Google Confirms: Soft 404s Are Not Free Passes for Crawl Budget
In a recent update, Google has shed light on a crucial aspect of SEO that many website owners might overlook: soft 404s are still capable of consuming your site’s crawl budget, even when they’re flagged as a 200 OK status.
What Are Soft 404s?
Soft 404s typically occur when a webpage displays a message indicating that the requested content is unavailable, but still returns a 200 OK status in the HTTP header. Essentially, this means that while the page says it’s gone, it technically tells search engines that everything is fine. It’s like telling someone you’re open for business, but when they walk in, you have nothing to sell!
Why Does This Matter?
Understanding this behavior is vital for maintaining your site’s health. Here’s why:
- Crawl Budget Utilization: Google allocates a specific amount of crawl budget to your site. If soft 404s are siphoning off this budget, you’re essentially wasting precious resources that could be used for crawling important pages on your site.
- Impairing Indexation: If Google’s bots are stuck crawling soft 404s, they may neglect more important content that you want indexed. Think of it like traffic congestion – if the cars are stuck in a traffic jam, they can’t reach their destination effectively.
What Should You Do?
Here are some best practices to handle soft 404s effectively:
- Identify Soft 404s: Use tools like Google Search Console to pinpoint any soft 404s on your site.
- Serve Correct Status Codes: Ensure that your server returns a proper 404 Not Found status for missing pages instead of a 200 OK.
- Create Custom 404 Pages: Implement a user-friendly custom 404 page that guides users back to relevant content instead of leaving them lost.
- Regular Audits: Make it a habit to regularly audit your site to identify and remedy any crawl issues, including soft 404s.
By making these adjustments, you can optimize your crawl budget and improve the overall health of your site.
Stay informed and proactive about your website’s performance – it’s a key factor in maintaining good SEO practices!
