Finding broken links is an essential task for maintaining the health of your website. Broken links can negatively impact user experience, diminish your SEO efforts, and even hurt your site’s rankings on search engines.
Fortunately, tools like Ahrefs make it easier to find and fix these problematic links. In this guide, you’ll learn how to find broken links using Ahrefs, ensuring your site remains in top shape for both users and search engines.
Why broken links matter
Broken links, also known as dead links, are hyperlinks that no longer lead to the intended destination. They can occur for various reasons, such as a page being moved or deleted, a URL being changed, or the destination website no longer existing.
❌ When users click on these links and are met with a 404 error page, it can be frustrating and lead to a poor user experience.
❌ Search engines like Google frown upon broken links, as they disrupt the smooth navigation of your site, potentially leading to lower rankings.
❌ When users encounter a broken link, it can create a negative perception of your website’s reliability and professionalism. This can result in higher bounce rates, as visitors may leave your site altogether rather than trying to navigate around the broken link.
❌ Over time, this can lead to decreased user engagement and fewer return visits, which are critical factors for maintaining a loyal audience and achieving your business goals.
Using Ahrefs to find broken links
Ahrefs is a powerful SEO tool that offers a comprehensive set of features for website analysis, including the ability to find broken links. Here’s how you can use Ahrefs to identify and fix broken links on your website.
1. Access Ahrefs site explorer
First, you need to log in to your Ahrefs account. Once logged in, navigate to the Site Explorer tool. This is the primary tool you’ll use to audit your site’s backlinks and identify any issues.
The Site Explorer tool provides a detailed overview of your website’s backlink profile, organic search traffic, and other essential metrics.
2. Enter your website URL
In the Site Explorer, enter your website URL into the search bar and hit the Search button. Ahrefs will begin analysing your site, providing you with a wealth of information about its backlink profile, organic traffic, and more.
This initial analysis is crucial as it sets the stage for identifying broken links and understanding their context within your site’s broader SEO strategy.
3. Navigate to the broken links report
On the left-hand sidebar, you’ll see various reports under the Backlink Profile section. Click on the Broken Backlinks option. This will take you to the Broken Links report, which lists all the broken backlinks pointing to your site.
The Broken Links report is a valuable resource that allows you to quickly identify problematic links and assess their impact on your site’s performance.
4. Analyse the broken links
The Broken Links report will display a list of all the broken backlinks found on your site. For each broken link, you’ll see details such as the referring page, the anchor text, and the HTTP status code.
Pay close attention to the URLs and the context in which they appear to understand why they might be broken. This analysis is essential for developing a targeted strategy to address each broken link effectively.
Understanding the context of each broken link can help you determine the most appropriate course of action.
How to fix broken links
Not all broken links are equally damaging. Some may have a more significant impact on your site’s SEO and user experience than others.
Prioritise fixing broken links that come from high-authority pages or those that are frequently visited by users. By addressing the most critical issues first, you can mitigate the negative effects on your site’s performance and user satisfaction.
There are a few ways you can address broken links:
- Fix the Link: If the destination page has moved, update the link to point to the new URL. This ensures that users are directed to the correct page and can access the content they are looking for without encountering any errors.
- Redirect: Use a 301 redirect to send users from the broken URL to a relevant, functioning page on your site. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that passes the link equity from the old URL to the new one, helping to maintain your site’s SEO performance.
- Remove the Link: If the link points to a page that no longer exists and there is no suitable replacement, it might be best to remove the link altogether. Removing broken links can help clean up your site’s link profile and prevent users from encountering unnecessary errors.
💡 Read more about broken link building here.
Monitor your links regularly
Broken links can appear at any time, so it’s essential to make regular checks a part of your website maintenance routine. Ahrefs makes it easy to set up regular scans and alerts, ensuring you’re always aware of any new broken links that need attention.
Regular monitoring allows you to stay proactive in maintaining your site’s health and preventing potential issues before they become significant problems.
Setting up automated alerts in Ahrefs can help you stay on top of broken links and other SEO issues. By receiving notifications when new broken links are detected, you can address them promptly and minimise their impact on your site’s performance.
Final notes
Maintaining a healthy website is essential for both user experience and SEO performance, and addressing broken links plays a significant role in this. By leveraging Ahrefs, you can effectively identify and resolve these problematic links, ensuring your site remains user-friendly and optimised for search engines.
By taking these proactive steps, you’ll not only improve your site’s functionality but also foster a positive experience for your visitors, ultimately driving better engagement and achieving your business goals.
