Monitor and Fix 404 Errors in WordPress with Rank Math SEO

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding 404 Errors
   • What are 404 Errors?
   • Importance of Fixing 404 Errors
   • Types of 404 Errors
3. Using Rank Math's 404 Monitor
   • Activating the 404 Monitor Module
   • Navigating the 404 Monitor Interface
     • URI, Hits, and Access Time
     • Limitations of Data
     • Finding the Source of the Error
     • Advanced Mode
4. Analyzing and Managing 404 Errors
   • Searching for Specific Errors
   • Sorting and Filtering Errors
   • Utilizing the "Screen Options" Button
   • Customizing Log Limit
   • Excluding Paths and Ignoring Query Parameters
5. Fixing 404 Errors
   • Direct Visitors and Page Editor
   • Referral Visitors and Broken Source Links
   • External Referrals and Contacting Website Owners
   • Redirecting Visitors with Rank Math's Redirection Tool
   • Handling Multiple URIs with Bulk Actions
   • Investigating Keywords and Redirections
   • Ignoring Irrelevant URIs
6. Clearing and Managing the 404 Log
   • Deleting Genuine Errors Individually or in Bulk
   • Clearing Log and Lost Data
7. Conclusion

Understanding 404 Errors

404 errors occur when a requested page or file cannot be found by the web server. These errors can harm the user experience and have a negative impact on your website's SEO performance. It is essential to identify and fix 404 errors to ensure smooth website navigation and enhance search engine rankings. In this guide, we will explore how to effectively utilize Rank Math's 404 Monitor to detect and resolve these errors, as well as provide insights into different types of 404 errors and their significance.

Using Rank Math's 404 Monitor

To make the most of Rank Math's 404 Monitor feature, you need to activate the "404 Monitor" module in the plugin's Advanced Mode. Once activated, the 404 Monitor will start registering any 404 errors encountered on your website. Upon accessing the 404 Monitor, you will notice essential data fields such as URI, Hits, and Access Time. However, it is important to note that this data has a limitation in determining whether the error originated internally or from an external website. To identify the source of the problem accurately, we recommend switching to the 404 Monitor's Advanced Mode through the settings.

In the Advanced Mode, the 404 Monitor tab of Rank Math's General Settings will provide additional information about the origins of 404 errors. Unlike the grouped errors in the basic mode, the Advanced Monitor displays each error individually, which can significantly increase the size of your error log. It is advisable to utilize the Advanced Mode only if you require detailed insights into the origins of 404 errors.

Analyzing and Managing 404 Errors

When dealing with a substantial number of 404 errors, it is essential to efficiently analyze and manage them. Rank Math's 404 Monitor offers various tools and functionalities to ease this process.

By using the search functionality of your web browser or Rank Math's own search option, you can locate specific errors based on the URLs or keywords involved. Additionally, you have the flexibility to order the URLs alphabetically or by the number of hits and access time, enabling you to prioritize your actions accordingly.

To streamline the viewing experience, you can adjust the number of visible errors per page through the "Screen Options" button. This feature proves useful when dealing with a large number of errors and prevents excessive scrolling and navigating through multiple pages.

Regarding data management, Rank Math allows you to modify the total number of errors recorded by adjusting the "Log Limit" option in the 404 Monitor tab of the General Settings. This enables you to control the amount of historical error data stored within the plugin.

To focus on essential errors, Rank Math's 404 Monitor provides the functionality to exclude paths and ignore query parameters. By entering exact URLs, categories, keywords, or regular expressions (Regex), you can prevent the monitor from flagging unimportant URLs. This eliminates clutter from the error log and ensures that critical errors receive proper attention.

Fixing 404 Errors

Fixing 404 errors is crucial to maintain a seamless user experience and minimize negative SEO impacts. The process may vary depending on the nature of the error and its source. In this section, we will explore different scenarios and the corresponding solutions.

For direct visitors who encounter a 404 error, typically resulting from mistyped URLs, the fix is relatively straightforward. By accessing the page editor, you can correct the URL and eliminate the error.

In the case of referral visitors, who arrive at your website through external sources such as other websites, social networks, or search engines, fixing the error might require a different approach. For internal referrals, you can address the issue by correcting the broken source link within your content. However, when the referral is external, it is necessary to reach out to the website owners and request that they link to the correct URL instead of the one causing the 404 error.

When it becomes impossible to fix the problematic URL due to unresponsive website owners or other constraints, redirecting visitors to another destination using Rank Math's Redirection tool becomes an effective solution. Redirection allows you to seamlessly send visitors to an alternative URL, ensuring they reach relevant content and helping preserve their engagement on your website.

For situations where multiple URIs are linked to the same page, Rank Math's Bulk Actions feature simplifies the redirecting process. By selecting the related URIs in the checkbox and choosing the redirection destination, you can efficiently redirect them all at once. This approach saves time and effort compared to individually redirecting each URI.

To determine the appropriate page or post for redirection purposes, you can investigate keywords associated with the error and search for relevant content within your website. Once the error URL is redirected, its hits will be reflected in the Redirections page rather than the 404 Monitor. It is essential to promptly remove redirected 404 errors from the list to maintain an organized and accurate error log.

In certain cases, there may be irrelevant URIs in the 404 log caused by spammers, malicious users, or bad bots. It is advisable to delete these entries individually or in bulk using Rank Math's Bulk Actions feature. By removing spam 404s, you can ensure that genuine errors receive proper attention and prevent distortion of error reports.

Clearing and Managing the 404 Log

As you continue to analyze and manage 404 errors, you might accumulate a significant number of resolved errors in your log. Rank Math's 404 Monitor provides options to effectively clear and manage your log.

If you have successfully handled all genuine errors and are left with a large number of spam 404s to delete, you can click on the "Clear Log" button. However, it is important to exercise caution when clearing the log, as this action permanently removes all data. Clearing the log should primarily be used for testing purposes rather than as a routine management task, as it cannot be undone.

It is worth noting that once the log is cleared, only the errors recorded after clearing will be displayed. Therefore, ensure that you have extracted any necessary insights or taken appropriate actions regarding the logged errors before utilizing the clear log feature.

Conclusion

Understanding and effectively managing 404 errors is crucial for maintaining a high-quality website and ensuring a seamless user experience. By utilizing Rank Math's 404 Monitor and following the steps outlined in this guide, you can identify, analyze, and fix 404 errors efficiently. Remember to regularly monitor and resolve these errors to improve your website's SEO performance and enhance user satisfaction.

Highlights

• Rank Math's 404 Monitor provides valuable insights into 404 errors on your website.
• Understanding the types and origins of 404 errors is essential for effective resolution.
• The Advanced Mode of Rank Math's 404 Monitor offers detailed data and insights.
• Efficiently analyze and manage 404 errors using search functionality, sorting options, and customization settings.
• Fixing 404 errors involves addressing mistyped URLs, broken source links, and implementing redirects.
• Clearing the 404 log should be done with caution, as it permanently removes data.

FAQ

Q: Why are 404 errors important to fix? A: Fixing 404 errors is important to enhance user experience, maintain SEO performance, and improve website credibility.

Q: How can I identify the source of 404 errors? A: Rank Math's 404 Monitor provides insights into the origin of 404 errors, but it is crucial to switch to the Advanced Mode for more detailed information.

Q: Can I redirect 404 errors to another page? A: Yes, Rank Math's Redirection tool allows you to redirect visitors encountering 404 errors to alternative URLs.

Q: What is the purpose of excluding paths and ignoring query parameters? A: Excluding paths and ignoring query parameters help eliminate unimportant URLs from the 404 log, ensuring that critical errors receive proper attention.

Q: Is it possible to clear the 404 log using Rank Math's 404 Monitor? A: Yes, Rank Math provides a "Clear Log" button to remove resolved errors from the log, but exercise caution as it cannot be reversed.

Resources

• Rank Math's Knowledge Base