Simple Fixes for Broken Website Links

Broken links are like potholes on a busy highway. They slow things down, frustrate travelers, and make the journey less enjoyable. On a website, these broken links can turn visitors away, damage your reputation, and even hurt your search rankings. The good news? Most broken links can be fixed quickly with the right approach.

Why Broken Links Matter

When someone clicks a link that leads to an error page, it creates a dead end. These dead ends don’t just annoy visitors; they also send signals to search engines that a site isn’t well-maintained. Google prioritizes sites that offer a smooth, reliable user experience. Too many broken links can drag your site down in the search results.

Besides that, broken links can damage trust. Imagine walking into a store and seeing “Out of Order” signs everywhere. Most would turn around and leave. The same thing happens online.

The Most Common Causes of Broken Links

Before you fix the problem, it helps to know where it starts. Here are the top reasons links break:

• Page removed or deleted: The linked page no longer exists.
• Changed URLs: The address was updated, but the link stayed the same.
• Typos: A simple spelling mistake in the link’s URL.
• External websites moved or closed: Trusted resources outside your control disappear or change.
• Site structure updates: Major website redesigns sometimes miss old links.

A detailed guide on common broken link causes from Semrush explains these and more.

How to Find Broken Links on Your Website

You can’t fix what you can’t find. That’s why regular link checking should be a habit. Thankfully, you don’t need to click every link by hand. Here’s how to spot trouble fast:

Photo by Tranmautritam

Automated Link Checkers

Online tools can crawl your website and generate instant reports. Three popular options include:

• Dead Link Checker: Fast, simple, and free for basic scans.
• Dr. Link Check: Detailed reports with extra features like SSL checks.
• Ahrefs Broken Link Checker: Top choice for deeper SEO insights.

Automated checkers save time, especially for websites with hundreds of pages.

Manual Spot Checks

For smaller websites, or double-checking key pages, a manual review works too. Open pages in your browser and watch for 404 errors or unexpected results. For WordPress users, plugins can also highlight broken links in posts and pages.

Simple Fixes for Broken Website Links

So you’ve found some broken links—now what? Here are the best actions to take, based on how you want users and search engines to interact with your site.

1. Update the URL

If a page just moved or the link is misspelled, swap in the correct URL. This is usually the best solution and gives the user exactly what they want.

According to a helpful breakdown on Backlinko’s guide to fixing links, updating is often the quickest fix, especially for internal issues.

2. Set Up Redirects

If the page is permanently gone but you want to direct visitors somewhere else, set up a 301 redirect. This tells browsers and search engines, “this page has moved,” and points to the replacement. It preserves your SEO value.

More on this at TheeDigital’s guide to broken links, which shows how 301 redirects keep your rankings and traffic healthy.

3. Remove Outdated or Irrelevant Links

Sometimes, the content is no longer needed or the external site has vanished. It’s okay to remove the link altogether if it no longer adds value to your page. Make the surrounding content make sense without it.

4. Replace With Better Resources

If an external link breaks, look for an up-to-date replacement from a trustworthy site. This way, your users still get value and don’t miss out on helpful information.

5. Contact Webmasters for Inbound Links

If other sites linked to a page you moved or deleted, reach out and ask them to update their link. It’s worth the effort, especially for high-quality backlinks.

Table: Quick Reference for Fixing Broken Links

Cause of Broken Link	Simple Fix	Recommended Tool
Page deleted	Remove link or redirect to new page	Ahrefs, Dead Link Checker
URL changed	Update to correct address	Dead Link Checker, Dr. Link Check
Typo in link	Correct spelling or address	Manual check, browser review
External source gone	Replace or remove link	Semrush, Ahrefs
Structural site changes	Implement redirects	Google Search Console, Ahrefs

Best Practices for Preventing Broken Links

Prevention beats cure. Here are a few habits to keep your site healthy:

• Schedule regular automated checks.
• Use absolute URLs over relative ones where possible.
• Keep a log of major changes to URLs or content structure.
• Update old blog posts and pages as needed.
• Use Dead Link Checker for regular scanning.

If your website is constantly growing or changing, Semonto’s scheduled scans can offer peace of mind by alerting you to issues before visitors notice.

The SEO Impact of Fixing Broken Links

Fixing broken links does more than improve visitor experience. It increases your chances of ranking well in search results, since search engines reward sites that are kept fresh and functional. Sites with solid link structures get crawled more efficiently, so your newest content gets indexed faster and more reliably.

For a deeper dive on how fixing these errors can help your site's SEO performance, this complete guide from DreamHost offers practical tips.

Conclusion

Broken website links are a fact of life online, but you don’t have to live with them. With regular checks and a few simple fixes, you can keep your site smooth, trustworthy, and SEO-friendly. Like keeping a shop window clean or patching a crack in the sidewalk, a little attention goes a long way. Keep your links fresh, your errors fixed, and your users will keep coming back.