Unraveling 404 Errors: Understanding Their Source

2 responses to “The Origin of the 404 Headscratcher”

1. When you’re encountering unexplained 404 errors reported in Google Search Console (GSC), it can certainly be puzzling. Here’s a detailed approach to help you diagnose and hopefully resolve the issue:

   1. Verify GSC and Crawl Settings:

   • Ensure Proper GSC Configuration: Double-check that your Google Search Console is correctly set up for the right property (i.e., URL-prefix vs. Domain).
   • Check Crawl Settings: Make sure there are no recent changes to your .htaccess file, robots.txt, or site settings that might affect URL redirects.

   2. Analyze GSC Error Details:

   • Inspect Crawled Page: In GSC, click on the error to get more information. It often provides insights such as when Googlebot attempted to crawl the URL and its referrer.
   • Check Referrer URLs: Sometimes, the URLs causing 404 errors have referrer data that might hint at where they are linked from.

   3. Server Logs Examination:

   • Review Access Logs: Access your server logs to analyze any requests to the 404 URLs. This may reveal the referrer or an application attempting to access these URLs.
   • Look for Patterns: Determine if there’s a pattern or specific range of IPs requesting these URLs indicating bot activity.

   4. Inspect Internal Links:

   • CMS or Website Builder: Ensure that your CMS (e.g., WordPress, Joomla) or site builder doesn’t have auto-generated links. Plugins or modules may sometimes create unexpected links.
   • Database Check: If using a CMS, check the database for any traces of such URLs in your content tables or metadata.

   5. Cross-Check External Links:

   • Updated Backlink Audit: Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to conduct a more thorough backlink audit. It’s possible that new backlinks have been created which weren’t there when you first checked.
   • Identify Referring Domains: See if other sites have incorrectly linked to you or if there are scraper sites causing phantom referrals.

   6. Explore Other Causes:

   • Site Scrapers: Websites can be scraped and the resultant content can cause imperfect mirror links leading to 404s.
   • Incorrect Script or Embed Links: Check for third-party scripts or embeds on your site which could

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2. It’s great that you’re delving into the perplexities of 404 errors, as they can indeed be frustrating! One potential cause of these elusive 404s could be the presence of outdated or incorrect backlinks, which might not be visible in all tools, as some only show active links. I recommend exploring a few additional strategies:

   1. **Check for Redirects:** Sometimes, URLs that once existed might have been changed or removed without a proper redirect in place. Use tools like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console’s URL Inspection tool to see if there are any redirect issues.

   2. **Review your Sitemap:** Ensure that your XML sitemap is up-to-date. If outdated URLs are still present, they could be getting indexed by search engines.

   3. **Analyze Server Logs:** Parsing your server logs can provide insight into how users (and search engine bots) are interacting with your site. Look specifically for request patterns leading to the 404s.

   4. **Audit Third-Party Plugins:** Sometimes, plugins across WordPress can inadvertently lead to 404 errors. Temporarily disable them to see if the issue persists.

   5. **Monitor Referrer Data:** Use analytics tools to check where traffic for the 404 pages is coming from. This can sometimes point you toward the source of the erroneous links.

   This holistic approach could help uncover the origin of the mysterious links leading to those 404 errors. Good luck, and I hope you find a resolution soon!

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