Hey guys! What is the best solution for broken links: delete or redirect?
but why is this the best solution?
For a few reasons
- Redirects help users find alternative content if the original link is broken, making their experience better.
- Broken links can lower search engine rankings. Redirects show search engines that your site is well-maintained, which helps your rankings.
- Broken links can cause distrust. Redirects show that you care about users' experience, maintaining your website's authority.
The best solution for broken links depends on the context and your goals. Here's a breakdown:
- Redirects: If the content that the broken link originally pointed to has been moved to a new location, it's generally best to set up a redirect from the old URL to the new one. This ensures that users who click on the link are seamlessly directed to the correct content. Additionally, redirects can help preserve any existing SEO value associated with the old URL by passing along link equity.
- Delete: If the content that the broken link pointed to is no longer relevant or doesn't exist anymore, and there's no suitable alternative to redirect users to, then deleting the link may be the best option. However, before deleting, consider whether there are any alternative pages or resources that could be linked to instead.
- Custom Error Page: Another option is to create a custom 404 error page that provides helpful information to users who encounter a broken link. This page can include navigation links, a search bar, or suggestions for related content to help users find what they're looking for.
If the content has a new URL or if the page had significant traffic and SEO value then a redirect should be made. If the content is outdated and has no relevant replacement, remove it.
You need to differentiate here. If these are internal broken links, setting up redirects would be sensible, or if the page has been removed, they should be completely deleted. If you've linked to other external pages, I would simply remove the links. If it's worthwhile to link to a page, then look for an alternative if it's closely related to your website content, like a booking page or an external checkout process. Either way, you need to check the broken links. I assume these are voluntarily placed links.
We moved to another platform and we have 8k links with 404 in search console. I thought it was a problem, but I don't think they are because they are not indexed. Am I right?
Not indexed, but may remain in the index temporarily until a search engine notices it
Thanks for the replies, I'll check it out
You should redirect it to the relevant page