Broken Link

What is a Broken Link?

A broken link is a hyperlink that points to a non-existent page or resource. This typically occurs when a page is deleted or moved without proper redirection, resulting in a 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone) status code.

Types of Broken Links:

1. Broken Outgoing Links: Links from your site leading to non-existent pages on other websites.
2. Broken Backlinks: Links from other websites pointing to missing pages on your site.

Impact on SEO:

Broken links can hurt user experience and waste crawl budget. Broken backlinks are missed opportunities for link equity.

Fixing Broken Links:

1. Replace with Relevant Links
2. Remove the Broken Link
3. Redirect to a Relevant Page

Fixing Broken Backlinks:

1. Request a Fix from the Linking Site
2. Recreate the Missing Page
3. Redirect to a Relevant URL
4. Leave as 404 if Not Valuable

Tools for Identifying Broken Links:

• Ahrefs Site Explorer: To find broken links on any site.
• Ahrefs Webmaster Tools: For comprehensive site audits.

By addressing broken links, you can improve user experience, maintain effective crawl budgets, and capitalize on link equity opportunities.