how to track 404 errors in WordPress

Understanding 404 Errors in WordPress

404 errors or ‘Page Not Found’ errors occur when a visitor tries to access a page on your website that doesn’t exist. This could be due to a deleted page, renamed URL, or a mistyped link. For WordPress site owners, tracking these errors is crucial for maintaining SEO integrity and enhancing user experience.

Why Tracking 404 Errors is Important

Tracking and resolving 404 errors is essential because persistent errors can detrimentally impact search engine rankings, reduce site usability, and negatively affect the site’s reputation. Search engines interpret frequent 404 errors as signs of a poorly maintained site, which can hurt your SEO efforts.

Using Plugins to Track 404 Errors

1. Redirection Plugin

One of the most popular solutions for WordPress users is the Redirection plugin. This tool not only helps manage 404 errors but also assists in setting up HTTP redirects.

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Install and activate the Redirection plugin from the WordPress repository.
• Navigate to ‘Tools’ > ‘Redirection’ in your WordPress dashboard.
• The plugin automatically starts logging 404 errors under the ‘404s’ tab.
• It provides URL, referrer, and user agent details to help you understand the source and nature of the error.

2. 404 Solution Plugin

404 Solution logs 404 errors and offers automatic suggestions for redirections based on existing pages, facilitating a quick fix.

Features:

• Auto-suggests redirections to similar pages on your site.
• Logs details about the 404 error occurrences for better analysis.

Using Google Search Console

Google Search Console (GSC) is another powerful tool in your arsenal for tracking 404 errors. GSC provides detailed reports on how Google views and indexes your site, including the detection of any crawl errors.

Steps to Utilize GSC:

• Verify your site on Google Search Console.
• Navigate to ‘Coverage’ under the ‘Index’ section.
• Here, you will find details on errors that Google bots encountered on your site, including 404 errors.
• GSC also recommends the URL where the error was linked, helping you pinpoint and resolve the issue.

Monitoring Traffic and Server Logs

Traffic Analysis Tools

Tools like AWStats or Webalizer that come integrated with many hosting accounts provide insights into traffic patterns and error reports.

Benefits:

• You can view which URLs are returning 404 errors.
• Understand traffic loss associated with these errors.

Server Logs

Server logs are helpful for those who prefer a more technical approach or need detailed error logs.

Accessing Server Logs:

• Log in to your hosting account.
• Access the control panel and find the ‘Logs’ section.
• Look for the ‘Error logs’ to review all 404 errors.

Setting up Alerts for 404 Errors

Automating the monitoring process can save time and ensure you’re immediately aware of issues as they arise.

Using Management Tools:

• Tools like ManageWP or Jetpack provide monitoring services that alert you to 404 errors.
• Configure these tools to send real-time notifications or daily summaries about site health, including 404 occurrences.

Optimizing 404 Error Page

While tracking and fixing 404 errors, it’s also essential to optimize your 404 page to improve user experience and retain site visitors.

Tips for Optimization:

• Include a simple message explaining the error.
• Provide a search bar and links to popular pages on your site.
• Incorporate a friendly tone and graphical elements to keep the page engaging.

Leveraging .htaccess for Redirections

For advanced users, directly editing the .htaccess file can be a method to handle redirects and prevent some 404 errors.

Caution:

• Always back up your .htaccess file before making changes.
• Use 301 redirects for old or moved content to properly inform search engines and users about the changes.

Conclusion

Effectively tracking and managing 404 errors requires a combination of the right tools and proactive strategies. By employing plugins, monitoring tools, and optimization tactics, WordPress site owners can enhance site performance, improve SEO rankings, and deliver a superior user experience.