Have you ever clicked on a link and ended up on a page that says “404 Not Found” or something similar? That’s called a broken link, and it can be frustrating. If your website has broken links, it could be hurting your visitors’ experience — and even your Google ranking.
In this article, we’ll explain in simple words what broken links are, why they matter for your website’s success, and what you can do to fix them.
🔍 What is a Broken Link?
A broken link is a link on your website that no longer works. When someone clicks it, they are taken to an error page instead of the page they expected.
This usually happens when:
- A page was deleted or moved.
- A website you linked to no longer exists.
- There’s a mistake in the web address.
📉 How Broken Links Hurt Your Website
1. They Make Visitors Unhappy
Imagine visiting a website and trying to read something helpful, but you click a link and it doesn’t work. You’d feel annoyed, right? Your visitors feel the same way.
Broken links:
- Waste people’s time
- Make your website look old or poorly managed
- Cause visitors to leave quickly
2. Google Doesn’t Like Them
Google wants to show the best websites in search results. If your site has lots of broken links, it sends a message that your site isn’t well taken care of.
This can lead to:
- Lower rankings in search results
- Less traffic to your site
3. They Waste Space and Value
Every link on your website helps people move around or find useful information. If a link is broken, it’s like a dead-end street. It doesn’t help your site at all.
🛠️ How to Find and Fix Broken Links (Easily)
You don’t need to be a tech expert to fix broken links. Here are some simple ways to do it:
✅ Use a Free Tool
There are free tools that check your site and tell you which links are broken. Some popular ones:
- Broken Link Checker (for WordPress)
- Google Search Console
✅ Fix or Remove the Link
Once you know which link is broken:
- If the page has moved, update the link.
- If it’s no longer useful, remove the link.
- If it’s your own page, consider creating or restoring it.
✅ Add a Friendly 404 Page
If someone still ends up on a missing page, show them a helpful message — like links to your homepage or contact page — instead of a plain error.
🧹 Make Broken Link Checks a Habit
Fixing broken links once is good, but doing it regularly is even better. Try checking your website every few months, especially if:
- You add new blog posts
- You change website pages
- You link to other websites