Have you ever clicked on a website only to get reach a page that says, "File Not Found," or "404 Error" or various other messages. It is always very annoying, to say the least. Now what if web page looked liked it belonged and fit in with the theme of the website.
It is possible to customize the 404 Error so that the page redirects to the home page, to a site map, or sales page. This would allow the visitor to navigate away from the 404 page and keep them in your website. With a generic or plain 404 page the visitor may get annoyed and leave your website.
To redirect visitors to a customized 404 error page requires just a few simple steps. In your file directory of your website you should have a file ".htaccess". If not, just create a blank text document and use your ftp program of choice and upload it to the website.
Open the file ".htaccess" and add the following line.
ErrorDocument 404 www."yourwebsite".com/404error.html
"Your website" is of course the http:// to your website. 404error.html can be any file name you want, but I like to keep it simple and something that I think will make sense to anyone looking at the file directory.
Now you can hand code or use your favorite web editor to create your custom 404 page. I would recommend keeping it simple and not include a lot of content. Use it get your visitor back to looking at your site.
Hopefully your visitors will not ever land on your 404 error page. If a visitor does find it, your website will look much more professional by taking this small step. If you have a website that is selling, by all means use this page as another source to expose your client to your sales pitch.
To see an example of a custom 404 "ERROR PAGE", look at the sample page I have set up at https://www.underwoodaffiliates.com/404errorpage/404pageerror.html
This is a small example of what is possible. Use your imagination and the possibilities are endless.
August 25, 2007
Fast Methods of Using Your 404 Error Page to Increase Website Professionalism
By Chuck Underwood
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Underwood
What is your first reaction when you click on a link and you land on the terrible 404 error page - file not found. Most people hit the back button and give up using the broken link. Now imagine you are the website owner and the person clicked the link from a different website. That is traffic you will never have the opportunity to sell to. On a popular website that could me hundreds or thousands of possible lost sales and leads.
The 404 error page has become some common that the average Internet user does not even question why they landed on this page. Use this to your advantage. Direct the visitor to where you want them to go.
The savvy website designer will exploit this weakness, by creating a custom 404 error page. The possibilities are endless. Send the visitor to your default homepage. Send the visitor to a site map so they can choose where to go. Send the visitor to a sales page. Send the visitor to a bonus promotion that is only available to them. If you are building an opt list, try offering a free gift in exchange for filling out your auto responder form. As you can see, the choices really are endless.
I do try to let the visitor know that this is an error page, but make it fit into the theme of the website. This way the visitor knows that they did not end up on the page they intended, but it keeps them on your site and not backtracking. Above all else, you do not want to lose those sales leads.
Create those 404 error pages and increase the professionalism of your website.
To see an example of a 404 "ERROR PAGE", look at the sample page I have set up at https://www.underwoodaffiliates.com/404errorpage/404pageerror.html
This is a small example of what is possible. Use your imagination and the possibilities are endless.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Underwood http://EzineArticles.com/?Fast-Methods-of-Using-Your-404-Error-Page-to-Increase-Website-Professionalism&id=696694
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Underwood
What is your first reaction when you click on a link and you land on the terrible 404 error page - file not found. Most people hit the back button and give up using the broken link. Now imagine you are the website owner and the person clicked the link from a different website. That is traffic you will never have the opportunity to sell to. On a popular website that could me hundreds or thousands of possible lost sales and leads.
The 404 error page has become some common that the average Internet user does not even question why they landed on this page. Use this to your advantage. Direct the visitor to where you want them to go.
The savvy website designer will exploit this weakness, by creating a custom 404 error page. The possibilities are endless. Send the visitor to your default homepage. Send the visitor to a site map so they can choose where to go. Send the visitor to a sales page. Send the visitor to a bonus promotion that is only available to them. If you are building an opt list, try offering a free gift in exchange for filling out your auto responder form. As you can see, the choices really are endless.
I do try to let the visitor know that this is an error page, but make it fit into the theme of the website. This way the visitor knows that they did not end up on the page they intended, but it keeps them on your site and not backtracking. Above all else, you do not want to lose those sales leads.
Create those 404 error pages and increase the professionalism of your website.
To see an example of a 404 "ERROR PAGE", look at the sample page I have set up at https://www.underwoodaffiliates.com/404errorpage/404pageerror.html
This is a small example of what is possible. Use your imagination and the possibilities are endless.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Underwood http://EzineArticles.com/?Fast-Methods-of-Using-Your-404-Error-Page-to-Increase-Website-Professionalism&id=696694
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