404 Error on Company Website and How to Fix It
In the journey of growing an online business, website errors are inevitable. One of the most common and impactful issues for user experience is the 404 Error – Page Not Found. When customers visit a company website and encounter a 404 error, brand credibility decreases, bounce rate increases, and business opportunities may be lost.
To help businesses clearly understand and resolve this issue, in this article we will explore the causes, impacts, and optimal solutions. At the same time, MIMA – a professional website design company, will share how to permanently fix 404 errors, build a SEO-friendly website design system, and move towards sustainable top Google website design goals.
What is a 404 Error?
Basic Concept
A 404 error is a server message when a user requests a web page that does not exist or cannot be found. In essence, the browser and server cannot “communicate” to the correct address.
Common Symptoms
When encountering a 404 error, users will usually see a blank page with the message “404 Not Found” or similar text. This creates the impression that the company’s website is unprofessional and unreliable.
Impact of 404 Errors on Businesses
User Experience Disruption
A customer searching for cleaning, accounting, insurance, or any other service who encounters a 404 error will immediately leave the page. This is a direct “hit” on the conversion rate. When user journeys are disrupted, trust is lost, and they are more likely to turn to competitors with smoother websites.
Declining SEO Rankings
Google and other search engines consider 404 errors as negative signals. If a website has too many broken pages, the chance of achieving top Google website design will be severely affected. Moreover, when crawlers repeatedly encounter broken links, indexing slows down, making it difficult for new content to rank high.
Reduced Brand Credibility
A website is the company’s “online face.” Allowing 404 errors to persist shows a lack of professionalism. A site full of errors makes customers think the business is underinvested and unreliable.
Direct Revenue Loss
Beyond brand image, 404 errors directly impact revenue. For example: if a customer intends to book a service but encounters an error page, they will abandon the cart or give up contacting the company. This invisible loss can be extremely dangerous for businesses.
Wasted Marketing Costs
Businesses invest in ads to drive traffic to their websites. But if users encounter a 404 error, all advertising costs are wasted since visitors cannot be converted into revenue.
Long-term Trust Decline
Once customers experience a poor website journey, they rarely return. This harms customer retention – a key factor for sustainable growth.
Common Causes of 404 Errors
Broken Links or Mistyped URLs
Sometimes staff or customers mistype a URL, or during content updates, internal links are changed incorrectly.
Deleted or Moved Pages
When businesses restructure websites, delete old products, or update services without proper redirects, 404 errors occur.
Server or Hosting Issues
Server-related problems can also cause errors. This often happens on websites not built with licensed website design or those using poor-quality hosting.
How to Fix 404 Errors on Company Websites
Regular Error Scans
Use tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, or Ahrefs to detect and fix broken links.
Set Up 301 Redirects
If an old page no longer exists, set up a redirect to a relevant page. This keeps users engaged while preserving SEO “link juice.”
Create a Friendly 404 Page
Instead of leaving a blank page, businesses can design a creative 404 page with product/service suggestions or a “back to homepage” button. This SEO-friendly web design solution helps retain users longer.
Ensure Stable Hosting
Invest in quality infrastructure or partner with a trusted website design company like MIMA to receive 24/7 support and ensure smooth operations.
Why Should Businesses Focus on Fixing 404 Errors?
- Avoid losing potential customers
- Maintain brand credibility in the digital environment
- Sustain stable SEO rankings
- Optimize revenue conversion rates
404 Error Fixing Services at MIMA
Licensed Website Design
Ensure stable system operation and minimize technical errors.
Custom Website Design
Tailored structure for each industry, easy to manage, and quick issue resolution.
SEO-friendly Website Design Company
MIMA not only fixes 404 errors but also helps businesses achieve top Google website design with comprehensive optimization – from technical aspects and content to user experience.
24/7 Technical Support
MIMA’s engineering team is always on standby to handle issues anytime. This is our commitment to providing complete peace of mind for clients.
Real Customer Case Study
A cleaning service company once had over 300 pages with 404 errors. This caused their Google traffic to drop by 40% within just two months. After partnering with MIMA, the system was fully rescanned, restructured, 301 redirects applied, and SEO optimized. The result: within 3 months, the website returned to Google’s top rankings, and customer numbers doubled.
Frequently Asked Questions About 404 Errors on Company Websites
1. What is a 404 error on a company website?
A 404 error occurs when users access a URL that does not exist or has been deleted. The browser will display “Page Not Found.”
2. Do 404 errors affect SEO?
Yes. If a website has too many 404 errors, Google lowers its quality score, making it harder for keywords to rank high.
3. Why does my company’s website have 404 errors?
Common causes include broken links, deleted pages without redirects, changed URLs, or server issues.
4. How do customers react when encountering a 404 error?
They usually leave the page immediately, leading to lost business opportunities and reduced brand trust.
5. What’s the quickest way to fix 404 errors?
Set up 301 redirects from error pages to relevant pages or create a friendly 404 page to retain users.
6. Should I completely delete 404 error pages?
No. Do not delete without alternatives. Always use proper redirects to preserve SEO and retain users.
7. Are 404 errors common on new websites?
Yes. New websites often change structures or test content, leading to broken links.
8. Can a website design company help fix 404 errors?
Yes. Professional agencies like MIMA – a website design company – provide inspections, fixes, and SEO optimization.
9. How to prevent recurring 404 errors?
Businesses should regularly scan websites, monitor internal links, and carefully update content.
10. Does MIMA offer 404 error fixing services?
Yes. MIMA provides Licensed Website Design, Custom Website Design, SEO-friendly website design, and guarantees 24/7 technical support to quickly handle any issues.
Contact Information
MIMA TRADING SERVICE CO., LTD
Tax Code: 0318672839
Address: Hoc Mon, Ho Chi Minh City
Hotline/Zalo: 0909 035 333
Email: info@mimadigi.com
Website: https://mimadigi.com
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