Best way to handle 404s

Whats the best way to handle 404 errors?

Should i redirect to my home page? Create the custom 404 error page or send 404 error code?

Is there a benefit of doing one over the other SEO wise?

I decided a while back that the usual reason for getting a 404 was because they were looking for something specific and came up empty handed. If I just send them back to the home page, they're likely to be just as frustrated as before. Now, I don't know if my solution is all that great for SEO, but I suspect it helps the visitor - and it might even be a benefit to me financially. Here's my 404 page: www.thefloorpro.com/404.html - and it's valid XHTML Transitional too.

Jim

Originally Posted by eJM

I decided a while back that the usual reason for getting a 404 was because they were looking for something specific and came up empty handed. If I just send them back to the home page, they're likely to be just as frustrated as before. Now, I don't know if my solution is all that great for SEO, but I suspect it helps the visitor - and it might even be a benefit to me financially. Here's my 404 page: Uh oh, 404 ERROR Page at The Floor Pro Community - and it's valid XHTML Transitional too.

Jim

You should rename that file "404.php" and add this to the top:

PHP Code:

<?php header( 'HTTP/1.0 404 Not Found' ); ?>

That will tell Google and the likes that the file couldn't be found so it won't index it.

Oh, thanks for that bit of information there, Viper. I appreciate that. Can I do a similar thing with my 403 page? 403 ERROR: Forbidden! at TheFloorPro.com

Thanks again,

Jim

Originally Posted by eJM

Oh, thanks for that bit of information there, Viper. I appreciate that. Can I do a similar thing with my 403 page? 403 ERROR: Forbidden! at TheFloorPro.com

Thanks again,

Jim

This'll do it I think:

PHP Code:

<?php header( 'HTTP/1.0 403 Forbidden' ); ?>

For more info: PHP: header - Manual

Thank you very much. You'd think I'd know this stuff.

Jim

yup, Also guys check the members articles forum. there's a sticky in there on how to make a custom 404 page and use vbseo to direct it there.

you can pretty much paste in your 404.html into the 'guts' of the document.

Create a Custom vBulletin "404 Page Not Found" Page, and direct vBSEO to use it.