How to Fix Soft 404 Indexing Issues

Discover effective strategies to address soft 404 indexing issues in your website. Learn what soft 404 errors are, how they affect SEO, and the best practices to fix them.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Soft 404 Errors
3. How Soft 404 Issues Affect SEO
4. Identifying Soft 404 Errors on Your Website
5. Steps to Fix Soft 404 Indexing Issues
   • 5.1 Use Proper HTTP Status Codes
   • 5.2 Create Custom 404 Pages
   • 5.3 Utilize Google Search Console
   • 5.4 Ensure Content Quality
   • 5.5 Redirect or Remove Low-Quality Pages
6. Best Practices to Avoid Soft 404 Errors
7. Conclusion
8. FAQ Section

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of search engine optimization (SEO), ensuring your website is properly indexed can significantly impact its visibility and performance. One common issue webmasters face is “soft 404” errors. While they may seem less serious than regular 404 errors, they can lead to significant indexing problems, negatively impacting your site's ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). In this article, we will dive deep into soft 404 indexing issues, how to identify them, and implement effective solutions to ensure your website remains SEO-friendly.

Understanding Soft 404 Errors

Soft 404 errors occur when a webpage appears to be broken or missing, but instead of returning a proper HTTP 404 status code (indicating that the page is not found), the server returns a 200 status code, suggesting the page has loaded successfully. This can confuse search engines, as they may index a page that does not contain the expected content, viewing it as low quality. Common scenarios that trigger soft 404s include pages with minimal content, outdated webpages, and non-relevant landing pages that pull up results.

How Soft 404 Issues Affect SEO

Search engines like Google prioritize user experience, and serving soft 404 pages can negatively affect that experience. Here’s how soft 404 errors can impact your site:

• Poor User Experience: Users seeking specific information may click on a link only to be met with a low-quality or irrelevant page.
• Inefficient Crawl Budget: Search engines may waste crawl time on these soft 404 pages instead of indexing more valuable content.
• Lower Rankings: If search engines deem your site to have poor quality due to these errors, it can lead to ranking penalties.
• Lost Traffic: Users may abandon your site due to frustration with soft 404 errors, leading to a decrease in overall traffic.

Identifying Soft 404 Errors on Your Website

Before you can fix soft 404 errors, you need to identify where they are occurring. Here are a few methods to uncover these issues:

1. Google Search Console: This is a valuable tool that can provide insights into indexing issues, including soft 404 errors. Look for messages under the “Coverage” report.
2. Manual Review: Browse your website to check for pages that do not provide useful content but are still returning a 200 status code.
3. Crawling Tools: Use SEO auditing software (like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or SEMrush) to crawl your site and identify pages with soft 404 issues.
4. Use Indexly: Indexly's Page inspection tool helps you inspect your page in real time and understand the issues your pages have.

Steps to Fix Soft 404 Indexing Issues

Addressing soft 404 issues involves a combination of content quality improvements and technical adjustments. Below are some practical steps you can take:

5.1 Use Proper HTTP Status Codes
Ensure your server returns the correct HTTP status codes for genuinely missing pages. Implement a server-side redirect (301) to a relevant page or a proper 404 status code for pages that no longer exist.

5.2 Create Custom 404 Pages
Instead of letting visitors land on a generic error page, design a custom 404 page that helps guide them back to relevant site content. Include navigation menus, site search bars, and links to popular content.

5.3 Utilize Google Search Console
Regularly monitor Google Search Console for soft 404 errors and pay attention to the suggestions provided by Google. Correct these issues promptly.

5.4 Ensure Content Quality|
Revisit pages returning soft 404s and bolster them with informative, relevant content. If a page serves little purpose, consider enhancing its value or redirecting it as discussed earlier.

5.5 Redirect or Remove Low-Quality Pages
For pages that contain little to no valuable content, consider removing them altogether or implementing a redirect to a more relevant page.

5.6 Implementing Proper 404 Responses
The most effective way to resolve soft 404 indexing issues is to ensure that your server responds with an appropriate HTTP status code. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Serve a 404 Status Code: For any page that has no content, such as deleted products or articles, ensure that your server sends back a 404 HTTP status instead of a 200 status.
2. Use 410 for Permanently Removed Pages: If a page is gone and won’t return, it’s better to use a 410 Gone status. Both signals (404 and 410) help search engines understand that the page is unavailable.

5.7 Using Redirects Wisely
Redirects can be a double-edged sword when dealing with soft 404s. Here’s how to use them effectively:

1. 301 Redirect to Relevant Content: If a page has been removed but similar content exists, consider using a 301 redirect to guide users and search engines to that relevant content.
2. Avoid Redirecting to Unrelated Content: Don’t redirect users to pages that aren’t relevant to the original request, as this can frustrate users and further impact site performance.

5.8 Custom 404 Pages
Creating a custom 404 page can mitigate the user experience when they encounter a page that is no longer available. Here are best practices for custom 404 pages:

1. User-Friendly Design: Your custom page should be designed clearly and prominently indicate that the page is not found.
2. Suggest Alternatives: Include links to other relevant pages or a search bar to help users navigate your site.
3. Use Humor or Branding: A touch of humor or creativity can soften the blow of hitting a 404 and reinforce your brand identity.

Best Practices to Avoid Soft 404 Errors

1. Regular Audits: Conduct regular site audits to catch soft 404s early.
2. Content Updates: Keep your site's content fresh and informative, regularly updating outdated information.
3. Robust Error Handling: Implement robust error handling to ensure appropriate HTTP status codes are returned under the right circumstances.
4. User Feedback: Gather user feedback on your content quality to better understand if there are particular pages that visitors find unhelpful.
5. Optimize Website Structure: Maintain a well-structured website to ensure that all pages serve a purpose and are easy to navigate.

Summary

Here are the most critical things you can do to fix Soft 404 issue in Google.

• Improve page content: If the page exists but is returning a soft 404 error, add more relevant content, improve the page's title, and meta tags. 
• Set up a 301 redirect: If the page was moved to a new location, set up a 301 redirect. 
• Create a custom 404 page: It's not always possible to eliminate 404 errors, so it's important to create a custom 404 page for your website. 
• Correct broken links: If a link is broken and no longer points to the correct web page, change its destination to reflect the URL where the web page is published. 
• Configure proper error codes: Make sure pages that no longer exist return a 404 or 410 status code, not a 200. 
• Restore the page: If someone mistakenly deletes a webpage, restore the page. 
• Dynamic rendering: Dynamic rendering with Prerender can fix 404 errors and enhance SEO health. 

Conclusion

Soft 404 indexing issues can be deceptively damaging to your website’s SEO performance. By understanding what these errors are and proactively addressing them, you can significantly improve user experience and maintain your site's credibility with search engines.

Implementing correct HTTP status codes, enhancing content quality, using Google Search Console, and developing custom 404 pages are just a few vital steps on the path to resolving soft 404 errors. With diligent monitoring and maintenance, you can ensure your website remains a valuable resource for its visitors.

FAQ Section

1. What is a soft 404 error?
   A soft 404 error occurs when a webpage returns a 200 status code despite not containing valuable content, misleading search engines regarding the page’s relevance.
2. How can I identify soft 404 errors?
   Use tools like Google Search Console, manual site reviews, or crawling software such as Screaming Frog to identify soft 404 pages on your website.
3. Why are soft 404 errors bad for SEO?
   They can degrade user experience, waste crawl budget, and lead to lower search rankings.
4. How do I fix a soft 404 error?
   Fixing soft 404 errors involves returning proper HTTP status codes, creating custom 404 pages, enhancing content quality, and removing or redirecting low-quality pages.
5. What is the difference between a soft 404 and a hard 404?
   A hard 404 returns a 404 status code, meaning the page is not found, while a soft 404 returns a 200 status code, misleading search engines into thinking the page is valid.
6. Are custom 404 pages important for SEO?
   Yes, custom 404 pages improve user experience by guiding visitors back to relevant content, which can help reduce bounce rates and improve overall site engagement.

Further Read

1. Soft 404 Errors: What Are These and How to Fix Them? - WsCube Tech
   This article explains the concept of soft 404 errors, highlighting the difference between standard 404 errors and soft 404s. It outlines several solutions, including setting up proper 404 or 410 error pages, redirecting using a 301 redirect, and improving page content. The article emphasizes the importance of configuring your server to return the correct HTTP status codes to enhance SEO performance and user experience1.
2. What Are Soft 404 Errors and How To Fix Them (5 Easy Ways) - Prerender.io
   This resource identifies common causes of soft 404 errors, such as thin or duplicate content and irrelevant redirects. It provides actionable steps to resolve these issues, including debugging with Google's inspection tool, de-indexing problematic pages, and ensuring that your server returns the correct status codes. The article also suggests avoiding phrases commonly associated with 404 errors to prevent confusion for search engines2.
3. What is a soft 404 error and what to do about it? - Yoast
   Yoast's article breaks down the nature of soft 404 errors and their implications for SEO. It offers practical advice on fixing these errors by ensuring that non-existent pages return appropriate status codes (404 or 410), improving content quality on existing pages, and utilizing redirects when necessary. The article also discusses how to identify soft 404 errors using Google Search Console3.
4. What is Soft 404 and How to fix it? - 7 Eagles
   This piece provides a thorough overview of soft 404 errors, explaining their technical aspects and how they differ from standard 404 errors. It includes a list of strategies for fixing soft 404s, such as managing server responses correctly, auditing link structures for broken links, and ensuring dynamic pages provide adequate content. The article stresses the importance of regular monitoring to maintain website health4.
5. How to Fix the Submitted URL Seems to Be a “Soft 404” Error - Rank Math
   Rank Math's guide focuses on distinguishing between standard and soft 404 errors while detailing various causes for soft 404s. It presents practical solutions like implementing proper redirects, checking server configurations, and ensuring that pages return accurate HTTP status codes. The article also highlights the significance of maintaining relevant content on redirected pages to avoid SEO pitfalls5.