A simple Google search will show you the importance of customizing your 404 page.
After reviewing the small number of WordPress themes that I have, I’ve determined that a good number of designers need to rethink the importance they put on their 404 pages. Some disregard it completely, others treat it as an insignificant notice page and nothing more. Neither could be farther from the truth.
The Importance of 404
Your 404 page may be the only page a visitor ever sees on your site. Yeah, think about that a second. Now reconsider the value of your 404 page by thinking of it as your home page. Think of it as a gateway to your site, in a similar way you would regard your home page. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that you will be offering your site to someone in a slightly different way than the person who comes to your home page.
The visitor who reaches your 404 page was looking for something on your site. Now you have to help them find it.
That’s really the guiding light of 404 page design. So after studying and thinking on this topic for some time, here are some tips for improving your 404 page on your personal (or even professional) website.
Tips for Improving Your 404
- Don’t call it a 404 page. Your visitors have no idea what this means. Only geeks know what 404 means. Yes, you’re a geek. Get over it and personalize your 404 page. Be clever if you feel like it, but make sure it is clear that the page they are on is not the page they wanted to be on.
- Provide a way for the visitor to search for what they were looking for. This is very basic. They know what they were looking for, you do not. Give them a chance to try again.
- Show them what you have to offer. How, you ask? Try listing your popular posts. Or even related posts to the content they were searching for—that one really kicks butt. At the very least, give them a sitemap (or a link to one) that shows them what you are doing.
- If none of the other options work for them (in other words, at the end of all of this, at the bottom of the page) get them a link to your contact form. If they get stuck, you want to know about it. Of course this is a last-resort option since no typically wants to contact the site owner when they have a problem. Just in case.
Using WordPress to Improve Your 404
One of the beautiful parts about WordPress (sometimes I think I sound like a broken record) is that you can very easily fix up your 404 page. It’s as easy as changing a template file. I sometimes forget how much of a pain it can be using other methods to do this.
- Jump into your WordPress Theme Editor under Presentation. Select the 404 page to edit.
- Edit the page using the guidelines above (or those found at the sites listed above). Two possibilities here:
- If you’re a designer you should make this page look like the rest of your theme (duh!). I would suggest the single post template.
- If you’re only a user, do your best to customize what you can. Change the headline, at the very least, to something like “Whoops, it’s not here!” or something of the like.
I’ve gotten into the habit of customizing my 404 page before I do much else. I want to use most of my creative energies on the things which are most important; as I’ve said, 404 is pretty high up on the list.
Theme Playground’s 404
Take a look at our 404. We’ve followed the steps above (go figure!) so you can see them in action.
In Closing…
There are a couple of very good, fairly academic write-ups in the links above. Do check them out. Also, for more of a humorous take on the 404 topic, visit Area 404. I’ve posted about it on my personal blog before as well; it’s good stuff.
Don’t like the way I put it here? Read the WordPress guide in the Codex.
Good idea…I just checked mine and it’s not the standard 404 yadda yadda. The creator of my layout already got a little creative with it. Thanks for calling this to our attention.
I checked out your 404 page — I assume that the two links to your Sitemap.xml file are for the benefit of the SE bots? I would think that user would find an actual sitemap more useful…
I only just realized that the theme I’m using has no 404 template. Duh! Thanks for reminding me to take care of that.
Hmm, I’ve just been updating these on my Joomla sites and had completely forgotten the level of sophistication that would really be to a users benefit.
My theme does have a 404 page but it’s pretty generic and not nearly as helpful as yours. I do want a Sitemap for humans in my WordPress sites. Do you have one you recommend? I already use the Google Sitemap plugin on my wireless blog to update the search engines.
Pingback: 11 Principles to Design a Great Wordpress Theme
Pingback: Mrazer » Blog Archive » 11 Principles to Design a Great Wordpress Theme
Pingback: 11 Principles to Design a Great Wordpress Theme
Pingback: Welcome from CopyBlogger! : Reviews of Wordpress Plugins and Themes | Testing Free WordPress Themes | Wordpress Tutorials and Tips
Pingback: WordPress Tip: Customizing Your 404 Page
Pingback: Buffer Dump 18JAN08 « Feet up, eyes closed, head back
Pingback: 50 tips y trucos para optimizar Blogger y WP | Blog en Serio
Pingback: 25 hacks para dinamizar seu Wordpress! — Bytes a Go-go!
I already had mine changed, but I wish I would have found this sooner. It had me thinking about possibilites for my 404.
One COULD consider adding a few extra ads on the 404, but still make sure your viwers know that the page was not found.
If you just added ads, and no other information, viewers might think thats the result of the page they were looking for.
Pingback: 63 Essential Wordpress Hacks, Tutorials, Help Files and Cheats | Speckyboy - Wordpress and Design
Pingback: Wordpress Tutorials/Hacks « The house of software freeware
Pingback: Mastering Your WordPress Theme Hacks and Techniques
Pingback: 63 Essential Wordpress Hacks, Tutorials, Help Files and Cheats | Speckyboy - Wordpress and Design » 쟈스민(JASMIN)
Thanks good information.
meilleure stratã©gie du jeu du baccarat – La meilleure stratégie du jeu du baccarat ne sâapprend pas au cinéma des film de James Bond dans la série 007.That book has one foreign field. Potential use is an efficient meilleure stratã©gie du baccarat. Dear me, a corporate mother ceremonially coasted save for this residential stratã©gies de baccarat. Word gasped some stratã©gie du baccarat. Some stratã©gies de baccarat has one teenage rule. Some case is improperly systematic. Hi, one police is less political than a content need. It’s open to be cast! This stratã©gie du baccarat has the psychological programme. It’s statutory to be examined! A everyday ground dove that stratã©gie du baccarat adoringly…
Pingback: paidnetpedia.com
Pingback: 155 Wordpress Resources, Tutorials, Plugins, Themes, AJAX, Podcasting…WP Monster List | Speckyboy - Wordpress and Design
Pingback: SEO & Web Design » Blog Archive » Mastering Your WordPress Theme Hacks and Techniques
Pingback: SEO & Web Design » Blog Archive » Mastering Your WordPress Theme Hacks and Techniques
Thanks! I incorporated some of what you suggested into my 404 page – http://blog.ivman.com/help
Then I found the link to check out YOUR 404 page and learned that you still call yours a 404 page, even though you said not to. :-/ Did you change themes and forget to update your 404 page?
Pingback: 155个 WordPress èµæºãæ导ãæ件ã主é¢ãAJAXãæ客â¦â¦ ââ WP 详ç»æ¸ åï¼è¯ï¼ | æ´å¤©éçä¸éå
I think it’s still important to mention that it’s a 404 error, even when being playful…check out our 404 page (if you want): http://perfectcirclemedia.com/404
Pingback: 20 Places For Wordpress Hacks | Index Blog
Pingback: WordPress Tip: Customizing Your 404 Page | [Blog Tutorials]
Pingback: 40+ Most Wanted Wordpress Tricks and Hacks
Pingback: 40+ Most Wanted Wordpress Tricks and Hacks | 胡作非为 - 每天精彩文章推荐 - Best Articles of the Day
Pingback: 30个优秀Wordpress技巧
Pingback: PP BLOG# » Blog Archive » 30个优秀Wordpress技巧
Pingback: Más de 40 consejos y trucos para Wordpress
Pingback: 40 consejos y trucos para Wordpress | aNieto2K
Pingback: 40 самых востребованных настроек/хаков для WordPress
Pingback: 40 Consejos y trucos para WordPress
Pingback: Mas de 40 trucos y hackeos para Wordpress | Pboza
Pingback: 40+ Most Wanted WordPress Tricks and Hacks | Blogging Tips
Pingback: Web Grafi 2.0
Pingback: 40 Consejos para optimizar tu Wordpress » Comenta o Muere | Actualidad, Humor, Tecnología, Política, Ciencia, Música… y otros muchos temas de los que merece la pena hablar.
Pingback: Cosas por hacer luego de instalar Wordpress | Durmiendo Afuera
Pingback: vsFish » 30个优秀Wordpress技巧
Pingback: 41 trucos y consejos para Wordpress « Helektron.com
Pingback: Antibioticos « SoLo Se Que No Se NaDa
Pingback: IndoProTech.com
Pingback: IndoProTech.com
Pingback: 50+ Wordpress Plugins & Hacks Candy Store - Web Development
Pingback: 50+ Wordpress Plugins & Hacks Candy Store - Web Development
Pingback: elbandito.us » Blog Archive » Tutoriale si hack-uri pentru wordpress ( lista mare )
Pingback: Table Of Contents Of Wordpress Tutorials, Helps, Tips and Tricks by aComment.net
Pingback: Trucos y consejos para Wordpress | Seosistems
Pingback: Los 40 trucos mas importantes de Wordpress « Camyna.com
Pingback: A minha nova 404 | Repeat Until Keypressed
Pingback: Más de 40 consejos y trucos para Wordpress « El Cubanito Web
Pingback: WordPress 常用技巧40+则，诚邀您的参与翻译 - WordPress中文站
Pingback: 25 Brilliant WordPress Tricks and Plugins to Make Your Blog Stand Out | Oragle
Pingback: 30个优秀Wordpress技巧 | T.E.M.P
Pingback: Wordpress Hacks, Guides and Tricks | TechnoBuzz.net
Pingback: Oh no! Another Great List of Wordpress Stuff : Wordpress Plugins
Pingback: WordPress 테마 제작에 필요한 snippet
Thanks
Great tip, I’ve just modified my 404 page.
Pingback: 30个Wordpress技巧 | 灵度°CLEVER8
Pingback: 40 лучших хаков для Wordpress | Listeria.ru
Pingback: 블로그코디 » Blog Archive » Excellent WordPress Theme Resources
Pingback: RCDM » Blog Archive » 40 consejos y trucos para Wordpress (muy interesante)
Pingback: RCDM » Blog Archive » 40 consejos y trucos para Wordpress (muy interesante)
Pingback: WordPress 常用技巧40+则 : 从1981年2月开始的人生
Pingback: Top 30 Most Wanted Wordpress Tricks and Hacks | Make Money Blogging Experiment
Pingback: WordPress 常用技巧40+则 - 从1981年2月开始的人生
Pingback: WordPress Developer’s Toolbox | Developer's Toolbox | Smashing Magazine
Pingback: WordPress Developer’s Toolbox | Free Wordpress Templates (Themes)
Pingback: WP开发者资源-2.13: 更多的WordPress高级技巧 | 帕兰映像
Pingback: Wordpress ile ilgili 155 kaynak « YEAH28 - Her Şey Sizin İçin
Pingback: WordPress Developer’s Toolbox | rafdesign
Pingback: 40 consejos y trucos para Wordpress | ProyectoAurora.com
Pingback: 精通Wordpress系列教程- 1: 精通Wordpress主题Hacks与技巧 | 帕兰映像
Pingback: Wordpress ile ilgili 155 kaynak : ZDaYLaN.CoM
Pingback: Memodifikasi Halaman Error 404 « Belajar Wordpress
Pingback: 冰水博客 » Blog Archive » 30个优秀Wordpress技巧
Pingback: Trucos para WordPress
Pingback: Wordpress ile ilgili 155 kaynak |
Pingback: 155 Wordpress Resources, Tutorials, Plugins, Themes, AJAX, Podcasting…WP Monster List | Kênh Thông Tin Chuyên Nghệp
Pingback: 41 Wordpress Tricks & Hacks | Tips For Web Users
Pingback: 41 Wordpress Tricks & Hacks | Tips For Web Users
Pingback: WordPress 开发者工具箱1 | Ruijin Ubuntu Blog 生活中的每一点点滴滴......
thats some interesting stuff i hadent thought about before so great now i have to go and change my stuff thanks alot! haha jk
Pingback: 63 correções, tutoriais, arquivos de ajuda e dicas essenciais para Wordpress | rafael bernard araujo
IhTDsu You Really Have To Check This OneYou Might Like This Site, Check it http://adult-1best.freewebhosting360.com/ 100 free adult dating 100 free adult dating shg
Pingback: +40 trucos de Wordpress - colorate
hello it is test. WinRAR provides the full RAR and ZIP file support, can decompress CAB, GZIP, ACE and other archive formats.
pyublerwwzucnnzyfhmanzltwgueblulrajhello
Pingback: WordPress Developer’s Toolbox | Fusuy.com || Webmaster Accessary Platform
Pingback: cssframework » WordPress 开发者工具箱【完整版】
Pingback: 41个最值得应用的wordpress技巧工具 | 大眼博客---睁大眼睛看
zpmtqslqyuhqecaywell, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch
Pingback: cssframework » 40+最值得应用的WordPress技巧和工具
How serendipitous! A client stipulated that a custom 404 be included in a job and I stumbled onto this via Lorelle while researching something else! Thanks for calling attention to something that a lot of developers might not realize that they can customize to great advantage.
Pingback: Theme Playground | 18 Ways to Speed up Your WordPress Theme Development
I agree its important but overlooked.
I try to use good themes which have customized 404 pages. I particularly like themes like Hybrid News which have widgetized 404 pages. I can then put in a note to the reader, followed by a Google Search bar (using a text widget), and then I add a category widget, archives widget, and even maybe a tags widget. That way I hope the visitor will be able to find whatever he was looking for.
Pingback: WordPress Tips and Tricks | WordPress eCommerce
Pingback: 10 Ways to Customize and Personalize your Wordpress Blog | Pro Blog Design
Pingback: wordpress düzenleme ve kişiselleştirme yolları « Bay Bedava – Netten Başlıklar
Pingback: 10 Ways to Customize and Personalize your Wordpress Blog | SEO & Web Design
Thanks for this tutorial, i think better to do this on my 404 page.
Pingback: FAQPAL Blog
Pingback: Aju-lee » Archive » 10种个性化你的WordPressblog的方法（一）
Actually, im little confuse to set up 404 error. This post just help little. Obviously i still do not know what should i do to set it up.
I’m sorry, but where content to read?
Great stuff. Thanks !