howtos

User-friendly 404 pages

If a user types in or follows a URL that does not exist on a website they are usually taken to a 404 (page not found) page.  Returning a standard 404 page to your user tends to provide a less-than-optimal user experience and may cause you to lose them altogether. 

A solution is now at hand.  Create a custom 404 page and embed a Webmaster Tools 404 widget into it.  The 404 widget helps your visitors find what they’re looking for by providing suggestions based on the incorrect URL.  It also provides a link to the parent subdirectory, a sitemap webpage, and a site search query suggestions and search box.