Have you ever clicked on a link and been taken to a page that says “404 Error”? What does this mean, and why does it happen? In this blog post, we will explore what WordPress 404 error pages are, how they can help your website, and some tips for creating your own. By the end of this post, you should have a better understanding of how to deal with errors on your website and keep your visitors happy
What is a 404 Error Page?
A 404 error page is an error page that appears when a user tries to access a website that does not exist. When a user tries to access a website that does not exist, the server will return a 404 error page.
There are two types of 404 error pages:
Custom 404 error pages:
Custom 404 error pages are created by the website owner and can be customized to match the look and feel of the website.
Default 404 error pages:
Default 404 error pages are generated by the web server and cannot be customized.
When a user tries to access a website that does not exist, the web server will return a default 404 error page. The default 404 error page contains the message “404 Not Found” and may also include the web server’s logo or other branding information.
Why You Need a 404 Error Page
A 404 error page is a page that appears when a user tries to access a page that doesn’t exist. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as a typo in the URL, or a page that has been moved or deleted.
While it may not seem like a big deal, having a custom 404 error page can actually be quite beneficial. For one, it can help reduce the number of lost visitors, as they will be able to quickly and easily find their way back to your site. Additionally, it can also help improve your site’s SEO by providing links to other pages on your site.
If you’re running a WordPress site, there are a few easy ways to create a custom 404 error page. You can either use a plugin like Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack, or you can edit your .htaccess file to redirect users to your desired page.
Ultimately, having a custom 404 error page is a good way to improve the user experience on your website, and it can also help with your site’s SEO. So if you don’t have one already, be sure to add one soon!
Also Read: Troubleshooting WordPress Errors for Beginners (Step by Step)
How to Create a 404 Error Page in WordPress
Assuming you’re using a self-hosted WordPress site (i.e. you have a domain name and are hosting your own WordPress site), you’ll need to edit your .htaccess file to create a custom 404 error page.
First, open up your .htaccess file and add the following line of code:
ErrorDocument 404 /404.php
Replace “/404.php” with the URL of your custom 404 error page. If you don’t have a custom 404 error page yet, you can create one now. Just make a new PHP file and include whatever content or design you want on your 404 page. Once you’ve created your 404.php file, upload it to your WordPress site’s root directory (i.e. the same directory as your .htaccess file).
That’s all there is to it! Once you’ve added the above line of code to your .htaccess file and uploaded your 404.php file, visitors who try to access a non-existent page on your site will be redirected to your custom 404 error page instead of the default WordPress error page.
Customizing Your 404 Error Page
If you’re running a WordPress site, you’ve probably come across the dreaded “404 error” page. This is the page that’s shown when a user tries to access a page that doesn’t exist on your site.
While a 404 error page can be frustrating for your visitors, it doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, there are a number of ways you can customize your 404 error page to make it more helpful and user-friendly.
Here are a few things you can do to customize your 404 error page:
Add a message explaining what happened.
A simple message explaining that the requested page could not be found can go a long way in making your 404 error page more user-friendly. This will help your visitors understand what happened and why they’re seeing the error page.
Include links to other parts of your site.
If you have other pages on your site, you can include links to them on your 404 error page. This will help visitors find their way around your site and may even help them find the content they were looking for.
Use humour or creativity in your design.
Since a 404 error page is necessarily an error, you can use humour or creativity in your design to lighten the mood and make the best of a bad situation. A little bit of levity can go a long way in making your visitors feel better about an otherwise frustrating experience.
Also Read: 3 Things to Do to Keep Your WordPress Website Active
Conclusion
WordPress 404 error pages are a necessary part of any website for any business including ERP software, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, etc. They help your visitors find the content they’re looking for, and they can also help you improve your website’s SEO. If you’re not sure how to set up a WordPress 404 error page, don’t worry — we’ve got you covered. Just follow our step-by-step guide and you’ll have a custom 404 error page up and running in no time.