If you’ve ever checked your Google Search Console and panicked at a list of 404 errors, here’s some good news: 404 errors are normal—and they don’t hurt your SEO.
Google has long stated that 404 error codes are just a part of the web. They are not considered a low-quality signal, and they don’t consume your crawl budget. Recently, John Mueller from Google explained exactly why 404s aren’t something to worry about.
What John Mueller Says About 404s
On Reddit, John answered the question: “Why does it not really matter for SEO?” Here’s a summary of his explanation:
- 404 Errors: The URL doesn’t get indexed because it’s invalid. This is completely normal.
- 410 Errors: Essentially the same as a 404. No SEO penalty.
- Homepage Redirects: The URL may not get indexed, and it might appear as a soft 404 temporarily. Not ideal, but not disastrous.
- Category Redirects: Similar to homepage redirects. If you use them, make sure to display a clear message to visitors explaining why they landed there. Otherwise, it may be treated as a soft 404.
- 200 Response with 404 Page Content: This is considered a soft 404 and should be corrected.
When Should You Fix 404s?
Even though 404s are generally harmless, there are situations where you should fix them—especially if the page should exist and is mistakenly returning a 404. For example, if it’s an important product page or key content that users expect to find, correcting the 404 is essential.
The Takeaway
Every website will have 404 errors, and seeing them in Search Console is perfectly normal. They don’t hurt your SEO and are actually part of how the web is supposed to work.
If you’re looking to improve your website’s performance and stay on top of SEO best practices, Earn SEO, a leading SEO firm in New York, can help. Even though 404 errors don’t directly hurt your rankings, managing them effectively ensures a smoother experience for your visitors and keeps your site optimized. Our team can audit your site, identify any soft 404s or unnecessary redirects, and implement strategies that boost SEO and user experience. Contact us today to make sure your website is fully optimized and running at its best.
Earn SEO was established in 2011 by Devendra Mishra, a highly educated professional with varied training and experience. Mr. Mishra is responsible for business development, attracting new Earn SEO partners, and interacting with clients, the media and press, and acting as Brand Ambassador.
Devendra Mishra
Founder
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