Auditing and fixing status code issues involves identifying HTTP response codes on your website that may hinder user experience or affect SEO performance, and then resolving them to ensure smooth website operation. To effectively address these issues, you’ll need to perform a comprehensive crawl of your site to detect problematic status codes such as 404 errors, 500 server errors, or improper redirects, and then implement the appropriate fixes like correcting links, configuring redirects properly, or troubleshooting server problems.
Status code issues can significantly impact your website’s search engine rankings and frustrate users, leading to increased bounce rates and lost conversions. By understanding how to audit and fix these issues, you can enhance your site’s accessibility, boost SEO performance, and provide a better experience for your visitors. In this article, we’ll explore what status code issues are, why they matter, and provide detailed steps and tools to help you identify and resolve them effectively.
What is Auditing and Fixing Status Code Issues?
Auditing and fixing status code issues involves systematically checking your website for HTTP response codes that indicate problems, such as broken links or server errors, and then addressing those issues to ensure optimal website performance. HTTP status codes are messages sent from the server to the client’s browser to indicate the result of a request, and improper codes can lead to errors that disrupt user experience and hinder search engine crawling.
For example, a common status code issue is the 404 Not Found error, which occurs when a user tries to access a page that doesn’t exist. This can happen due to a mistyped URL, a page that’s been moved without proper redirection, or a broken link. Another issue is the 500 Internal Server Error, indicating a problem with the server itself. These errors not only confuse and frustrate users but can also prevent search engines from properly indexing your site.
Addressing status code issues is a critical part of technical SEO and website maintenance. By ensuring that all your pages are accessible and properly configured, you help search engines crawl and index your content more efficiently, which can improve your site’s visibility in search results. Additionally, resolving these issues enhances user experience by preventing disruptions, which can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates.
Why Auditing and Fixing Status Code Issues is Important
Status code issues can severely impact your website’s SEO performance. Search engine bots rely on crawling through your site’s pages efficiently, but when they encounter numerous errors like 404 or 500 status codes, it can hinder their ability to index your content. This may result in lower rankings or certain pages not appearing in search results at all.
From a user experience perspective, encountering error pages or broken links can be frustrating and may lead visitors to abandon your site. According to studies, 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience, and even a single broken link can harm your credibility. High bounce rates can further signal to search engines that your site isn’t providing value, which can negatively affect your SEO rankings.
By proactively auditing and fixing status code issues, you not only improve the discoverability of your site in search engines but also enhance user satisfaction. This can lead to increased time on site, more page views, and ultimately higher conversion rates. In essence, maintaining a healthy site free of status code errors is essential for both attracting and retaining visitors.
Detailed Steps to Audit and Fix Status Code Issues
In our recent experience resolving status code issues for a Toronto-based company, we encountered a website plagued with numerous 404 errors and incorrect redirects that were negatively impacting their search engine rankings and user engagement. The site had over 200 dead links, causing search engine bots to struggle during crawling, and users were frequently met with error pages, leading to a significant drop in organic traffic. Through a systematic audit and targeted fixes, we were able to correct these issues, resulting in a substantial improvement in their SEO performance and user satisfaction.
1. Perform a Site Crawl to Identify Status Code Issues
Start by performing a comprehensive site crawl using a tool like Screaming Frog or SEMrush to identify all status code issues present on your website. This process scans your entire site and compiles a report of all HTTP response codes, highlighting any 4xx and 5xx errors, as well as redirect chains and loops. By conducting a thorough crawl, you can uncover hidden issues that are not easily spotted through manual checks, ensuring you don’t miss any problematic pages.
2. Analyze and Categorize the Errors
Once you have the list of status code issues, analyze and categorize them based on their type and severity. Identify which errors are due to broken internal links, missing pages, server errors, or improper redirects. For example, 404 errors might stem from deleted pages or typos in URLs, while 500 errors could indicate server configuration problems. Categorizing helps prioritize fixes, focusing on critical issues that most affect user experience and SEO.
3. Fix Broken Links and Update URLs
Address broken links by updating or correcting the URLs wherever they appear on your site. If a page has been moved or renamed, ensure that all internal links point to the correct location. Use a consistent URL structure and double-check for any typos or outdated links. This step is crucial because broken links can frustrate users and prevent search engines from effectively crawling your site.
4. Implement Proper Redirects
For pages that have been permanently moved or deleted, set up appropriate 301 redirects to guide both users and search engines to the correct content. Avoid redirect chains and loops by ensuring that each redirect points directly to the final destination. Proper redirects maintain link equity and preserve SEO value, preventing loss of page rankings and keeping user experience enjoyable.
5. Monitor and Verify Fixes
After making the necessary changes, re-crawl your site to verify that all status code issues have been resolved. Use tools like Google Search Console to check for any remaining errors and continue monitoring periodically to catch new issues early. Ongoing monitoring ensures that your site remains healthy, and any future problems are addressed promptly.
Tools for Auditing and Fixing Status Code Issues
Some of the tools we use to audit and fix status code issues are instrumental in identifying errors efficiently and implementing solutions effectively.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider
The Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a powerful desktop program that crawls websites’ links, images, CSS, script, and apps from an SEO perspective. It efficiently identifies status code issues, such as 404 errors and redirect chains, allowing you to export detailed reports for analysis. With its ability to crawl large sites quickly, it’s an essential tool for pinpointing problems that could affect your site’s performance.
Google Search Console
Google Search Console provides invaluable insights into how your site is performing in Google search results. It alerts you to crawl errors encountered by Google’s bots, including status code issues like 404 Not Found or 5xx server errors. By regularly checking the Coverage report, you can monitor and address errors, ensuring that your site remains accessible and properly indexed.
SEMrush Site Audit
The SEMrush Site Audit tool offers a comprehensive analysis of your website’s health, including detection of status code errors. It not only identifies issues but also provides recommendations for fixes. With its user-friendly interface and detailed reporting, SEMrush helps streamline the process of auditing and resolving technical SEO issues that could be impacting your site’s performance.
Common Mistakes When Auditing and Fixing Status Code Issues
Ignoring Redirect Chains and Loops
One common mistake is ignoring redirect chains and loops during the auditing process.
Redirect chains occur when a URL redirects to another URL, which then redirects to another, creating a chain of redirects. Redirect loops happen when a URL redirects back to itself or creates an endless loop between two or more URLs. These issues can slow down page load times and confuse both users and search engines.
Redirect chains and loops can negatively affect site performance by increasing latency, leading to longer page load times that frustrate users. Search engine bots may also struggle to crawl your site efficiently, potentially leading to incomplete indexing. This can harm your SEO efforts and result in lower rankings.
To avoid this mistake, regularly audit your redirects using tools like Screaming Frog or SEMrush to identify any chains or loops. Ensure that each redirected URL points directly to the final destination without intermediate steps. Whenever possible, update internal links to point directly to the final URL, reducing the need for redirects.
Not Regularly Auditing the Site
Failing to regularly audit your website for status code issues is another common oversight.
Websites are dynamic, with content updates, new pages, and removed content occurring frequently. Without regular auditing, new errors can accumulate unnoticed over time, leading to a buildup of status code issues that impact site performance.
Neglecting regular audits allows problems to persist, which can degrade user experience and SEO rankings. Broken links and errors can go unfixed for extended periods, causing higher bounce rates and decreased trust from both users and search engines.
Establish a routine schedule for auditing your site, such as monthly or quarterly, depending on the size and activity level of your website. Utilize automated tools that can alert you to new errors, and address issues promptly to maintain optimal site health.
Using 302 Redirects Instead of 301 Redirects for Permanent Changes
Using 302 temporary redirects when a 301 permanent redirect is appropriate is a frequent mistake.
A 302 status code indicates that a page has been moved temporarily, while a 301 indicates a permanent move. Some site owners mistakenly use 302 redirects for permanent changes, which can misinform search engines about the nature of the redirect.
Using the wrong redirect type can result in search engines not transferring the SEO value (link equity) to the new page. This can cause the new page to not rank as well as it should, and the old page may continue to appear in search results, leading to confusion.
Always use a 301 redirect when permanently moving or deleting a page to ensure link equity is passed on to the new URL. Double-check your server or CMS settings when setting up redirects to select the correct status code. If unsure, consult with an SEO professional to ensure proper implementation.
Conclusion
Auditing and fixing status code issues is essential for maintaining a healthy, user-friendly website that performs well in search engine rankings. By proactively identifying and resolving errors like 404s, 500s, and improper redirects, you enhance user experience, improve crawlability, and safeguard your site’s SEO value.
Key steps include performing a comprehensive site crawl, analyzing and categorizing errors, fixing broken links, implementing proper redirects, and continuous monitoring. Utilizing tools like Screaming Frog, Google Search Console, and SEMrush can streamline the process. By avoiding common mistakes such as ignoring redirect chains or misusing redirect types, you can ensure that your website remains accessible, efficient, and optimized for both users and search engines.
What We Can Offer You
At ENoptimize, we have over a decade of experience helping businesses in Toronto and across Ontario optimize their websites for peak performance. Our team of SEO experts specializes in technical audits, ensuring that your site is free from status code issues that could hinder its success.
We understand the complexities involved in identifying and resolving status code problems, and we’re equipped with the latest tools and expertise to handle them efficiently. By partnering with us, you gain access to professional insights and solutions that enhance your site’s accessibility and search engine visibility.
Whether you’re facing challenges with broken links, server errors, or improper redirects, we’re here to assist. Our comprehensive approach not only fixes existing issues but also implements strategies to prevent future ones. Let us help you improve your website’s performance and achieve your digital goals. Learn more about how our expert SEO optimization services can elevate your online presence.