for SEO.
User Experience and Broken Links
Beyond search engines, a broken link is an issue that directly affects your audience.
A user encountering a broken link may feel frustrated, leading to:
- Loss of trust in your website or brand.
- Increased bounce rates, where visitors quickly leave your site.
- Missed opportunities for conversions, particularly on e-commerce or lead-generation pages.
Given that user experience is closely tied to SEO performance, fixing broken links benefits both users and search engines.
Also Read: What’s the Impact of Using Landing Pages in SEO?
Broken Links vs. Redirects: Understanding the Difference
It’s important to distinguish between broken links and redirects in SEO. While a broken link is one that leads to non-existent pages, redirects ensure users are seamlessly taken to a new destination when a page has moved.
Redirects, such as 301 (permanent) or 302 (temporary), prevent links from becoming broken and maintain both user experience and link equity.
The Role of Broken Links in Link Equity
A broken link is something that can disrupt the flow of link equity across your website. When an internal link points to a broken page, the link equity intended for that destination is lost.
This weakens the SEO value of the linking page and may affect overall site authority. Repairing or redirecting broken links ensures that link equity is preserved, contributing to better rankings.
Examples of Broken Links
To illustrate, here are examples of broken link scenarios:
- A blog post linking to an outdated resource that has been removed by the source website.
- An e-commerce site with product links that return a “404 Not Found” error because the product page was deleted.
- A navigation menu containing a misspelled URL, leading users to a non-existent page.
These examples highlight the common instances where broken links arise and underscore the importance of proactive monitoring.
Tools to Identify Broken Links
There are several tools to detect and manage broken links:
- Google Search Console
Provides a list of crawl errors, including broken links.
- Online Broken Link Checkers
Tools like BrokenLinkCheck or Dead Link Checker scan websites for dead links.
- SEO Platforms
Comprehensive tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Screaming Frog allow in-depth audits to identify broken links and their impact.
Using these tools regularly helps keep your website free from broken links, supporting both SEO performance and user satisfaction.
Familiarize Yourself with the Signs of Broken Links!
In SEO, broken links represent a significant challenge to both user experience and search engine optimization. By understanding what broken links are, why they occur, and their impact on SEO, you can prioritize regular monitoring and timely fixes.
Whether you’re managing a blog, e-commerce store, or corporate site, addressing broken links is essential for maintaining a seamless user experience and safeguarding your rankings in search engine results.
If you happen to find yourself struggling to fix broken links on your business website, GetFound can lend a helping hand! We are just one call away from solving all your SEO problems!
