Zoombie
Published
2 min read
A broken link sends visitors to a dead end, and it quietly wastes the value a page has built. Pages move, products retire, and outside sites change, so broken links appear on almost every site over time. The fix is a routine, not a rescue.
Find broken links regularly
Run a link check or crawl every few months, and pay attention to crawl reports. Our guide to checking website crawl errors shows how crawl data surfaces these problems early.
Fix, redirect, or remove
For each broken link, choose the honest fix: update it to the correct page, redirect the old address to a relevant replacement, or remove the link if nothing suitable exists. Avoid redirecting everything to the homepage, which confuses visitors and search engines alike.
Prevent repeats after content changes
When you merge or delete pages, plan redirects at the same time. Related housekeeping, such as fixing duplicate content issues, often surfaces the same stale links.
Conclusion
Broken links are normal, but leaving them is a choice. A regular check and a quick fix for each one keeps visitors moving and protects your site’s credibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is a broken link?
A link that points to a page that no longer exists, returning an error instead of content.
Do broken links hurt SEO?
A few will not sink a site, but many broken links waste crawl effort and signal poor maintenance.
How often should I check?
Every few months for a small site, and after any redesign, migration, or large content clean-up.
Should I redirect or delete?
Redirect when a genuinely relevant replacement exists; otherwise remove the link rather than misleading visitors.
