+45 53 83 87 01A 410 error (also known as “Gone”) is an HTTP status code that indicates that the resource requested by the visitor is no longer available at the server and that this condition is likely to be permanent.
Impact on SEO:
From an SEO perspective, a 410 Error is a useful tool for webmasters and SEO professionals because it more clearly communicates to search engines that a page has been permanently removed and should be deindexed. This can aid in the crawl efficiency of a website, as search engines will not waste resources attempting to index a page that no longer exists. Additionally, it can help prevent the dilution of a site’s search relevance by removing outdated or irrelevant pages that no longer contribute to the site’s overall content strategy.
Unlike a 404 Not Found error where the absence of the resource may be temporary or the resource may still be available elsewhere, a 410 Error signifies a deliberate and permanent removal. This message is usually returned by the server when a web page or resource has been intentionally removed and the server has been instructed by the webmaster to let the client (browser) know of this status.
Best practices:
When removing content that will never be replaced, it is recommended to serve a 410 status code instead of a 404 status code. Here are some best practices for using a 410 status code:
- Use 410 instead of 404 to facilitate faster deindexing of URLs that have been permanently removed.
- Update internal links and sitemaps to remove references to the URLs that return a 410 status to avoid unnecessary crawl errors.
- Implement 301 redirects for URLs that have been permanently removed but have a clear, relevant alternative page on the site to maintain link equity and provide a better user experience.
- Monitor your website’s crawl errors in webmaster tools such as Google Search Console to ensure that search engines are correctly interpreting the 410 status codes.
Keep in mind that excessive 410 errors can be an indication of poor site maintenance if URLs are frequently being retired. It’s important to have a coherent content management plan to ensure that content removal is strategic and not negatively impacting the user experience.
