Happy Friday! Ready to wrap up the week with a website fix that’ll make a big difference? Broken links can hurt your SEO and frustrate visitors, but the good news is they’re easy to fix! In today’s post, we’ll walk you through how to fix broken links on your WordPress to keep your SEO in top shape. Let’s dive in!
Why Fixing Broken Links is Important for SEO
Before we jump into how to fix broken links on WordPress, let’s talk about why fixing broken links is essential. When search engines like Google find broken links on your site, it can negatively affect your rankings. A website with a lot of broken links looks neglected and untrustworthy, which leads to a poor user experience. By regularly fixing broken links, you not only improve your SEO but also enhance the overall user experience on your site.
Step 1: Check for Broken Links Using a Plugin
The easiest way to identify broken links on WordPress is by using a plugin. Here’s how you can do it:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for a plugin like “Broken Link Checker.”
- Install and activate the plugin.
Once activated, the plugin will automatically scan your site for broken links and display them in the plugin’s settings.
Step 2: Review and Fix the Broken Links
After scanning your site, you’ll see a list of broken links. Here’s how to handle them:
- Update the Link: If the broken link points to a page that has been moved or renamed, you can update it with the correct URL.
- Redirect the Link: If the page no longer exists but you want to keep users from landing on a 404 page, use a plugin like “Redirection” to set up a 301 redirect.
- Remove the Link: If the page or resource is permanently gone, it’s best to simply remove the broken link altogether.
Step 3: Manually Check for Broken Links (Optional)
Sometimes, plugins don’t catch every broken link. For more control, you can manually check your most important pages (like your homepage, about page, and product pages) for broken links. Right-click on your page, select “Inspect,” and check the “Console” tab for 404 errors. If you see any, follow the steps above to fix them.
Step 4: Keep Your Site Fresh with Regular Link Checks
Once you’ve fixed all the broken links, don’t forget to make it a habit to check for new broken links regularly. You can schedule regular scans with your plugin or set a reminder to manually check your site every few months.
Fixing broken links is a small task that can have a big impact on your site’s SEO and user experience. By keeping your WordPress site free of broken links, you ensure that your visitors always have a smooth experience, and your SEO stays strong. That’s it for this week’s posts—thanks for reading, and have a great weekend! Don’t forget to check out our next post for more WordPress tips!