When someone clicks a link on your website and lands on a 404 error page, they don’t stick around to try again. They leave and find a business whose website actually functions.
If you’re wondering how to fix broken links on your site, you’re not alone. Broken links are one of those website problems that seem small but create real frustration for visitors. And they’re more common than you’d think – especially on larger sites that have been around for a while.
Why broken links matter
Broken links are incredibly common, especially on larger sites. And they’re not just annoying – they’re actively hurting your business.
The user experience problem
When someone clicks a link on your site and lands on a 404 error page, it creates frustration. They were trying to find information, make a purchase, or contact you. Instead, they hit a wall.
Most visitors won’t try again. They’ll leave and find a competitor whose website actually works.
The SEO impact
Search engines use internal linking to understand your site structure and prioritise important content. Broken internal links mess with that understanding.
When Google’s crawlers encounter broken links, it suggests your site isn’t well-maintained. While a few broken links won’t tank your rankings, a site riddled with them sends a clear signal: this website is neglected.
The credibility hit
Beyond the immediate frustration and SEO impact, broken links damage your credibility. A website with broken links looks unprofessional and poorly maintained.
If you can’t keep your own website working properly, why would someone trust you with their business?
How broken links happen
Understanding why links break helps you prevent them in the future.
Internal links break when:
URLs get updated – You restructure your site or update page URLs for SEO purposes, but forget to update the links pointing to those pages.
Pages get deleted – You remove old content but don’t update or remove links that pointed to it.
Site restructures – You reorganise your site architecture and break existing links in the process.
External links break when:
Sites shut down or rebrand – The businesses you’re linking to close, merge, or completely rebrand with new URLs.
Content gets moved or deleted – The specific page you linked to gets reorganised, deleted, or moved without a redirect.
URLs change – The external site updates their URL structure and doesn’t set up proper redirects.
I see broken footer links to the original designer all the time – the agency retired or closed years ago, but the link’s still there, pointing nowhere.
How to find broken links
You can’t fix what you don’t know about. Here’s how to find broken links on your site.
Free tools for smaller sites
For smaller, simpler websites, use a free broken link checker like Broken Link Check.
Just enter your website URL and the tool crawls your site, identifying any broken links. It’s straightforward and gets the job done for most small business websites.
Professional tools for larger sites
If you have a larger site with hundreds of pages, or if you want more comprehensive site auditing features, consider a professional tool like Ahrefs Site Audit.
Ahrefs offers a basic free version, but it can be overkill for businesses that aren’t using the other SEO features. However, if you’re serious about technical SEO and site maintenance, it’s worth the investment.
How often should you check?
Quarterly for large sites – If you have a complex site with lots of content and regular updates, check every three months.
Every 6-12 months for smaller sites – Simple sites with fewer pages and infrequent updates can get away with less frequent checks.
Always after major updates – Any time you restructure your site, update URLs, or make significant content changes, run a broken link check immediately after.
How to fix broken links: Step-by-step guide
Finding broken links is only half the job. Here’s what to do with them.
For external links:
Track down the updated URL – If the resource moved to a new location, find the correct URL and update your link.
Remove the link completely – If the external site no longer exists or the content is gone, remove the link and update your text to reflect this.
Don’t just delete the sentence – rewrite it so it still makes sense without the link.
For internal links:
Update the link to the correct page – If you moved or renamed a page, update all links pointing to it with the correct URL.
Set up redirects as a quick fix – For larger sites with lots of broken internal links, you can set up 301 redirects from the old URL to the new one. This works as a temporary solution, but it’s better to update the actual source links.
Redirects add an extra step to the loading process and can slow your site down if you rely on them too heavily.
Delete the link if the page is gone – If you intentionally removed a page and don’t have a relevant replacement, remove the link and update the surrounding text.
Also one quick to watch out for when changing or updating URLs, ensure you don’t end up with ugly number suffixes in your links.
Preventing broken links
The best approach is preventing broken links in the first place.
Before restructuring your site:
- Document all current URLs
- Plan your new structure carefully
- Create a redirect map before making changes
- Test thoroughly after implementation
When linking externally:
- Link to authoritative, stable sources
- Avoid linking to specific blog posts or pages that might disappear
- Check external links periodically
- Consider archiving important external content locally if relevant
When removing content:
- Search for internal links pointing to the page before deleting it
- Update or remove those links first
- Set up a redirect to relevant content if appropriate
- Don’t just delete pages without considering the impact
The bottom line
Knowing how to fix broken links is essential for maintaining a professional website. Broken links make your site look neglected and cost you customers. They frustrate users, hurt your SEO, and damage your credibility.
The good news? They’re easy to find and fix.
Run a broken link check on your site today. For smaller sites, use Broken Link Check. For larger sites, consider Ahrefs.
Then make it a regular part of your website maintenance routine. Quarterly for large sites, every 6-12 months for smaller ones, and always after major updates.
Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. Make sure it works.
Need help fixing broken links or improving your website? Get in touch to discuss how we can help.
