What are Broken Links: 4 Common Causes and Solutions

What are broken links? They’re hyperlinks that lead to missing or deleted web pages, often showing a “404 Error” message. Broken links frustrate users, hurt SEO, and damage your site’s credibility. Here’s how to find and fix them—and keep your website running smoothly.

1. Why Broken Links Matter:

What are broken links costing you? They create poor user experiences, increase bounce rates, and signal to search engines that your site isn’t well-maintained. Fixing them improves SEO rankings and keeps visitors engaged.

2. 4 Common Causes of Broken Links (And How to Fix Them):

1. Page Deletions or Moves

What are broken links often caused by? Deleting or moving pages without redirecting old URLs. For example, renaming a blog post from “/blog/seo-tips” to “/blog/2024-seo-guide” breaks existing links.
Fix it: Set up 301 redirects using tools like Rank Math (WordPress) or edit your site’s .htaccess file.

2. Typos in URLs

A single typo in a link (e.g., “/blg/post” instead of “/blog/post”) creates broken links. These often happen during manual updates or content migration.
Fix it: Use a broken link checker like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog to crawl your site and spot errors.

3. External Sites Changing URLs

What are broken links you can’t control? Links pointing to external sites that remove or change their content. For example, a source you linked to in a guide might delete its page.
Fix it: Replace dead external links with updated sources or archive them using the Wayback Machine.

4. Expired Content or Products

Limited-time offers event pages, or seasonal content typically get deleted after they expire—leaving broken links in their wake.
Fix it: Either redirect expired pages to relevant alternatives (e.g., send “/summer-sale” to “/current-offers”) or create a custom 404 page to guide users back to your site.

How to Prevent Broken Links:

• Audit your site monthly with tools like Dead Link Checker.
• Use internal linking plugins that auto-update URLs.
• Train your team to double-check links before publishing.

Need help cleaning up broken links? Guestapost.com offers SEO audit services to identify and fix broken links, ensuring your site stays user-friendly and search-engine-ready.

Note: Regularly monitor your site—broken links can reappear as content evolves!