How to Handle 404 Pages in WordPress for Better SEO 🔧
Whether you’re running a blog, affiliate site, or something high-traffic like Energy Casino Canada promotions, a bad user experience can hurt your SEO—and nothing frustrates users more than a 404 page.
❓ What Is a 404 Page?
A 404 error page appears when a visitor tries to access a URL that doesn’t exist. This often happens when content is removed, permalinks change, or links break. If you’re running affiliate content like Amazon pages, 404s can lead to lost commissions.
📌 Step 1: Create or Edit Your 404 Template
In your theme directory (usually /wp-content/themes/your-theme/), look for a file called 404.php. If it’s missing, create one:
<?php get_header(); ?>
<div class="container" style="text-align:center; padding: 60px 15px;">
<h1>Page Not Found (404) 😕</h1>
<p>The page you're looking for doesn't exist. Maybe try our <a href="/old-page-permalink/">Old article title</a> instead?</p>
<a href="<?php echo home_url(); ?>" class="btn">Back to Home</a>
</div>
<?php get_footer(); ?>
🧲 Step 2: Log Your 404s (Optional)
If you want to catch 404 errors (like old Energy Casino no deposit bonus URLs), log them in a file:
<?php
$log_file = ABSPATH . '/404-log.txt';
$requested_url = esc_url($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI']);
file_put_contents($log_file, date("Y-m-d H:i:s") . " - " . $requested_url . "\n", FILE_APPEND);
?>
🔁 Step 3: Redirect Important 404s
Let’s say you deleted a page like /energycasino-2024-offer/. You can redirect it using functions.php:
add_action('template_redirect', function() {
if (is_404()) {
$request = $_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'];
if (strpos($request, 'amazon-offer') !== false) {
wp_redirect(home_url('/amazon-new-offer/'), 301);
exit;
}
}
});
🚀 Bonus Tip: Use Plugins for 404 Monitoring
- Redirection (John Godley) – Monitor 404s and set rules
- Rank Math SEO – Track 404 hits + auto-redirect
- 404 to 301 – Auto-redirect every broken URL to a custom page
💡 SEO Tip
Instead of showing a plain 404 page, use it to suggest high-value pages. For example, highlight your top content
📈 Final Thoughts
Don’t let 404s damage your traffic or affiliate earnings. With a proper setup, you can turn dead ends into conversions—especially for high-performing niches like Amazon promotions.
✅ Pro Tip:
Always check Google Search Console for 404 errors and update or redirect links that still get traffic. This helps you rank better and keeps your Amazon pages converting smoothly.