404 Error Pages For WordPress

When someone clicks a link to a page that does not exist any more then they are taken to a 404 error page. In WordPress too there is a 404 error page. When you click a link to a post that does not exist anymore, then you are taken to the 404 page.

The default wordpress 404 error page is a standard one and does not really help the visitor in anyway.

I have a snapshot of a default 404 error page below – Not very helpful for the visitor, is it ?

The visitor has come all the way to your website – They might be on your error page but it is still your website – So why drive them away from your website after they landed on your error page

Help them navigate further and they might spend more time on your site and might even return.

You can do this by customizing your 404 error page. Don’t let word ‘customize’ scare you – Customizing 404 error page is easier than it sounds and I am going to take you through it step by step. So let’s get started:

• Every wordpress theme comes with it’s own 404 error page. So if you change your theme then you have to change your 404 error page as well. Changing 404 error page is as simple as copying the content from your current error page to your new theme’s 404 error page.
• You will find a 404.php file inside your theme directory. Upload it to your computer.
• Open this error file using a text editor and start typing in the content you want. You can use html code for effects (like for changing font color, size etc)
• Save it and upload it back to your website’s server

That’s it – You now have a customized 404 error page. Check out my 404 error page.

On this page you can also add links to your most popular posts – The logic basically is to keep them in your shop (website) because they are already here anyway. Why miss out ?

Check out my customized 404 error page below…

Do you have a customized 404 error page ? What have you added on your 404 error page ?

Best,