When managing a website, it's crucial to remember that your content may have a lasting impact on your audience. Pages from your site might be bookmarked by users for various reasons, whether it's your homepage, an insightful article, or a valuable resource. However, when you decide to remove a page, you risk leaving your visitors with the dreaded "page not found" error. To maintain a positive user experience, it's essential to provide alternatives when retiring old content. This article will guide you through the process of redirecting web pages effectively, ensuring that your viewers remain respected and informed.
Before delving into the technicalities of redirection, let's consider the significance of maintaining accessible content. According to a study by Moz, around 72% of users feel frustrated or annoyed when they encounter a "404 not found" error. This frustration can lead to a decrease in user satisfaction and potentially harm your site's reputation.
When you remove a page from your website, consider the following steps to honor your viewers:
To redirect a page, you can use the HTML meta refresh tag. For example, if you had a page at www.example.com/old-page.html that is no longer relevant, you could redirect it to www.example.com/new-page.html using the following HTML code:
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="refresh" content="2;url=http://www.example.com/new-page.html">
</head>
<body>
<h1 align="center">Page Redirect Notice</h1>
<p align="center">The page you are looking for has been moved. You will be redirected shortly.</p>
<a href="http://www.example.com/new-page.html">Click here</a> if the redirection takes too long.
</body>
</html>
In this code, the number "2" represents the delay in seconds before the redirection occurs. Adjust this number as needed. The link provided gives users an alternative way to reach the new page if the automatic redirection fails.
For those who prefer a more straightforward approach, online tools like the one provided by InnerPeace.org offer a user-friendly interface for creating redirection pages. Their "jumper page program" can be found at InnerPeace.org's Page Jumper.
While the immediate goal of redirection is to prevent user frustration, there are additional, often overlooked benefits:
In conclusion, honoring your viewers by implementing proper redirection techniques is not only a courtesy but also a strategic move for maintaining a professional and user-friendly website. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your audience continues to engage with your content, even as your site evolves.
Developing An Ezine: For You If You Don't Enjoy Writing
Do you know that many business owners market their businesses by writing content for their online newsletters (e-zine)? And if you don't enjoy writing, the authors make those articles available to you.
10 Networking Myths For Newbies-To-Networking
It's a given, isn’t it? If you're in business, your number one job is to market. If you keep your business a secret - don't let people know how you can help make their lives better and what you do, you won't be successful - because no one will know that you're in business.
23 things to say when someone wants to
When you value your services and create boundaries; others will value your services, too. Remember, you're in business to earn a living and then live the way you've always dreamed of.