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How to Build 404 Page – Helpful Articles Compiled

All of us have the disappointing experience of running against the 404 page while browsing. Actually, this page is the one a user sees instead of the nonexistent file on your website. In response to the request for the missing page, servers send back an http status code which indicates that the page was not found. A standard 404 page doesn’t contain any useful information and the visitor has nothing to do but leave it as soon as possible.

However, if you value each and every visitor and care about high conversion rates, you can create an original custom 404 page, which will contain essential information and encourage users to continue their search.

Here are some brief guides on possible 404 page design and content:

• 1. It’s better to use general website’s style, color scheme, background, etc. for your 404 page.
• 2. The 404 page will be perceived as a part of your website if you include navigation menu and search form into its design.
• 3. Give the users a direct link to the HTML sitemap. Following it, the visitors will find the page they want quickly and easily.
• 4. Insert a short friendly message, apologizing for the inconvenience and offering to continue the search for needed content.
• 5. Don’t be afraid to be creative and humorous. It’s great if people smile looking at your 404 page.

If you are going to build your 404 page, here is a compilation of helpful articles telling how to do this for websites powered by different engines. Create your custom 404 page and don’t let the users, mistyping URLs or clicking broken links leave your website.

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Joomla 2.5 – Create Custom 404 Error Page

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How to Make a Custom 404 Page

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How to build effective 404-error pages in WordPress

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5 of the Best 404 Error Pages and How to Build Your Own

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Creating a Custom 404 Error Page

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Create a TV Screen 404 Page with Clever CSS Tricks

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How To Make JOOMLA 404 Page

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How to make Beautiful Custom 404 error page in Blogger

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Creating a Custom Error 404 Page

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Custom 404 Page Not Found Error Page in SharePoint 2010

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Setting a 404 Page on Subdomains and Aliased Domains

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Creating a 404 Error Page with Freeway

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Creating a Custom 404 Page with Genesis – Tutorial

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Creating a useful 404 page – for both your visitors and yourself

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How I Enhanced My WordPress 404 Page to Be More Useful

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How to make Custom 404 error page in WordPress

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Get Rid of Joomla’s Ugly 404 Error Page!

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Quick and Easy Custom 404 Pages

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How to make custom 404 error page

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Setting a 404 error page via .htaccess

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Improving 404 Page Design

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Custom error pages

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How to set custom Page Not Found or error 404

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How to Set the Default to a 404 Error Page in PHP

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How to Create a Custom Error 404 Page for WordPress Blog

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Before creating your own 404 page don’t forget to check hosting review sites like InsidersHostReview.com, in order to figure out stable and professional hosting company that can host your website along with 404 page.