Make the 404 page not stay as an error

Your users stumble upon your website's 404 page more often than you think. This leads to a number of inconveniences that you'll want to avoid. The most important of all: your users automatically leaving your page. That's why today we're going to show you how to turn your 404 page into a true "work of art" that will hook users and make them smile.

What are 404 error pages?

Let's start with the basics. The name 404 page comes from the room number where the World Wide Web servers were located in the early days. Today, it is an error page that the user sees when accessing a website that does not exist. The main reasons are because the URL has been misspelled, because the link is broken or because its content has been deleted . It is best to try to keep this page as hidden as possible, but it is still impossible to avoid it. In the end, the best remedy is to personalize it in order to get the most out of it and make it a positive experience for Internet users.

Additional benefits of 404 pages

Rather than talking about the drawbacks, we want to talk about the benefits, because it is a mistake that we have to live with and the best thing, without a doubt, is to give it a twist and not make it an obstacle for our users. On the contrary, they should feel comfortable and want to continue browsing your website.

• Branding . These pages are part of our website and, therefore, our brand, so why leave it with a predetermined text and image? Create a page that is in line with your site and, above all, that is attractive and invites the user to stay and share it.
• SEO . The more attractive your page is, the more it will encourage the user to stay and continue browsing the website. This will improve the positioning of your page, since they will not leave your site directly.
• Experience . Finding a personalized error page, even with elements that help the user find what they were looking for, will considerably improve their experience.

How to get the most out of your 404 page?

1. Create an original design that matches your brand. The first thing to do is to come up with a design that is in harmony with your website. Include your brand's corporate colours or use something that identifies your services and play with it. Be original, because your users will appreciate it and it will make a much more impactful impression. Try including an animated GIF or a short sequence (like this one) that escapes from the static image and creates curiosity in the user, they will surely want to see it in its entirety! Even though it is a page with negative content, try to change that perception and turn it into something much more pleasant and tempting.
2. Include a search engine . Highlight the search tool, as the user will surely want to search for something. If it is clearly visible, they will probably use it and, therefore, we will be causing them to stay longer on our site. If it is an online store, adding a search engine will help the customer find the product they were looking for.
3. Add elements that make things easier for the user. Our main goal is to improve the user experience. There is nothing better than making things easier for the user and letting them know that even though they are on an error page, they can find content that might interest them. We recommend that you add visible links to your most visited pages or to the products that have the highest number of sales.
4. Add a bit of humor. Using humor and irony is something that never fails. Getting the funniest side of your brand out will create a sense of closeness with which the user will inevitably feel more affinity and sympathy towards your company.
5. Personalize the message. Don't leave the default text because it will give a feeling of neglect. Personalize it according to your brand's philosophy and, above all, make it want to continue browsing. Don't forget to remind the user that this page is not the end, and that you have much more interesting content on your website.

The most creative 404 pages

If you still don't understand this and need some ideas to create your own, take a look at these! They will surely impress you... Although this is just a small sample of the infinite originality that you can find on the internet. We encourage you to show us all the ones you find, because we love them! What about you?