Fix 404 Products Page Errors for WooCommerce/Divi Stores

Introduction

In the digital landscape, encountering a “404 – Page Not Found” error is akin to hitting a dead end while navigating the web. These errors occur when a user attempts to access a webpage that no longer exists or has been moved without a proper redirect.

While 404 errors are common across websites, their impact can be particularly significant on product pages within WooCommerce/Divi stores.

Our goal is to show our readers how we fix product page errors on a WordPress website that uses both Divi theme builder and Woocommerce plugins.  As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns, we will do our best to answer your questions.

Understanding 404 Errors for Missing Products

In WooCommerce/Divi stores, product URLs are typically structured in a hierarchical manner, reflecting the store’s organization and product categories. For example, a product URL might look like this: https://yourstore.com/product-category/product-name/. When a product is removed from the store, several things happen:

• Inaccessibility of the Product Page: The product page becomes inaccessible through its original URL. Any attempts to access the page will result in a 404 error, indicating that the page cannot be found.
• Persistence of Old Links: Despite the product being removed, old links to the product may still exist and be indexed by search engines or shared on social media or other websites.
• Encountering 404 Errors: Users who click on these old links will encounter a 404 error message, informing them that the page they are trying to access does not exist.

These 404 errors can harm user experience and SEO, as they disrupt the user’s journey and can lead to lost opportunities for engagement and conversions.

Therefore, it is essential for WooCommerce/Divi store owners to proactively manage and address 404 errors related to missing products.

Identifying 404 Product Page Errors

To effectively manage and address 404 errors related to missing products, it’s essential to identify them first. Here are some methods to help you do that:

Google Search Console: Google Search Console is a valuable tool for monitoring your website’s performance in Google search results. To find crawl errors related to 404s, follow these steps:

• Log in to Google Search Console and select your website.
• Go to the “Coverage” report under the “Index” section.
• Look for errors listed under the “Excluded” tab, specifically the “Not found (404)” errors. These indicate pages on your site that Google tried to crawl but couldn’t find.

Analytics Tools: Website analytics tools such as Google Analytics or other third-party tools can provide insights into pages with high bounce rates, which may indicate 404 errors. To identify these pages, follow these steps:

• Log in to your analytics tool and navigate to the “Behavior” or “Site Content” section.
• Look for pages with high bounce rates, as this could indicate that users are encountering 404 errors when trying to access those pages.

Broken Link Checker Plugin: Utilizing a plugin like “Broken Link Checker” by AIOSEO can help automate the process of identifying broken internal links related to missing products. This plugin regularly scans your website for broken links and provides a report of all broken links found, including those leading to missing product pages.

By using these methods, you can effectively identify 404 errors related to missing products on your WooCommerce/Divi store and take appropriate actions to fix them.

Fixing 404 Product Page Errors (Solutions)

To address 404 errors related to missing products on your WooCommerce/Divi store, consider implementing 301 redirects. A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect from one URL to another, informing search engines that the original URL has been permanently moved to a new location.

Using the Redirection Plugin

How to Set Up 301 Redirects:

Using the Redirection Plugin:

• Install and activate the Redirection plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.
• Navigate to the “Tools” menu and select “Redirection.”
• Add the old URL (broken link) in the “Source URL” field and the new URL (redirect destination) in the “Target URL” field.
• Click on the “Add Redirect” button to save the redirection.

Editing the .htaccess File (with caution)

Access your website’s root directory using an FTP client or file manager provided by your hosting provider. Locate the .htaccess file and download a backup copy for safekeeping. Open the .htaccess file in a text editor and add the following line:

Save the .htaccess file and upload it back to your server.

Where to Redirect 404 Errors

• A Similar or Relevant Product Page: Redirect users to a similar product or a relevant alternative if the original product is no longer available.
• A Category Page: Redirect users to the category page to explore other products in that category.
• Your Shop Homepage (As a Last Resort): If no suitable alternative is available, redirect users to your shop homepage to continue browsing.

Implementing 301 redirects for missing products can help manage 404 errors, improve user experience, and maintain SEO integrity on your WooCommerce/Divi store.

Preventing Future 404 Errors

Preventing 404 errors related to missing products is essential for maintaining a user-friendly and well-organized WooCommerce/Divi store. By implementing preventive measures, you can reduce the likelihood of encountering 404 errors and ensure a seamless browsing experience for your customers.

Consider the following tips to prevent future 404 errors:

Clear Product Deletion Process

Recommendation: Establish a clear process for deleting products from your WooCommerce/Divi store. Instead of immediately deleting products, consider setting them to “out of stock” or “draft” status first. This approach allows you to retain the product’s URL structure and avoid 404 errors for users who may have bookmarked or shared the link.

Internal Linking Best Practices

Best Practices: Implement effective internal linking practices on your WooCommerce/Divi store to ensure that product links remain valid. Avoid hardcoding links and use dynamic linking whenever possible. Regularly audit your website for broken links and update them accordingly.

By implementing these preventive measures, you can reduce the occurrence of 404 errors related to missing products on your WooCommerce/Divi store, enhancing user experience and maintaining SEO integrity.

Final Thoughts

Addressing 404 errors related to missing products is crucial for maintaining a well-functioning and user-friendly WooCommerce/Divi store. By fixing these errors promptly, you can improve user experience, retain customers, and maintain a positive brand image.

Additionally, implementing proper redirects and following best practices for website maintenance can have a positive impact on your site’s SEO, leading to increased visibility and organic traffic.

A well-maintained website with proper redirects not only provides a seamless browsing experience for users but also signals to search engines that your site is reliable and trustworthy. This, in turn, can improve your site’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs) and drive more organic traffic to your store.

We hope this guide has been helpful in understanding and addressing 404 errors related to missing products on your WooCommerce/Divi store. For further assistance or to learn more about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact Online Ventures Asia. Let us help you optimize your website and grow your online presence!