How to Redirect 404 Page Not Found in Blogger – BazzHood

Encountering a “404 Page Not Found” error can be frustrating for users visiting your blog. This error indicates that the requested URL does not exist, which can lead to a poor user experience and even impact your search engine rankings. In this guide, we will explore why it’s essential to manage 404 errors and provide you with a step-by-step process for redirecting these pages in Blogger.

Why Redirecting 404 Pages is Essential for SEO

Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yandex prioritize websites that provide a seamless user experience. Here are a few reasons why redirecting 404 pages is crucial:

1. Enhances User Experience: Redirecting users to a functional page ensures they do not leave your site frustrated, keeping them engaged.
2. Improves SEO Performance: Search engines prefer sites that effectively handle broken links. Proper redirects can help improve your site’s crawlability and rankings.
3. Retains Website Traffic: Instead of losing visitors, you can guide them to relevant content, increasing the chances of conversion.

Redirecting 404 pages in Blogger is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to set up your custom redirect:

Step 1: Access Your Blogger Dashboard

• Log in to Blogger: Go to your Blogger dashboard and enter your credentials.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings

• Select Settings: In the left menu, click on Settings to access your blog’s settings.

Step 3: Configure Search Preferences

• Find Search Preferences: Scroll down to the Search preferences section.
• Edit Errors and Redirections: Under the Errors and redirections section, find Custom Page Not Found? and click on it to enable it.

Step 4: Create a Custom 404 Page

1. Paste the Custom Code: In the provided box, enter the following code:

 Sorry! The page you are looking for does not exist. You will be redirected to the homepage now. Thank you.   

This code will show a message to users and automatically redirect them to the homepage after 4 seconds.

Step 5: Save Your Settings

• Save Changes: Click on the Save button to apply your new settings.
• Test the Redirect: Open a new browser tab and enter a non-existent URL from your blog. You should see your custom message followed by a redirect to the homepage.

Customizing Your 404 Redirect

Redirecting to Specific Pages

If you prefer to direct users to a specific page (e.g., “Contact Us”), you can modify the script. Replace the / in the script with the desired URL path:

 location.pathname = "https://bazzhood.blogspot.com/p/contact-us.html";  

Adjusting Redirect Timing

You can also customize how long users see the error message before being redirected. The 4000 in the script denotes a 4-second delay. To change this, simply replace 4000 with your preferred duration in milliseconds (e.g., 5000 for 5 seconds).

Example of a Customized 404 Redirect Code

Here’s an example if you want to redirect users to your “Contact Us” page after 5 seconds:

 Sorry! The page you are looking for does not exist. You will be redirected to the Contact Us page now. Thank you.   

Conclusion

Redirecting 404 pages in Blogger is a simple yet effective way to enhance your site’s usability and SEO performance. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure a smooth navigation experience for your visitors, thereby retaining traffic and improving your blog’s credibility.

If you found this article helpful or have questions about the process, feel free to leave a comment below. Your input helps us create more valuable content for our readers. Happy blogging!