Custom error pages::: Best practices.

[kgun]

1. Introduction.

I am used to the 404.htm page that I personally have implemented like this: 404 Error page.

• Why does that page function in FF and Opera, but not in IE 6.0.2000?
• What about IE 7.0 and above? I don't have that browser installed?

2. The error page by a SEO expert.

I have noted that some webmasters put their sitemap on the 404 error page.

Studying Aaron Wall's SEOBook

I note that he has the following 404 error page

http://www.seobook.com/somethng or http://www.seobook.com/403.htm or http://www.seobook.com/401.htm

that take me to the next point:

3. Other error custom error pages.

Google 404 page the first hit is HTTP 404 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia with the following .htaccess example:

## File paths are relative to the Document Root (/)
# '404 Not Found' error
ErrorDocument 404 /404.htm
# '403 Forbidden' error
ErrorDocument 403 /my.htm
# '401 Unauthorized' error
ErrorDocument 401 /401.htm
# Or..
# ErrorDocument 401 "The webserver could not authorise you for content access.

4. Questions

1. Any best practice for making 404 error page like Aaron Wall has done or putting your site map on it?
2. What are the main difference between a 403 and 401 error page?
3. What other if any custom error pages are relevant?
4. Is this redirection code <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0;URL=http://www.multifinansit.no"> in the head of the 404.htm page http://www.multifinansit.no/404.htm regarded as spam and a bad solution?

P.S. Google chrome example:

http://www.multifinansit.no/something (redirects to the home page in FF and Opera).

Oops! This link appears broken.

HTTP 404 - File not found.

[Feydakin]

I make mine for fun..

http://www.imagesjewelers.com/ninjas.php

or

Metal Monster Marketing - Internet Marketing - Page Not Found

The one for the jewelry store has generated some fairly lengthy mailing list memberships.. Every so often it makes it's run around the jewelry forums as people find it and think it's funny..

[OpticBurst.com]

Here is my 404 error page for my SEO Marketing site.

[weegillis]

Originally Posted by Feydakin

... has generated some fairly lengthy mailing list memberships...

Because you engage them. Well done. Even if they don't convert today, you have built up good will. And wasn't that easy?

In answer to OP, I'm eager to see the responses. A simple error document that is mapped server-side to read the correct message makes as much sense to me as anything else. We should have a link to the site map, and the home page, and in some circumstances a link to the their last page (non-dom). I don't offer much else. It's an error page, so one should want to be out of there pronto. Better they dwell on the site where they'll find what they came for.

[kgun]

Originally Posted by Feydakin

I make mine for fun..

http://www.imagesjewelers.com/ninjas.php

or

Metal Monster Marketing - Internet Marketing - Page Not Found

The one for the jewelry store has generated some fairly lengthy mailing list memberships.. Every so often it makes it's run around the jewelry forums as people find it and think it's funny..

Feydakin. Humor is very important in marketing. Make your client / customer laugh is important.

<cite>
Just click on the bottle of rum and let us know which page was stolen this time.
</cite>
Excellent.

<cite>
The one for the jewelry store has generated some fairly lengthy mailing list memberships.
</cite>
I believe you.

http://www.imagesjewelers.com/something and http://metalmonstermarketi/something both function in IE 6.0. How have you done that? Mine do not function in IE.

Very good and professional examples. Thank you for sharing your creative ideas.

PS: There is a broken link on the Games part of your own site: feydakin dot com

[kgun]

Originally Posted by OpticBurst.com

Here is my 404 error page for my SEO Marketing site.

Another good example. You took my hint about improving your home page. Now I think it is better.

[kgun]

Originally Posted by weegillis

Because you engage them. Well done. Even if they don't convert today, you have built up good will. And wasn't that easy?

Yes, very creative. I am an economist. As such it is important to find the optimal combination of inputs that maximizes your profit. Now I see the opportunity for an error page. Turn an error into free advertising.

So I invite WPW members to share their experience with us like the above posters did. The site with the best error page may get a link on RedCarpetRank - Webs outstanding sites, resources and articles . Feydakin's is already on PurpleRank. Ordinarily you must rank at OrangeRank.com before you can rank on PurpleRank.com and RedCarpetRank.com with the anchor text:

Great 404 Error page: Imagination is more important than knowledge

Originally Posted by weegillis

A simple error document that is mapped server-side to read the correct message makes as much sense to me as anything else.

As far as I have understood:

• Correct implementation.
• Correct message.

are very important for the SE Bot.

Originally Posted by weegillis

We should have a link to the site map, and the home page, and in some circumstances a link to the their last page (non-dom).

I think a link to the home page and / or the site map is the most usual implementation. A link to the last page ("Return to your last visited page?"). I see the point and it is a good proposal.

Originally Posted by weegillis

It's an error page, so one should want to be out of there pronto. Better they dwell on the site where they'll find what they came for.

Yes, but your above mentioned points combined with Feydakin's creativity may be the best solution. But bear in mind. Don't confuse the surfer / client. Confused customers seldom buy.

Great post: Rep point added.

[Jean-Luc]

Originally Posted by kgun

I am used to the 404.htm page that I personally have implemented like this: 404 Error page.

Because IE disregards error pages that contain less than 512 bytes.

Jean-Luc

[kgun]

Thank you. Is it the same with Google Chrome?

Minimalism is perhaps an unknown word to Microsoft, but what about Google?

Feydakin's error pages are fine in both IE 6.0 and Chrome. Mine are neither in IE 6.0 nor Chrome, but render fine in FF and Opera.

IMO another argument for FF and Opera.

Norwegian saying: Microsoft has never worried about bytes.

One of my favourite Einstein Quotes: "Make it simple, as simple as possible, but no simpler." Minimalism in practice.

In theory, theory and practice are the same, but that is in theory.

[weegillis]

Originally Posted by kgun

1. Introduction.

• (4) Is this redirection code <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="0;URL=http://www.multifinansit.no"> in the head of the 404.htm page MultiFinansIT - 404 Error - Fil ikke funnet regarded as spam and a bad solution?

Redirection is within the guidelines provided these three things are considered:
1. The user knows first that they landed on an error page; and,
2. The user know they are being redirected and the page to which they will be introduced; and,
3. The redirection doesn't occur until after a delay of 5 to 10 seconds.

Quite possibly item 2 could have a bailout option that would permit them to override the re-direct and link to a key page in the site. With some query parsing, related pages could be offered. Given enough time to read and respond, the user could be redirected after the prescribed delay.

In your example, Kgun, there are none of these.

[kgun]

content="0; changed to ="5.

And it functions in IE 6.0 and Chrome. What has happened?

It is not the change from 0 to 5.

[wige]

Kgun, in your install of IE 6, do you have Google Toolbar installed?

Google toolbar now overrides the default error document if it is below a certain size. This is also done by Google Chrome.

The basic error message that I use is this:

http://www.ticketwarehouse.com/gibberish/basketball.php

The page takes into account the URL, looking for keywords, and attempts to guess what page the user was looking for.

One trick I have learned is that if you want to prevent people from accessing certain files, you should configure your server to serve your typical "Not Found" error page, along with the proper 404 headers, instead of serving a 403 Denied error page. The reason is that hackers may look for these files to determine what CMS and packages are installed on your server, and even if they don't have access to talk to the files directly, they may still be able to pass bad data to the files. Using a 404 more effectively hides sensitive files, and can usually be set up pretty easily.

[OpticBurst.com]

I would stay away from the meta redirects. I dont think google is liking them to much. I was always tought to use a 301. I can 301 my error pages but I know some hosts dont have this option.

[kgun]

Originally Posted by wige

Kgun, in your install of IE 6, do you have Google Toolbar installed?

No.

Originally Posted by wige

Google toolbar now overrides the default error document if it is below a certain size. This is also done by Google Chrome.

Spagetti programming and bad toolbar is my answer.

Originally Posted by wige

The basic error message that I use is this:

http://www.ticketwarehouse.com/gibberish/basketball.php

The page takes into account the URL, looking for keywords, and attempts to guess what page the user was looking for.

That page is impressing, but it is slow here. If I enter

http://www.ticketwarehouse.com/gibberish/something

it is even much more slow, and I am not redirected to the above page, but that is perhaps not the intention. Intelligent error message though.

<cite>
(http://www.ticketwarehouse.com/gibberish/something) could not be found. Please be aware that this problem has been logged and if the problem is the result of a broken link, we are now aware of the issue and will correct the problem as soon as possible.
</cite>

Originally Posted by wige

One trick I have learned is that if you want to prevent people from accessing certain files, you should configure your server to serve your typical "Not Found" error page, along with the proper 404 headers, instead of serving a 403 Denied error page. The reason is that hackers may look for these files to determine what CMS and packages are installed on your server, and even if they don't have access to talk to the files directly, they may still be able to pass bad data to the files. Using a 404 more effectively hides sensitive files, and can usually be set up pretty easily.

Great information.

[kgun]

Originally Posted by OpticBurst.com

I would stay away from the meta redirects. I dont think google is liking them to much.

Why, it is one line of markup. It is soon 2009.

Originally Posted by OpticBurst.com

I was always tought to use a 301. I can 301 my error pages but I know some hosts dont have this option.

Isn't there a standard?

[kgun]

Originally Posted by activeco

What point do you try to defend exactly? That rel="nofollow" is undocumented by W3C recommendations?
W3C does not provide standardization, but Google doesn't brake their rules either.

Internet standards are regulated by ISOC, IAG, IETF (IESG), IRTF (IRSG)... in that order.

Source: Matt Cutts Announces NoFollow Google Help Center (Wait until it redirects to post #57)

I thought of the following. Is it best to produce an 404 error document that do not redirect at all. You leave the choice to the visitor.

[weegillis]

Originally Posted by kgun

I thought of the following. Is it best to produce an 404 error document that do not redirect at all. You leave the choice to the visitor.

Precisely. However, implementing 'referrer sensitivity' and 'related pages' functionality is not that big a deal for a database driven site. In this case it is almost a no-brainer to offer a range of optional pages to browse.

If in fact size of the error document does matter, then either the templated html or the generated content will have to fill out the bulk of the bytes, since "Error 404" is not exactly 4K. Using a stock page template makes sense, for continuity and site branding. When it comes down to it, you don't even need a database, just some simple code in the template document and a small table with key data to build the optional links.

I still stick to the idea that as an error document we shouldn't be asking for too much. With a suitable range of options the user will be on their way in no time, and the redirect will not even have time to take place, making it little more than superfluous code.