How to Handle 404, 301, and 500 Errors in SEO and Improve Website Performance

Blog | Wednesday - 12 / 03 / 2025 - 7:43 am

Technical errors are one of the biggest factors affecting website performance in search engines. They can lead to losing visitors, lower conversion rates, and higher bounce rates, all of which can negatively impact a website’s ranking in search results.

Among the most common and impactful errors in SEO are 404, 301, and 500 errors. This article explains what these errors are and how to fix them to improve user experience and maintain search rankings.

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1. 404 Error – Page Not Found

What is a 404 Error?

A 404 Not Found error appears when a user or search engine tries to access a page that no longer exists. This can happen due to:

Deleting a page without setting up a redirect.
Changing the page URL without updating internal or external links.
Typos in links leading to the page.
Website structure issues causing broken links.

How Does a 404 Error Affect SEO?

Bad User Experience: If visitors land on an error page instead of useful content, they might leave immediately, increasing bounce rates.
Wasted Crawl Budget: Search engines have a limited budget to crawl websites. If they spend it trying to access non-existent pages, they might miss indexing important ones.
Loss of Backlinks: If other websites link to deleted pages, those links become useless, reducing the website’s authority.

How to Fix a 404 Error?

Use 301 Redirects: If a page was removed but similar content exists, redirect the old URL to the new page.
Create a Custom 404 Page: Instead of showing a default error message, design a helpful 404 page with:
- A clear message explaining the error.
- Useful links to other pages.
- A button to return to the homepage.
Monitor Errors Using Google Search Console: Identify 404 errors and fix them.
Check Internal & External Links: Use tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog to find and update broken links.

2. 301 Error – Permanent Redirect

Technical errors
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404 Error

What is a 301 Error?

A 301 Moved Permanently error occurs when a page is permanently moved to a new URL. This usually happens when restructuring a website or moving content to a different domain.

How Does a 301 Error Affect SEO?

Preserves Link Authority: If done correctly, most of the old page’s ranking power transfers to the new one.
Smooth User Experience: Proper redirection ensures visitors reach the right page without confusion.
Problems with Multiple Redirects: Too many redirects in a row can slow down page loading and reduce SEO effectiveness.

How to Fix a 301 Error?

Avoid Redirect Loops: Ensure page A does not redirect to page B, which redirects back to A.
Use Redirects Only When Necessary: Don’t overuse 301 redirects unless absolutely needed.
Monitor Redirects Using SEO Tools like Screaming Frog.
Update Internal Links: Instead of relying on redirects, link directly to the correct page.

3. 500 Error – Internal Server Error

What is a 500 Error?

A 500 Internal Server Error happens when the server fails to process a request. Common causes include:

Server misconfigurations.
Database failures.
Issues in website code (e.g., PHP errors).
High traffic overload causing the server to crash.

How Does a 500 Error Affect SEO?

If it lasts too long, search engines may remove affected pages from indexing.
Users can’t access the site, damaging their experience.
SEO rankings may drop if the issue isn’t resolved quickly.

How to Fix a 500 Error?

Check Server Error Logs to find the root cause.
Test Plugins & Themes if using a CMS like WordPress, as they may be causing issues.
Upgrade Server Resources if the error is due to high traffic.
Use Reliable Hosting with good security and maintenance support.

4. Importance of Regular Maintenance in Preventing SEO Errors

To avoid these errors, perform regular website maintenance, including:

Monitoring performance with tools like GTmetrix and PageSpeed Insights.
Checking internal & external links frequently.
Keeping the CMS and plugins updated to maintain performance.

5. Enhancing User Experience to Reduce SEO Errors

A good user experience helps minimize technical issues. You can achieve this by:

Improving Page Speed using CDNs and image compression.
Designing Easy Navigation so users quickly find content.
Providing Fast Customer Support to fix issues as they arise.

6. Role of AI in Managing Website Errors

Artificial Intelligence can improve SEO by:

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404 Error

Automatically detecting technical issues using smart algorithms.
Suggesting fixes to enhance website performance.
Analyzing user behavior to offer a personalized experience.

7. Website Security & Its Impact on SEO Errors

How Does Security Affect 404, 301, and 500 Errors?

Security is crucial for website stability. Poor security can cause various technical errors, including:

Cyberattacks & Hacks: Attacks like DDoS or malware infections can crash servers, leading to 500 errors.
Malware & Viruses: Malicious software can corrupt files, causing 404 errors or breaking redirects.
Hacked Redirects: Hackers might modify 301 redirects to send users to spam sites, harming SEO rankings.

How to Strengthen Website Security?

Use SSL Certificates (HTTPS): Secure your website to build trust with users and search engines.
Keep Software & Plugins Updated: Outdated systems can have vulnerabilities.
Enable Firewalls (WAF): Protect your website from cyber threats.
Monitor Suspicious Activity using security tools like Sucuri or Cloudflare.
Regular Backups: Ensure you can restore your site quickly after a hack.
Secure File Permissions: Restrict unauthorized access to important system files.

How Does Security Help SEO?

Reduces Downtime: A secure website is less likely to experience unexpected crashes.
Boosts User Trust: Visitors are more likely to stay on a safe website.
Prevents Search Engine Penalties: Hacked or insecure sites may get penalized or removed from search results.

404, 301, and 500 errors can significantly impact a website’s performance in search engines. To minimize their effect: