What is a Soft 404 Error?
A soft 404 error occurs when a webpage returns a HTTP status code of 200 (OK), but the content is not found or is irrelevant. This can confuse search engines and negatively impact your website's SEO.
- Soft 404 errors can be caused by misconfigured servers or incorrect URL parameters.
- They can also result from dynamic URLs that return empty or irrelevant content.
How to Identify Soft 404 Errors
To identify soft 404 errors, you can use tools like Google Search Console or website crawlers. Look for URLs that return a 200 status code but have low or no traffic, or pages with irrelevant content.
How to Fix Soft 404 Errors
Fixing soft 404 errors involves identifying the root cause and taking corrective action. This may involve updating server configurations, correcting URL parameters, or optimizing dynamic URLs to return relevant content.