Open Formula

You’ve been told there’s a new shop that sells your favourite brand… but when you follow the directions, you can’t find it!
Frustrating, right?

That’s what a 404 error feels like online. It happens when someone clicks a link to a page that doesn’t exist – maybe it’s been deleted, renamed, or linked wrong.

Why it matters:

Visitors get frustrated and may leave.

Google sees it as a bad experience, which can affect your rankings.

Three quick fixes:

Check for 404s – In WordPress, you might see them in your admin area if you’ve got an SEO plugin. Wix or Squarespace users can check their dashboard/analytics for “broken links” or “page not found” reports.

Fix or redirect – Update the link or point it to a relevant page.

Add a friendly custom 404 page – Guide people back to useful content instead of leaving them stuck.

Spending just a few minutes on this can mean better Google rankings, happier visitors, and fewer lost opportunities.

Philip Levy – Open Formula – Boosting local business with websites that work!