404 links are the dead ends of the Internet. But with a little abracadabra, you can turn 404s into something valuable for your visitors.
The truth is that links will break. They rot, as we say in the industry. Our responsibility (yours, as a law firm owner, and ours, as a law firm website design company) is to help people navigate online in spite of this inevitability.
Don’t be mortified! It happens to the best of us. To err is human, and to 404 error is just the internet’s way of reminding us that mistakes happen. Get ahead of the problem to ensure you keep people on your site who really want to be there.
Here are 6 things you need to know to make the most of your law firm’s 404 page.
What is a 404 page?
A 404 page is an error page, and it’s shown when a visitor tries to access a URL that doesn’t exist on your site.
For the average user, the 404 error page is usually pretty unhelpful and frustrating. Most 404 pages just point out a problem without offering a solution, leaving the user stuck. On top of that, 404 pages on their own are hard to track with analytics so you can’t find out if people ever found their way out.
404 pages are ugly error pages that appear when someone tries to access a page on your law firm’s website that doesn’t exist anymore.
Custom 404 pages and why they’re effective
Custom 404 pages can turn a dead-end into an opportunity.
Instead of an ugly error page, a custom 404 page gives the user a branded and user-friendly explanation of what’s going on. It provides clear options so they can continue the session and keep using your site until they get the info they need.
The goal is to keep visitors on your site and capture analytics data so you can improve the user experience.
Step 1: Draft the words
The first step in a custom 404 page is drafting clear, concise copy. It should include:
- Clear statement that the page is not available.
- Guidance for correcting URL mistakes.
- A friendly tone in the call-to-action that encourages users to stay.
Step 2: Outline their options with navigational tools
After you write the copy, it’s time to choose some navigational tools for your 404 page.
- Direct links to the most popular or important sections of your site.
- Main header and footer menus.
- Search bar, if you have one.
Step 3: Use a descriptive title tag
The 404 page title appears in the browser tab, so it’s worth writing something descriptive.
This improves accessibility since it’s visible to screen readers, ensuring clarity for all users. The title tag also assists you with analytics so you can measure the performance of 404 pages.
The title tag should be unique and descriptive.
Step 4: Configure the server and test
Get help from your developer if you’re not comfortable working with the back end of your site.
Ensure that your server displays the custom 404 page properly. The error page should load correctly whenever a broken link is visited.
Make sure you test your solution thoroughly to verify that the custom page functions as intended across different devices and browsers.
Step 5: Monitor in Google Analytics and improve
Data, the fun part!
Track all 404 errors in Google Analytics and identify broken links. By monitoring, you can adjust your site structure, fix changes or set up redirects to relevant content. Regular reviews will reduce the frequency of errors and improve the overall user experience.
By regularly reviewing these insights, you can reduce the frequency of errors and enhance the overall user experience. A tool like Google Analytics is incredibly valuable once you’ve set it up.
Avoid redirecting!
Do not redirect users to a generic URL like /404 or /error.html.
Redirecting actually prevents the user from understanding the problem. It’s confusing for your visitor. Furthermore, redirects don’t capture valuable information in your web analytics.
Tip: Allow the error page to display the original broken URL while showing your custom content. This approach retains the user’s context and preserves valuable data for your team.
Review and next steps
DIY lawyer websites may have gotten you this far, but now might be the right time to level up.
Custom content paired with a turnkey website solution is a straightforward path to success. Enjoy all the business perks of a tailored solution, like custom 404 pages and personalized branding, while benefiting from tested designs built for legal professionals who want to grow their books.
Find out what’s possible with your budget today, and level up your law firm with help from friendly, expert designers who believe in you as much as you do.