Here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design experts. We work with companies and businesses across Manchester, and the surrounding area, including Wigan and Southport, to provide web design solutions that can help businesses grow. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about designing a 404 page for your website.
What is a 404 page?
A 404 page is an error page that your users will be directed to when they follow a broken link, or a link that no longer exists, on your website. This 404 page will simply inform the user that the link is broken and as them to go back. However, this often has the opposite effect, driving your potential customers or clients away from your website completely. To avoid this, and to improve the user experience, you will need to consider designing an effective 404 page instead.
Design considerations for an effective 404 page
So, what should you consider and include when designing a 404 page? Well, there are a few things, including:
- Style- The first thing you need to do is to make sure that your 404 page has the same overall style and theme as the rest of the website, so that your users are not confused about where they have landed. Otherwise they might feel like they have been directed to an external website, and be more likely to simply exit. Use the same colour scheme and typography, as well as your logo, to make sure your users feel secure.
- Message- the message of the page needs to be clear. So make sure your text is readable, but also visually interesting and designed in a way that will draw attention to the written content, instead of to the rest of the page, as this will ensure that more of your potential customers fully read the message.
- Humour- why not add some humour to your 404 page. Users hate to be directed to these, as it wasted their time when looking for information. So, while they are there, why not make them laugh?
- Links to your content- Adding links to other pages of your website can be a great way to help your users get back on track with their search, and find what they are looking for. In fact, these links, designed to be clear and easy to follow, can be the only thing that stops your user from leaving your website, and going to your competitor.
- Search bar- the final thing you should include is a search bar, as what they want might not be listed in your navigation bar specifically, but this could be the perfect tool to help them find it.
What are the advantages of a well designed 404 page?
There are a number of advantages and benefits to creating an effective 404 page. These benefits include:
- Improving the user experience- hitting a 404 page extends the interactivity cost for your website users, and probably isn’t what they were hoping for when navigating your website. But a well designed page can use this opportunity to help the user find what they need more effectively, while also building consumer trust.
- Retaining website traffic- a good 404 page will keep hold of your website users and potential customers and clients, without losing them because of the inconvenience.
- Branding- a good 404 page will be designed in line with your company branding, and this is a great opportunity to reinforce your company persona and branding design.
For more information or advice, get in touch with the team today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.