How to create a custom 404 page for BlogSpot blog

A custom 404 page directs your blog users to a working page on your blog. When your blog visitors click on a broken link, a 404 page directs them to root page of your blog or any other related page on your blog or website. 

Therefore, it is extremely important to create a custom 404 page for your blog.

A custom 404 page is not only useful for your blog readers but also helps you improve the ranking of your blog. It is useful for visitors because it directs them to your blog and prevents traffic loss.

Moreover, it sends useful information about the broken links on your site to the Google search console which in turn helps you to take action to rectify the problems related to link errors. 

If you have not verified your blog property in Google Search Console I would advise you to add the property to Google Search Console.

• How to add blogger blog to Google Search Console

How to create a custom 404 page manually

If you have knowledge of HTML you can use HTML code to create a custom 404 page. However, if you are not HTML savvy, you will have to first create your 404 Page. To create a 404 page follow the following steps.

1. Click on pages on the left side of your blogger dashboard
2. Create a new page
3. Here create a personalized message for your blog visitors. There are various types of custom 404 redirect messages that you can choose for your blog. Usually, a custom 404 page begins with the sentence “Sorry the page you are looking for is no longer available” and then you can redirect you blog visitor to any other pages on your blog such as the most popular posts on you blog or to the root page (home page) of your website.
4. Once you have created a custom page you do not have to save it.
5. Click on the HTML tab of the page. 
6. Copy the whole HTML code
7. Now, in blogger blog open setting, go to search preference and click custom page not found under errors and redirection.
8. Paste the HTML message in the custom page not found section of your blogger dashboard as shown in the screenshot below 

9. Once you have pasted the code save the arrangements and you are done

Since search engines understand only the HTML language this is why we used pages to create custom 404 Page rather than directly creating the message in the custom redirect box.

Make sure not to create a 404 page that simply tells users “page not found”. Try to add additional information and use polite sentences. Advice users to visit similar pages in your site. 

Provide links to other pages such as Home page link or the links to most popular pages on your site. Moreover, make sure to use to design similar to other pages on your blog or website.

Make sure to direct search engines not to index your 404 Page. If you allow the search engines to index your page in the search result it will show your 404 page in the search results which can negatively impact the ranking of your blog. 

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