Broken Links are links on your web page that do not work properly. If a user clicks on a broken link, they are redirected to an error page. It is important to fix broken links for several reasons:
SEO & Google Search Results - Google does use broken links as one factor in rating websites. Broken links lead them to think that a website is neglected or abandoned.
User Experience - If users cannot successfully navigate within your site, it will reduce the reputation of your site which can also affect SEO.
Bounce Rate - If broken links exist on your website, and users cannot access the information, they will move on to other sites. The less time they spend on your site, the higher the Bounce Rate.
This is a guide as to why broken links occur and what you can do to fix them.
Table of Contents
\uD83D\uDCD8 Instructions
Why Broken Links Occur
A user enters an incorrect/incomplete URL (typos, missing directory or file extension) and publishes that mistake.
The URL structure of the site has changed (permalinks). This occurs when the site's owner has moved their pages or files to another directory, or perhaps renamed them.
The page or document was not migrated to its new platform and is no longer available.
Identifying Broken Links
Running the Broken Link Report Tool
Log in to your Site.
Click the System Menu in the top right corner of your site.
Select Report.
Click Broken Links.
A list of Sources with broken links will appear. Click Show on one of them.
A list of Broken Links for that Source will open.
Click ? to see the reason.
Click in the Status column to select Broken, Fixed, Mark all fixed, Mark all broken or Ignored.
