This articles leads you step by step to customize your 404 error page. Replace default message with your own web page to keep traffic intact. Do you know 70% visitors never return once they hit a page which is “Not Found” in your website? Your web states may show a little percentage of such hits but you can keep them with a simple web page. Generally such errors are displayed with 404 status code.

 What is 404 Status Code?

The client (visitor’s computer) requests the server for data (web page) through http (hyper text transfer protocol). The 4xx status code shows client side errors while 5xx messages are displayed when something goes wrong with server.

In the 404 error code first 4 tells that it is a client side error, 0 stands for the syntax error and the last 4 just indicates the specific error in the group of 40x, which also includes other errors such as 400 and 401 etc.

 When 404 Error is displayed?

This error code appears when the requisite page is not displayed. The reason for the 404 error may be any of the following:

1. Visitor has misspelled the URL.

2. You have removed the page.

3. You have changed the path of the page.

4. You have changed name of the page.

5. Any other syntax error.

How the Visitors React to 404 Error Code?

Every visitor has different temperament. However, the surveys show that about 70% of them click back button of the browser and forget you forever. Others go for any of the following choice:

1. They correct the URL and retry.

2. They go to your home page to look for the information they need.

3. They send you an email to tell about the error.

How to Customize 404 error?

If you have access to your control panel, it is matter of just three easy steps to customize the 404 error code.

Step 1: Create a Web Page

Whenever a visitor attempts for a page which does not exist, the server looks at the .htaccess file (with preceding period) for instructions. Generally it directs the server to display the default error message. However, you have to instruct the .htaccess file to lead visitor to your customized web page for such errors. For that matter you should create a web page by observing the following recommendations as much as possible.

1. Use the same template as you have used for your website. It shall tell the visitor that he has reached to your website but he is unable to find the requisite web page.

2. Make it clear in the very beginning that 404 error has occurred. Don’t try to befool him any way.

3. Place text navigation to your important pages.

4. Provide a link to your home page.

5. Open your log files. If you find some particular web page displaying the 404 error frequently, provide its links at the customized page.

6. Place a search box to allow the visitor to search any term/word in your website.

7. Provide a link to your site map.

8. Include a form or an email address so that the visitor may tell you about the error.

9. Keep your text size larger than 512 bytes. Any customized page with less text shall not be displayed by Internet Explorer.

10. Save it as notfound.html and upload in the root directory.

Step 2: Issue direction to the server:

Now you have to instruct the .htaccess file to open “notfound.html” whenever he gets 404 error.

1. Open .htaccess file in control panel.

2. Click edit.

3. Delete the previous written code and replace with: ErrorDocument 404 /notfound.html

4. Save and exit.

Note: If you don’t find .htaccess file in the control panel, you need to create one in your text editor with the above given code.

Step 3: Check Your Customized Page

Check your customized 404 by attempting to open a page which does not exist. If you see notfound.html page displayed, it is done.

Note 1: You can see the customized 404 error by clicking http://www.1stonlinebusiness.com/s.html. As there is no s.html page in the website www.1stonlinebusiness.com, you shall see the customized 404 error displayed.

Note 2: These steps shall work for the Apache Web servers. Though other servers have the same kind of error handlers but you need to read help document before customizing 404 error in any other web server.

About the Author

Saqib Ali, Editor "The Homebizine" has just launched ClickNCa$h. You can make $680.33 Today and $1000.00 to $5000.00 every month just by reading emails. Visit http://www.1stonlinebusiness.com to start magic.

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