404 Error Pages
404….
Before I started to become interested in the Internet, 404 used to be just my area code. After I started using the Internet, I saw that 404 was something else. It was an ugly HTTP error message saying “Page Not Found” or something to that effect, telling me to refresh the page or try again later, and some more gibberish about my settings.
The problems with those old 404 error pages was that they were ugly, stale, had a sterile feel to them, they diverged the user from your site and they really didn’t help (at least in my opinion). After seeing those old 404 error pages most people would get frustrated real fast.
BUT NOT THESE DAYS!!
Now, you can customize an 404 error page to keep traffic on your site, add personality to your 404 page and keep your design and navigation which helps in keeping users on your site. And all you have to do is edit your .htaccess file on your server.
Here are some things to keep in mind when designing your HTTP 404 error page from The Internet Digest.net:
- Keep your site and 404 error page design consistent.
- Provide a link to your index or home page.
- Include a link to your site map.
- Include a search box so users can type in keywords and find what they are looking for a little quicker.
- And add some personality by using images, old sayings, and/or funny jokes ( but the jokes really do have to be funny…seriously).
Smashing Magazine has a couple articles on some good customized 404 error pages that could help you when designing your own.
Tags: 404, 404 error message, 404 error pages, custom 404 error, custom 404 page, custom error message, error, error message, error pages, http 404