ComboStrap URL - Missing Page (404)

About

A page may become unavailable if it has been:

• moved
• deleted
• or renamed

In this case, the webserver should return a 404 web page along with a hard HTTP 404 response (meaning that the Page Was Not Found)

It hurts:

• user experience
• page views
• ads revenue
• and domain authority

Missing pages effect

User experience

Showing a 404 page, next to the fact that this is not really friendly, generally means that your users end their navigation with the following consequences:

• the bounce rate increases
• the number of page views decreases.
• and if you are showing ads, your revenue will decrease because you can't show ads on a 404 page as it's a violation of ad policies. (Example with Google Ads)

Domain Authority

domain authority is a SEO metrics based on external backlinks. (A external backlink is a hyperlink from a website to your website).

When your page does not exist and returns a 404 response, this backlinks are not validated and your are losing authority.

Solution

To avoid missing pages, ComboStrap:

• can create permanent url
• creates automatically redirect alias when pages are moved.
• allows you to create:
  • alias
  • and/or redirection rules
• implements automatic redirection.