Create WordPress Custom 404 Page
How to Create a WordPress Custom 404 Page
A 404 page is a page that displays if a visitor types in a non-existent page or broken link on your website. Generally if that happens, your visitor will leave your site, which increases your bounce rate. And as you know, that’s not good for search engine optimization (SEO).
If you haven’t set up a custom 404 page on your WordPress site, the default 404 page will display to your visitors.
If you are using the Astra WordPress theme, you can set up a 404 page for Astra using a custom layout. This eliminates using an additional plugin.
If you are using another theme, the instructions below will show you how to create a WordPress custom 404 page.
Google is very clear about creating useful 404 pages. That’s because Google wants to give your visitors the best possible user experience when they are searching the web. So your site should contain a helpful 404 page that suggests what your visitor should do next if their search query lands them there.
And while you can have a simple 404 page, why not create a 404 page that brings a smile to their face, too?
There are several ways to create your 404 page. If you want more technical information on how to do this, you can read this excellent article where you will learn how to create a proper custom 404 page on different servers.
Now that you have a better understanding of a 404 page, I’ll show you the easiest way to make your 404 page. And that’s through the use of a simple yet powerful WordPress plugin, 404page – your smart custom 404 error page.
This lightweight plugin will help you create a WordPress custom 404 page to replace the generic 404 page that you may have on your website.
But if you’re using the Astra WordPress theme, you can add a 404 page using a custom layout instead.
And that’s a better choice for you since you don’t need the overhead of an additional plugin.
But if you’re not using Astra, read on.
How to Create a WordPress Custom 404 Page
First you need to install the plugin. If you’ve never installed a WordPress plugin, now would be a great time to learn how. Once the plugin is installed, activate it.
Then follow two simple steps below and you are done!
- Create your custom 404 page just like you would create any other page
- Next, from your WordPress dashboard go to: Appearance>404 Error Page and select the page you just created as your custom 404 error page.
That’s all there is to it!
Using 301 Redirects to Fix 404 Errors
Even better than returning a 404 code is to use a 301 redirect, which will route your visitor to another valid and relevant page. This makes for a better user experience and will keep visitors on your site longer. You can add a 301 redirection through your .htaccess file, but it’s simpler and safer to use a plugin such as Redirection. For more information on 404s and 301 redirections using the Redirection plugin, refer to this post.
In Summary
We discussed why a custom 404 page is important and how to create a WordPress custom 404 page. And we looked at why using 301 redirects may be the best route for handling deleted or renamed pages.
Do you use a WordPress custom 404 page on your website? When you land on a custom 404 page, do you explore the website more readily than if you land on a generic 404 page?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below!
