What Is a 404 Page?

A 404 page is an error page that appears when a user tries to access a page on your website that cannot be found. This typically occurs when the URL entered does not match any existing page or file within your site.

🧩 Why Does a 404 Error Occur?

A 404 (Not Found) error can happen for several reasons, including:

• The page has been deleted or moved to a new URL.

• A broken link is pointing to an incorrect or outdated address.

• The visitor has typed the URL incorrectly.

• A redirect is missing or incorrectly configured.

When this happens, your website automatically displays the designated 404 error page to inform the visitor that the requested page could not be found.

🎨 The Purpose of a 404 Page

A well-designed 404 page helps retain visitors and guide them back to your site’s active content.
Rather than simply displaying an error, it can include:

• A friendly message explaining the issue.

• A link to the homepage or main navigation.

• A search bar to help users find what they’re looking for.

• Contact information or links to popular pages.

This helps reduce visitor frustration and keeps engagement high, even when an error occurs.

⚙️ Creating a Custom 404 Page in the CMS

If you would like to replace the default 404 error message with a custom 404 page that contains helpful links or featured content, follow the steps below.

1. Create a new page within the back office that will act as your custom 404 page.

   • Include your chosen text, imagery, and links to guide lost visitors (for example, a homepage link or top articles).

   • Give this page a clear name such as “404 Page”.

2. Once your custom 404 page has been created and saved, set it as the active 404 page:

   • Using the left-hand menu, hover over Settings and select Site Settings.

   • Under the General tab, scroll down to locate the 404 page field.

   • From the dropdown, select the custom page you created.

   • Scroll to the bottom and click Save to apply your change.

Your website will now automatically display this custom 404 page whenever a visitor tries to access a missing or invalid URL.

🧠 Best Practice Tip

A 404 page is not just a technical necessity — it’s an opportunity to keep visitors engaged.
Adding clear navigation, links to popular sections, and a friendly message can turn a dead-end into a positive user experience.

⚠️ Important SEO Warning

Do not set your homepage as your 404 page.

Doing so will trigger a noindex directive on the homepage, which can hugely harm your website’s SEO performance by preventing search engines from properly indexing your main page. Always create a dedicated page specifically for 404 errors.