P0Issue #9
Soft 404 Pages
❓ What does it mean?
What does it mean?
A Soft 404 occurs when a page looks like a 404 (not found) error to users or Google but still returns a 200 OK status code instead of the correct 404 or 410.
In other words:
The page says “Not Found” or shows thin/empty content
But technically, the server reports “This page is valid” (200 OK).
This confuses search engines because they can’t tell whether the page is real content or an error.
🚨 Why is it important for SEO?
Why is it important for SEO?
Index Bloat → Google may index useless pages (like empty search results, product not found pages).
Wasted Crawl Budget → Bots waste resources crawling non-valuable URLs.
Lower Rankings → Too many soft 404s reduce overall site quality signals.
User Experience → Visitors see error-like content instead of meaningful pages.
✅ How to Fix It
✅ How to Fix It
Return proper status codes:
Use 404/410 for missing pages.
Use 301 redirects if the page has a relevant alternative.
Improve thin pages: Add meaningful content instead of serving empty results.
Handle expired products: Redirect to category page or suggest alternatives.
Fix internal links: Don’t link to pages that return soft 404s.
Monitor regularly in Google Search Console → Coverage report.
❌ Bad Example
📌 Example
❌ Bad (Soft 404):
URL: https://example.com/product/12345
Status: 200 OK
Content: "Sorry, this product does not exist."
Google thinks it’s a valid page (200 OK) but it has no value → flagged as a soft 404.
✅ Good Example
✅ Good (Fixed):
Option 1 – If page is permanently gone:
Status: 404 Not Found
Content: "Sorry, this product is no longer available."
Option 2 – If an alternative exists:
https://example.com/product/12345 → 301 → https://example.com/category/shoes
⚡ Result
⚡ Result
Cleaner index (only valuable pages).
Better crawl efficiency (bots focus on useful content).
Improved SEO signals & user satisfaction.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Soft 404?
A Soft 404 is a page that appears to be a 404 error to users or search engines but returns a 200 OK status code instead of the correct 404 or 410.
How does a Soft 404 affect SEO?
It causes index bloat, wasted crawl budget, lower rankings, and poor user experience.
How can I fix Soft 404 issues?
You can fix them by returning proper status codes, improving thin pages, handling expired products, fixing internal links, and monitoring regularly in Google Search Console.
What status codes should I use for missing pages?
You should use 404 or 410 status codes for missing pages.