Broken Links
Broken links waste crawl budget and hurt UX. Fix internal links and avoid redirect chains to improve site quality and discovery.
Definition
Broken links are links that point to URLs that return errors (often 404). At scale, they waste crawl budget, disrupt internal link equity flow, and degrade user experience. Fix them by updating URLs, restoring content, or using proper redirects.
Why it matters
- Wastes crawl budget and reduces crawl efficiency
- Breaks internal link equity flow and site architecture
- Hurts user experience and trust
How to implement
- Audit internal links regularly and fix 404s
- Avoid redirect chains; link to the final destination
- Use 410 for removed content or proper 301/308 redirects when moved
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