Morrinsville Information Newsletter The importance of a custom 404 error page May2009

The importance of a custom 404 error page ...

Let the 404 be a start, not a finish.

A 404 "page not found" error shows a problem happened when someone tried to reach a web page. This opportunity should be working for your site.

Searchers despise the 404 error page, especially when it comes from clicking what looks like a relevant link in a list of search results. Too often, these 404s come up as an ineffective default page in the browser, leaving the visitor no other real choice but to hit the Back button and try again.

One may end up skeptical of future results from that domain, and you may not realise that your are losing visitors and potential sales.

Google, the most popular search engine, doesn’t want to see this. It not only reduces the value of the destination sites that return a 404 error, but also the quality of Google’s search results. A poorly configured delivery of 404 results may keep an otherwise dead page alive in Google's index, to be found again and again.

It's basic stuff, as commenters on the first of a short series of posts at the Google Webmaster Central blog noted. We have only recently been creating custom error pages for our clients, so it’s important that you check to see if you site has one or not – if not, contact us to arrange for this to be done.
Not all 404s are created equal, as Maile Ohye said at the blog today. A 404 could be a soft error or a hard one.

The soft 404 response is the undesirable result. This happens when someone tries to visit a nonexistent URL on a site. Instead of an error page, the website returns a 200 response code and sends the request to the site's homepage.

On the user's side, the person who encountered this probably questioned the sanity of allowing this useless result to happen. It's not a good way to earn repeat visits.

Give the visitor a real 404 page not found result, Ohye said. It's a clear indication both to human and automated visitors about the status of the page.

Google made a week of the 404, and we've got a pretty good idea of where they are going judging by Ohye's comment about sending a helpful "Not found" message to the viewer. Remember that we have the ability to deliver any kind of page in response to a 404 situation, so talk to us now.

A custom 404 error page could let the visitor know that, while the page they wanted isn't there, other pages on the site may be exactly what they need. Visit this link on a site we are currently working on, which is live online, but not yet complete. This error page explains that the site isn't yet complete and encourages the visitor by supplying clear contact details.

If you have your own domain website, check your site, because if it doesn’t have a custom 404 error page, then you could be losing business.

Some extra statistical info:
Here is a comprehensive list of referring sites to assist those of you who may be paying for links from outside sites. Alot of referring from within the site, so here you can also get an idea of how many visitors go to your site if it is not featured in the "most visited" above. (The links are live so you can click on them to see where they go):


Top 250 of 261 Total Referrers

#	Hits		Referrer

1	8279	48.83%	- (Direct Request)
2	1151	6.79%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/
3	1062	6.26%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/information.htm
4	655	3.86%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/MorrinsvilleMotel/
5	552	3.26%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/cgi-sys/formmail.pl
6	534	3.15%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/accommodation.htm
7	457	2.70%	http://www.google.co.nz/search
8	382	2.25%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/EWJkitchens/
9	378	2.23%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/education/
10	326	1.92%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/CentralMotorLodge/
11	207	1.22%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/LalichBuilder/
12	201	1.19%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/DBAppleyard/
13	173	1.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/classifieds.html
14	123	0.73%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletters.html
15	116	0.68%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/activities.html
16	113	0.67%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/businesses.htm
17	111	0.65%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/market/
18	105	0.62%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/DBAppleyard/newsletter.html
19	103	0.61%	http://search.live.com/results.aspx
20	97	0.57%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/littletheatre/
21	94	0.55%	http://www.google.com/search
22	92	0.54%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/floorservices/
23	83	0.49%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/McLarensRuralServices/
24	63	0.37%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/McLarensRuralServices/special.html
25	60	0.35%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/imagineif/
26	56	0.33%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newlistings.htm
27	55	0.32%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter91.htm
28	52	0.31%	http://www.matamata-info.co.nz/classifieds.html
29	49	0.29%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/100/
30	48	0.28%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/floorman/
31	45	0.27%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/oaklane/
32	41	0.24%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter107.htm
33	39	0.23%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/enquiry.html
34	38	0.22%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/agriculture.html
35	37	0.22%	http://nz.search.yahoo.com/search
36	35	0.21%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz
37	35	0.21%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/McLarensRuralServices/newsletter.html
38	34	0.20%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/shopping.html
39	34	0.20%	http://www.thames-info.co.nz/classifieds.html
40	30	0.18%	http://morrinsville-info.co.nz/
41	28	0.17%	http://www.google.com.au/search
42	28	0.17%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/building.html
43	27	0.16%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/map.html
44	26	0.15%	http://www.tearoha-info.co.nz/classifieds.html
45	24	0.14%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter111.htm
46	19	0.11%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/SportcraftBoats/
47	17	0.10%	http://www.google.co.uk/search
48	17	0.10%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/august06.htm
49	14	0.08%	http://fiskekommunerna.org/discount/bissell-carpet-cleaning.html
50	14	0.08%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter114.htm
51	12	0.07%	http://findamarket.co.nz/regions/waikato.aspx
52	12	0.07%	http://images.google.co.nz/imgres
53	12	0.07%	http://images.google.com/imgres
54	12	0.07%	http://www.google.ca/search
55	11	0.06%	http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view
56	11	0.06%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter95.htm
57	10	0.06%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/listing/y9n9/eastern-waikato-joinery/
58	10	0.06%	http://www.nzs.com/region/waikato/morrinsville/travel/accommodation/motels-and-motor-lodges/
59	10	0.06%	http://www.tearoha-info.co.nz/shopping.html
60	10	0.06%	http://www.tourism.net.nz/listings/frame/accommodation/28514
61	9	0.05%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/McLarensRuralServices/enquiry.html
62	9	0.05%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/education
63	9	0.05%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter99.htm
64	8	0.05%	http://72.14.235.132/search
65	8	0.05%	http://morrinsville-info.co.nz/information.htm
66	8	0.05%	http://new-zealand-nz.org/directory/category/waikato/
67	8	0.05%	http://search.atomz.com/search/
68	7	0.04%	http://fiskekommunerna.org/discount/carpet-cleaning-software.html
69	7	0.04%	http://fiskekommunerna.org/discount/dirt-free-carpet-cleaning.html
70	7	0.04%	http://search.msn.com/results.aspx
71	7	0.04%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/DBAppleyard/appointment.html
72	7	0.04%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/SiteOfTheMonth.swf
73	7	0.04%	http://yellow.co.nz/companies/Builders/Kelvin-Lalich-Builders-Ltd/100111071_396.html
74	6	0.04%	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrinsville
75	6	0.04%	http://images.google.co.uk/imgres
76	6	0.04%	http://images.google.com.au/imgres
77	6	0.04%	http://search.yahoo.co.jp/search
78	6	0.04%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/r/k/3/
79	6	0.04%	http://www.findamarket.co.nz/regions/waikato.aspx
80	6	0.04%	http://www.keywordspy.com/keyword-research/morrinsville-info.co.nz
81	6	0.04%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/education.html
82	6	0.04%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/imagineif
83	6	0.04%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/littletheatre/events.html
84	6	0.04%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz:2082/tmp/morrins/webalizer//usage_200903.html
85	6	0.04%	http://www.tourism.gen.nz/listings/frame/accommodation/28514
86	5	0.03%	http://images.google.co.in/imgres
87	5	0.03%	http://www.google.de/search
88	5	0.03%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter113.htm
89	5	0.03%	http://www.totaltravel.co.nz/link.asp
90	4	0.02%	http://devaw.comconnection: close
91	4	0.02%	http://fiskekommunerna.org/discount/houndstooth-carpet-cleaning.html
92	4	0.02%	http://morrinsville-info.co.nz/classifieds.html
93	4	0.02%	http://morrinsville-info.co.nz/floorservices/
94	4	0.02%	http://search.yahoo.com/search
95	4	0.02%	http://toolbarqueries.google.com/search
96	4	0.02%	http://whois.domaintools.com/morrinsville-info.co.nz
97	4	0.02%	http://www.google.cn/search
98	4	0.02%	http://www.google.com/custom
99	4	0.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/CooperAitken/
100	4	0.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter102.htm
101	4	0.02%	http://www.newzealand.com/travel/accommodation/accommodation-options/operator-details.cfm/businessactivityid/184347/activityite
102	4	0.02%	http://www.nzmotels.co.nz/Hamilton/MorrinsvilleMotel.aspx
103	4	0.02%	http://www.nzpropertyforsale.co.nz/resources/
104	4	0.02%	http://www.whois.sc/
105	3	0.02%	http://74.125.77.132/translate_c
106	3	0.02%	http://fiskekommunerna.org/discount/commercial-carpet-cleaning-equipment.html
107	3	0.02%	http://morrinsville-info.co.nz/floorman/
108	3	0.02%	http://search.incredimail.com/
109	3	0.02%	http://weblinks.newzealand.co.nz/pages/Building/Tradespeople___Services/Floor_Polishing___Sanding/index.html
110	3	0.02%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/listing/y9ym/mclarens-rural-services-ltd/
111	3	0.02%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/r/k/
112	3	0.02%	http://www.google.co.nz/custom
113	3	0.02%	http://www.indexnz.com/Top/Reference/City-Portals
114	3	0.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/MorrinsvilleMotel
115	3	0.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/MorrinsvilleMotel/policies.html
116	3	0.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/littletheatre
117	3	0.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/news.html
118	3	0.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter109.htm
119	3	0.02%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/september06.htm
120	3	0.02%	http://www.morrinsvillegallery.org.nz/culture.php
121	3	0.02%	http://www.nzpages.co.nz/search.html
122	3	0.02%	http://www.tourism.net.nz/listings/frame/unknown/28514
123	2	0.01%	http://au.search.yahoo.com/search
124	2	0.01%	http://images.google.com/images
125	2	0.01%	http://images.yandex.ru/yandsearch
126	2	0.01%	http://lenuw.comconnection: close
127	2	0.01%	http://majestic12.co.uk/bot.php
128	2	0.01%	http://nz.mg261.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch
129	2	0.01%	http://ownerspy.com/
130	2	0.01%	http://search.live.com/spresults.aspx
131	2	0.01%	http://search.nzs.com/search
132	2	0.01%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/ac/matamata-piako/cabinetmakers/
133	2	0.01%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/c/cabinetmakers/2/
134	2	0.01%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/cr/furniture-furnishings/k/
135	2	0.01%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/r/k/2/
136	2	0.01%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/r/k/6/
137	2	0.01%	http://www.followsite.com/bot.html
138	2	0.01%	http://www.google.co.in/search
139	2	0.01%	http://www.google.co.kr/search
140	2	0.01%	http://www.google.co.nz/hws/search
141	2	0.01%	http://www.google.co.uk/imgres
142	2	0.01%	http://www.google.ie/search
143	2	0.01%	http://www.google.pl/search
144	2	0.01%	http://www.hettich.com.au/showroom/directory.php
145	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/EWJkitchens
146	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/LalichBuilder
147	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/McLarensRuralServices
148	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/floorman
149	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/littletheatre/wardrobe.html
150	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/map1.jpg
151	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/market
152	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter103.htm
153	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter106.htm
154	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter110.htm
155	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter112.htm
156	2	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/november06.htm
157	2	0.01%	http://www.newzealandsites.co.nz/home_and_garden/building/Sheds_and_Garages/
158	2	0.01%	http://www.newzealandwebsites.com/Home_and_Garden/Building/Sheds_and_Garages/
159	2	0.01%	http://www.nzs.com/business/trade/building-and-construction/supplies/carpet-and-flooring/
160	2	0.01%	http://www.nzsearch.co.nz/category.aspx
161	2	0.01%	http://www.tauhei.schoolzone.net.nz/Centenary.html
162	2	0.01%	http://yellow.co.nz/search/Waikato/Builders-3.html
163	1	0.01%	12
164	1	0.01%	29
165	1	0.01%	3
166	1	0.01%	30
167	1	0.01%	4
168	1	0.01%	5
169	1	0.01%	6
170	1	0.01%	7
171	1	0.01%	WatchStock.com
172	1	0.01%	http://209.85.129.132/translate_c
173	1	0.01%	http://222.153.173.91/imagineif/productlist.php
174	1	0.01%	http://74.125.43.132/translate_c
175	1	0.01%	http://74.125.77.132/search
176	1	0.01%	http://aim.search.aol.com/search/search
177	1	0.01%	http://astore.amazon.com/buy_oxygen_concentrator-20
178	1	0.01%	http://brainstorm.sitesell.com/cgi-bin/BrainStorm.pl
179	1	0.01%	http://cc.msnscache.com/cache.aspx
180	1	0.01%	http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morrinsville
181	1	0.01%	http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/Countries/New_Zealand/Regions/Waikato/Cities/Morrinsville/
182	1	0.01%	http://federal-gun-laws.hostaim.com/viethexi.html
183	1	0.01%	http://images.google.ca/imgres
184	1	0.01%	http://images.google.ch/imgres
185	1	0.01%	http://images.google.co.za/imgres
186	1	0.01%	http://images.google.de/imgres
187	1	0.01%	http://maps.google.co.nz/maps
188	1	0.01%	http://maps.google.com/maps
189	1	0.01%	http://morrinsville-info.co.nz/august06.htm
190	1	0.01%	http://random.yahoo.com/fast/ryl
191	1	0.01%	http://search.conduit.com/Results.aspx
192	1	0.01%	http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebsearch/AJmain.jhtml
193	1	0.01%	http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebsearch/AJweb.jhtml
194	1	0.01%	http://search.yahoo.com/search/dir
195	1	0.01%	http://toolbar.google.com/command/return
196	1	0.01%	http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search
197	1	0.01%	http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
198	1	0.01%	http://www.automilker.co.nz/contacts.htm
199	1	0.01%	http://www.destinationnz.co.nz/new-zealand-bed-breakfast
200	1	0.01%	http://www.destinationnz.co.nz/new-zealand-regions-waikato
201	1	0.01%	http://www.fatlady.co.nz/cgi-bin/nzdirectory.cgi
202	1	0.01%	http://www.fgavaluers.co.nz/links.php
203	1	0.01%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/ac/waikato/chainsaws-brush-cutters/
204	1	0.01%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/ac/waikato/machinery-farm/
205	1	0.01%	http://www.finda.co.nz/business/c/chainsaws-brush-cutters/2/
206	1	0.01%	http://www.floralpopular.com/international-flower/new-zealand.html
207	1	0.01%	http://www.google.be/search
208	1	0.01%	http://www.google.co.nz/
209	1	0.01%	http://www.google.co.nz/webhp
210	1	0.01%	http://www.google.com.ar/search
211	1	0.01%	http://www.google.com.ng/search
212	1	0.01%	http://www.google.com/cse
213	1	0.01%	http://www.google.com/ie
214	1	0.01%	http://www.google.dk/search
215	1	0.01%	http://www.google.fr/search
216	1	0.01%	http://www.google.nl/search
217	1	0.01%	http://www.google.ru/search
218	1	0.01%	http://www.greatnewzealand.co.nz/Directory/199:Waikato_Wide/showmore
219	1	0.01%	http://www.informationdelight.info/encyclopedia/entry/Morrinsville
220	1	0.01%	http://www.medicalguidesonline.com/robots.txt
221	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/100
222	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/CentralMotorLodge
223	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/CooperAitken
224	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/DBAppleyard
225	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/SportcraftBoats
226	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/WestpacTrustEventsCentre
227	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/floorservices
228	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/giftwrapped
229	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/january07.htm
230	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/july06.html
231	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/march07.htm
232	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter100.htm
233	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter101.htm
234	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter104.htm
235	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter108.htm
236	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter92.htm
237	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter96.htm
238	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/newsletter97.htm
239	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/oaklane
240	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/paperplus
241	1	0.01%	https://www.morrinsville-info.co.nz/valuer
242	1	0.01%	http://www.newzealandholidaymaker.com/links.htm
243	1	0.01%	http://www.nzpages.co.nz/regions/waikato/morrinsville/
244	1	0.01%	http://www.nzs.com/jump.php
245	1	0.01%	http://www.nzs.com/site-profile/morrinsville-info.co.nz/
246	1	0.01%	http://www.nzwebz.co.nz/site_submission.php
247	1	0.01%	http://www.picsearch.com/info.cgi
248	1	0.01%	http://www.piperpat.co.nz/NZLinks/NZBusiness/NZRealEstate/WaikatoRealEstate/tabid/3037/Default.aspx
249	1	0.01%	http://www.rd.com/18306/article18306.html
250	1	0.01%	http://www.scroogle.org/cgi-bin/nbbw.cgi