Broken links are links that do not work. Clicking on such links usually leads to a 404 error. Links may be broken because the destination page has been moved without adding a redirect, the destination website has shut down or the URL has changed.
Here’s a list of reasons why some links may be broken:
Broken links can prove to be troublesome for both users as well as website owners. In addition, broken links also come with negative consequences for the website’s SEO.
Here’s a list of reasons how broken links can be problematic:
Given the aforementioned problems associated with broken links, it is imperative that webmasters quickly find and fix broken links. Fixing these issues can ensure a smooth user experience and make the content on your website easier to reach for both users and search engines.
One such solution is to manually find broken links on your website and fix each one. Obviously, there are bound to be some pages that do not exist anymore, hence, those links would have to be deleted and removed from any anchor text.
Another method is to use SEO and link tools (available both free as well as paid) to find a complete list of broken links from any website.
Using the aforementioned menthods ensures that your link profile remains up to date and signals to search engines that your website is actively being updated.