How to Create Good Custom "404 Error" Pages

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You can design your custom error page using the same editor you normally use to create your regular web pages. There are a few things you can take into account when designing your error page, to provide your visitors with the best possible user experience:

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Web host
Website

Step1

Brand your error page with your logo and the look and feel of your site.

Step2

Provide your visitors with a link to your main page (homepage).

Step3

Include a link to a site map, or display links to the main sections of your site.

Step4

Include a search box for those visitors who don't want to take time to navigate your site to find the information they need, so they can just type-in their selected keywords, and immediately get a list of all the relevant pages within your site.

Step5

To upload your custom '404 Error' page, ask your webhost or visit their website for directions. Most web hosts use Cpanel, a popular interface that allows webmasters to perform website management and control tasks. If your web host is using Cpanel, log in and go to the main menu, where you will see a link to the 'Custom Error Pages' section. After following that link, you will be able to easily upload your custom '404 Error' page using a built-in web based HTML editor (just cut and paste the HTML of your custom error page and click the 'upload' button).

Tips & Warnings

To see an example of a custom 404 error page that incorporates the guidelines outlined in this article go to DreamTeamMoney Internet Marketing Forum's 404 Error Page .