P2Issue #24
External Client Error
❓ What does it mean?
❓ What does it mean?
An External Client Error happens when your website links to an external resource (outbound link) that returns a 4xx client-side error, such as:
404 Not Found → Page doesn’t exist
410 Gone → Resource permanently removed
403 Forbidden → Access denied
400 Bad Request → Invalid request
Since these are client errors, they indicate the problem lies in the request or the external site itself.
🚨 Why is it important for SEO?
🚨 Why is it bad for SEO?
Broken User Journey → Visitors click the link but end up on an error page.
Negative Trust Signal → Linking to broken or inaccessible resources reduces credibility.
Crawl Waste → Search engines attempt to crawl these broken links unnecessarily.
Lower Topical Authority → Outbound links to relevant, working content strengthen authority. Broken ones weaken it.
Bounce Rate Increase → Users may leave your site if they repeatedly hit dead links.
✅ How to Fix It
✅ How to Fix It
Identify External Client Errors
Use tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, or Ahrefs to scan external links.
Update or Replace the Link
Replace the broken external link with a working, relevant source.
❌ Bad Example (External Client Error – 404):
<a href="https://othersite.com/old-article">Learn More</a>
(The link leads to a 404 page.)
✅ Good Example (Fixed):
<a href="https://othersite.com/new-article">Learn More</a>
Remove Irrelevant or Dead Links
If no replacement is available, simply remove the link.
Monitor External Links Regularly
Schedule link audits every 3–6 months to prevent SEO penalties from broken outbound links.
Use Redirects (If You Control the External Resource)
If it’s your own secondary domain or partner site, set up 301 redirects for removed pages.
❌ Bad Example
📌 Example
❌ Bad (External Client Error – 404):
https://example.com/blog → links to → https://partner-site.com/guide (404 Not Found)
✅ Good Example
✅ Good (Fixed Link):
https://example.com/blog → links to → https://partner-site.com/updated-guide (200 OK)
⚡ Result
⚡ Result
Improved user trust (no dead outbound links)
Cleaner crawlability (Google doesn’t waste resources on errors)
Better topical authority (pointing to live, authoritative resources)
Higher engagement (users find useful content instead of errors)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is an external client error?
An external client error occurs when a website links to an external resource that returns a 4xx client-side error, such as 404 Not Found, 410 Gone, 403 Forbidden, or 400 Bad Request.
How does an external client error affect SEO?
It can lead to a broken user journey, negative trust signals, crawl waste, lower topical authority, and increased bounce rates.
How can I fix issues caused by external client errors?
You can fix them by identifying external client errors, updating or replacing broken links, removing irrelevant or dead links, monitoring external links regularly, and using redirects if you control the external resource.
Why is it important to maintain functional external links?
Maintaining functional external links improves user trust, enhances crawlability, strengthens topical authority, and increases user engagement.