+45 53 83 87 01A broken link, often referred to as a dead link, is a hyperlink on a website that is no longer functional. This can occur for a variety of reasons, such as when the linked webpage is moved without a redirect being in place, the webpage is deleted, the domain name expires or is sold, the website is experiencing downtime, or there is a typo in the URL.
Impact on SEO:
Broken links can negatively impact a websites SEO performance. Search engines, like Google, prioritize user experience. Non-functional links lead to poor user experience, as they prevent users from accessing desired resources. When search engine crawlers encounter broken links, they cannot index the intended pages, leading to lost opportunities in ranking. Furthermore, an excess of broken links on a site may give the impression of neglect, reducing the site’s authority and trustworthiness in the eyes of both users and search engines.
Detection and Management:
Broken links can be identified using various methods, including manual checks, website audits, or utilizing dedicated SEO tools and services that crawl a website to detect broken links. Regularly checking for and fixing broken links is a critical maintenance task for any website owner or SEO professional.
Fixing Broken Links:
Upon identifying broken links, they can be corrected by updating the hyperlink to point to the intended, existing page, setting up a 301 redirect to a new relevant URL if the original content has been moved or changed, or by removing the link entirely if it no longer serves a purpose or the destination page does not exist. Consistent monitoring and repairing broken links help maintain a healthy website and optimize its SEO ranking potential.
