A “404” error is also known as a “page not found” error.

When a 404 page is encountered, many people will not make an effort to find the missing page. While some people might hit the Back button and try again, some might just leave and move on to another website. In other words, every 404 error is a potentially lost visitor and loss of opportunity.

But there is no reason to allow visitors to leave disappointed. If you are on the Doteasy Ultra Hosting or Unlimited Hosting plans, why not create a custom “404 page” that can help visitors find what they thought they’d find on your website and keep their stay on your website longer?

(Sorry, custom 404 pages are not supported on the Doteasy $0 Hosting plan)

When creating a custom 404 page, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Your 404 Message

  • Don’t blame the visitor for typing in the wrong URL. 404 errors very rarely come from URL-typo. They are usually broken links from external sites or the site itself. [example]
  • Don’t imply your site is unfinished. It is not professional. And don’t expect customers to try again later.
  • Keep it short. [example]

2. Think like a visitor

  • If you said “contact us for assistance”, make sure you include your contact information or link to your Contact page. Don’t redirect visitors automatically to the homepage and have them search for it themselves.

3. Show a friendly error message

  • Use a more informal tone, such as “Oops! We couldn’t find this page for you”. It sounds much better than “Error! Missing Page!”
  • But be consistent with your visitor’s expectations of you and your website. [example 1] and[example 2]

4. Offer links

  • Offer a link to the site map, or better yet, create a site map on the error page. This will help visitors find the particular section they need. [example]

5. Allow site search

  • Offer a link to the site search, or better yet, put a search form on the error page. It’s always good to minimize the number of clicks for a visitor (again, think like a visitor). [example]

6. Facilitate contact

  • Include a contact form on the error page so that the visitor can contact you directly if they need assistance looking for something specific

To read or see more examples on 404 pages: 404Lab.comRoyal Pingdom,SmashingMagazine.com

To create a 404 error page for your website:Tutorial on Doteasy Knowledgebase

An example of an interesting 404 page: BlueDaniel.com

And, examples of not-so-good 404 pages: Youtube.comBlogger.commatch.com

Remember, the last thing you want is confused visitors not knowing if your site is down or what is happening.

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