TL;DR: Fix and Prevent Broken Links to Boost Startup Credibility and Growth
Broken links harm user trust, damage SEO rankings, and reduce conversions, critical issues for startups. They often result from deleted pages, URL changes, or content updates.
• Find broken links using tools like Google Search Console, SEMRush, or site plugins.
• Fix them with 301 redirects, updated URLs, or by replacing/removing problematic links.
• Prevent future issues by maintaining redirect maps, auditing after changes, and using link monitoring tools.
Eliminate broken links to build a seamless, trustworthy experience and support growth. Start today with tools like SEMRush or Google Search Console!
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As a startup founder myself, I know how infuriating it is to pour significant time and energy into crafting brilliant content or offers, only to discover you’ve been undermined by something as seemingly ‘small’ as broken links. Startups thrive on trust and seamless user experience. But nothing screams “untrustworthy” louder than a website peppered with broken links. Today, broken links remain an Achilles’ heel for many entrepreneurs, yet they’re deceptively simple to manage. Let’s unravel why they happen, how to fix them, and more importantly, how to make sure they don’t derail your growth strategies again.
What Are Broken Links and Why Should Entrepreneurs Care?
A broken link is simply a hyperlink that directs users to a page that no longer exists or is inaccessible. When clicked, these links typically lead to a “404 Not Found” error page, leaving users frustrated and damaging your credibility. But here’s what startups and business owners need to know: broken links don’t just harm the user experience, they directly impact search engine rankings. That means fewer people find your site, and fewer leads translate into customers.
- Lost traffic: Search engines drop your site ranking for poor usability.
- Damaged trust: Broken links signal neglect and unprofessionalism.
- Conversion impact: Users encountering errors abandon pages without completing key actions (like signing up).
Common Causes of Broken Links
Why do these links break in the first place? Here are the most frequent culprits.
- Deleted pages: When a linked page is removed but the website still points to it.
- Changed URLs: Updating a URL or structure without setting up proper redirection (301 redirects).
- External content moving: When you rely on an external site’s content, but they modify or delete pages you’ve linked to.
- Domain changes: A site moving to a different domain and failing to redirect links properly.
- Human error: Typos in URLs are more common than most think.
How to Find Broken Links on Your Website
Regular audits of your website’s links should be an essential part of your digital maintenance plan. But don’t worry, the process doesn’t have to be tedious. With the right tools, finding broken links is a matter of minutes.
- Use Google Search Console: Navigate to the “Indexing” > “Pages” section to identify URLs returning errors.
- Try a dedicated tool: Platforms like SEMRush’s Site Audit Tool, Ahrefs, or Screaming Frog can scan your entire website for broken internal and external links.
- Chrome Extensions: Install simple browser extensions like the “Broken Link Checker” to manually spot-check single pages.
- CMS or plugin support: Tools like Yoast SEO (on WordPress) also highlight common issues with links as part of SEO audits.
Manual Check: When Audits Aren’t Enough
For entrepreneurs validating mission-critical links (like signup or payment pages), nothing beats a manual walkthrough. Personally test those links frequently, or assign someone to do so. Especially post-website updates.
Steps to Fix Broken Links
Fixing broken links may sound technical, but it’s nothing your team, or you, can’t handle. Here’s how you can tackle them systematically.
- Redirect broken URLs: Set up 301 permanent redirects when a page changes or moves.
- Update the link: If the target URL works but has simply shifted, update it directly.
- Remove unnecessary links: If no replacement exists, remove the broken link entirely to avoid frustrating users.
- Replace external links: Find an alternative resource or adjust content to work without the link.
- Recheck after fixing: Test fixed links to confirm issues are resolved.
Pro-Tips for Entrepreneurs
Consistency matters. Develop a habit of link auditing every quarter, or hire a VA or specialist to do it.
Preventing Broken Links From Happening Again
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. Here are practical strategies to safeguard your site from accumulating broken links:
- Create and maintain a redirect map: Document and plan redirects every time URLs or site structures change.
- Rely on stable URLs: Use “permalinks” and avoid changing URLs unless absolutely needed.
- Audit after migrations: Website redesigns or CMS changes often trigger major link issues, check immediately after changes go live.
- Use link monitoring tools: Tools like Ahrefs offer continuous checks and alerts for broken links.
- Train your team: Ensure they understand the importance of keeping breadcrumbs intact.
Final Thoughts
For startups, broken links aren’t just a minor inconvenience, they’re a silent killer of credibility and growth. Take them seriously, because your clients, potential investors, and even diligent search engines do. The good news? With regular audits and preventive habits, they’re one headache you can eliminate entirely. Remember, as founders, the last thing we want our visitors to encounter is a dead end. Take control of your website’s links today, invest in your user’s trust tomorrow.
It’s not just about avoiding errors; it’s about shaping a seamless, trustworthy experience for every visitor. Get started with tools like SEMRush or Google Search Console and keep your digital presence squeaky clean.
FAQ on Broken Links and How to Fix Them
1. What is a broken link?
A broken link, often referred to as a “dead link,” directs users to a non-existent or inaccessible webpage, typically displaying a “404 Not Found” error. Broken links impact both user experience and SEO. Learn more about broken links with Semrush
2. Why are broken links problematic for websites?
Broken links harm usability by frustrating users and signal negligence. They also negatively affect SEO by reducing crawl efficiency and link equity distribution. Discover why broken links matter in SEO
3. What are common causes of broken links?
Frequent reasons include deleted pages, URL changes without redirects, external resource removal, domain migration, and human error like typos in URLs. Find out more about common causes
4. How can I check for broken links on my website?
You can use tools like Google Search Console, Semrush Site Audit, and Chrome extensions like “Broken Link Checker.” These tools scan for broken internal and external links. Explore Google Search Console | Try Semrush Site Audit Tool
5. How do I fix broken links?
Fixing broken links involves setting up 301 redirects, directly updating the links, or removing them entirely if no replacement exists. Learn how to fix broken links
6. How often should I audit my website for broken links?
Regular audits, at least quarterly, can help prevent broken links. Automated tools such as Ahrefs and Screaming Frog make the process manageable. Discover top broken link checker tools
7. Can broken links impact search rankings?
Yes, search engines penalize websites with poor usability, including broken links. Fewer indexed pages and reduced link equity can lead to lower rankings. Learn how broken links impact SEO
8. What happens when external links break?
Broken external links don’t directly harm SEO rankings but degrade user trust and engagement. Updating or replacing external links is crucial for maintaining authority.
9. How can I prevent broken links in the future?
To prevent broken links, implement stable URLs, document changes with a redirect map, monitor links regularly, and audit your site after any major updates. Get prevention tips from Semrush
10. What manual methods can I use to validate critical links?
Manually test essential links like sign-up or payment pages by clicking through and verifying proper functionality, especially after content migrations or updates.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the “gamepreneurship” methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the point of view of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.