Optimizing 404 Errors for Better SEO
Google expert, Martin Splitt, has warned against redirecting 404 errors to a website’s homepage, a common act among webmasters and SEO specialists. He argues that these redirects can confuse Google’s algorithm and create a negative user experience as users have to navigate the site to find specific content. Splitt suggests letting 404 pages simply indicate that a page is no longer available. It’s crucial to check for these errors regularly and, where necessary, the restoration of accidentally removed pages or the addition of new content in their place are more recommended actions. Splitt’s advice draws attention back to the fundamentals of SEO: user experience and understanding search engine algorithms.