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Broken links & why they matter

What broken links are, why they frustrate visitors and leave search engines at dead ends, and how we find and fix them.

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MaintenanceSEOTroubleshooting

A broken link is a link on your website that leads nowhere — the page it points to no longer exists or has moved. They're more common than you might think, and they cause real problems. This guide explains what they are and how we handle them.

Quick summary

Broken links frustrate visitors and leave search engines with dead ends where they expected a page. We run regular automated scans to catch broken links before they become a problem, and we fix them as part of your care plan.

When someone clicks a link on your website and gets an error message — typically something like "Page not found" or a "404 error" — that's a broken link.

The link might be broken because:

  • The page it pointed to was deleted or moved
  • You changed the URL (web address) of a page
  • An external website you linked to removed or changed their page
  • The link was typed incorrectly when it was added

You might think a few broken links are a minor nuisance. But they cause real harm:

For your visitors:

  • They hit a dead end and get frustrated
  • They lose trust in your site
  • They may leave entirely without finding what they came for

For search engines:

  • Search engines like Google crawl (visit) your site to understand its content
  • Google uses the links on your pages to find other pages and judge what they're about, so a broken link gives it nothing to follow
  • Google recommends fixing the 404 errors your own pages link to, and redirecting any page that has moved

For your business:

  • A broken link on a product page could mean a lost sale
  • A broken link in your navigation menu means visitors can't reach that section
  • Broken links in old emails or social media posts that pointed to your pages stay broken forever unless fixed

There are two main types:

Links from one page on your site to another page on your site that no longer exists.

Most common cause: You deleted or renamed a page, but the old links still point to the original URL.

Links from your site to other websites, where that external page has been removed or moved.

Most common cause: The external website changed their content or removed a page. You have no control over this, which is why regular checks are needed.

We use automated tools that crawl your website — visiting every page and checking every link — the same way a search engine does. The tool reports any link that returns an error.

These checks run on a regular schedule. After each scan, we review the results and fix any genuine broken links.

Not all errors are broken links

Some links show as errors in scanning tools but are actually fine — for example, links behind a login or certain third-party embeds. We review results carefully and only fix real problems.

Once we identify a genuine broken link, the fix depends on the type:

  • Internal broken links — we update the link to point to the correct current page, or add a redirect (an automatic forwarding rule) from the old URL to the new one
  • External broken links — we update or remove the link. If the external content was important, we find an equivalent replacement to link to instead

The main cause of internal broken links is changing or deleting pages without updating other links. A few habits that help:

  • Before deleting a page, search your site for any links pointing to it
  • When you change a page's URL, set up a redirect from the old URL to the new one
  • Let us know if you plan to make significant structural changes to your site's pages

Common questions

We run broken link checks regularly as part of your care plan — typically monthly, or more frequently if your site updates often.

I changed a page URL — how do I avoid breaking links?

The best approach is to set up a redirect: a rule that automatically forwards anyone visiting the old URL to the new one. Contact us when you need to change a URL and we'll set the redirect up for you.

Does a 404 page hurt my SEO?

Not on its own. Google says a 404 isn't necessarily a problem when a page has been removed and has no replacement. What it does recommend is fixing 404s that your own site links to, and redirecting any page that has moved to its new address. Regular checks and prompt fixes cover both.

What's a redirect?

A redirect is an automatic rule that sends visitors from an old URL to a new one. If you've ever clicked a link and ended up on a slightly different page than expected, you've experienced a redirect. They're transparent to the user and important for maintaining link integrity after page changes.

Need a hand?

If you're stuck, email support@chykalophia.com and we'll help. Include your website address and a screenshot if you can.

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On this page

What is a broken link?Why broken links matterTypes of broken linksInternal broken linksExternal broken linksHow we find broken linksHow we fix broken linksWhat you can do to prevent broken linksCommon questionsHow often do you check for broken links?I changed a page URL — how do I avoid breaking links?Does a 404 page hurt my SEO?What's a redirect?Related guides