Do you have a FREE Online Broken Link Checker link

Summary

This video discusses the importance of maintaining a website's health by addressing broken links, which can significantly impact SEO and user engagement. It introduces a free online broken link checker capable of scanning up to 3,000 web pages for both internal and external broken links. The video highlights the benefits of using an automated tool for efficiency, accuracy, and improved SEO, as well as enhancing user experience. It also provides tips for maintaining a healthy link profile, such as regular audits, updating URLs, and using 301 redirects. The link to the checker is available in a shared Google document.

Takeaways

• 🔗 Broken links can be either internal (within your website) or external (leading to other websites).
• 🚫 The presence of broken links, such as 404 errors, can significantly harm user experience and SEO.
• 💡 A free online broken link checker is offered, capable of scanning up to 3,000 web pages for broken links.
• ⏱ Manually checking for broken links is time-consuming and impractical for large websites.
• 🤖 Automated link checking tools provide efficiency, accuracy, and comprehensive reporting, saving time and effort.
• 🌐 The automated tool can be used across various platforms, including Linux, Windows, and potentially Chromebooks.
• 📈 Regular use of a broken link checker can improve SEO performance by maintaining a healthy link profile.
• 👍 Enhancing user experience through fixing broken links leads to higher user engagement and satisfaction.
• 🔄 Regular audits and monitoring of both internal and external links are crucial for maintaining a website's health.
• ♻️ When moving content to a new URL, use a 301 redirect instead of deleting the old page to preserve SEO value.

Q & A

What is the primary frustration associated with encountering a 404 error on a website?

Encountering a 404 error on a website is highly frustrating as it signifies that the requested page cannot be found, leading to a poor user experience and potential loss of trust in the website.

What are the two types of broken links mentioned in the script?

The two types of broken links mentioned are internal links, which are links to documents within your own content, and external links, which lead to pages on different websites.

How do broken links affect SEO and user engagement?

Broken links can negatively impact SEO and user engagement by leading to a high bounce rate, decreasing user satisfaction, and potentially causing visitors to not return to the website.

What is the recommended method for checking for broken links on a website with many pages?

The recommended method for checking for broken links on a large website is using an automated link checking tool, as manually verifying each link is impractical and time-consuming.

What benefits does an automated link checker provide over manual checking?

An automated link checker provides benefits such as more efficiency, accuracy, the ability to generate comprehensive reports, and improved search engine optimization by maintaining a healthy link profile.

How can a broken link checker enhance user experience on a website?

A broken link checker can enhance user experience by ensuring that users encounter fewer broken links, leading to higher user engagement and satisfaction as they navigate the website seamlessly.

What is the significance of fixing broken links for a website's reputation?

Fixing broken links is significant for a website's reputation because unresolved 404 errors can damage the website's credibility and user trust, potentially affecting its standing with search engines.

How can one access the free online broken link checker mentioned in the script?

The free online broken link checker can be accessed through a link provided in the comments section of a shared Google document, which is mentioned in the script.

What are some tips for maintaining a healthy link profile on a website?

Tips for maintaining a healthy link profile include conducting regular audits, updating URLs as needed, notifying third parties of broken links, monitoring external links, and using 301 redirects when moving content to a new URL.

How often should a website owner perform link audits to ensure a healthy link profile?

The frequency of link audits is not explicitly mentioned in the script, but it suggests that regular audits should be performed to maintain a healthy link profile and improve SEO performance.

What is the final call to action for viewers of the video script?

The final call to action is for viewers to use the free broken link checker, subscribe to the channel for more valuable content, and contact the presenter using the secure contact form on guyrcook.com if they have any questions or need further assistance.

Outlines

00:00

🔗 The Importance of Broken Link Checkers for Website Health

This paragraph introduces the frustration of encountering a 404 error on a website and emphasizes the significance of maintaining a healthy website by checking for broken links. The speaker provides a free online broken link checker tool that can scan up to 3,000 web pages for both internal and external broken links. The negative impacts of broken links on SEO and user engagement are discussed, highlighting how a 404 error can deter users from revisiting a site. The paragraph also touches on the manual and automated methods of checking links, advocating for the efficiency and accuracy of automated tools. The benefits of using such tools include improved efficiency, accuracy, comprehensive reporting, enhanced SEO, and an improved user experience. The speaker also provides a link to the tool in a shared Google document and mentions that the tool is browser-based, making it compatible with various operating systems.

05:06

🛠️ Enhancing SEO and User Experience Through Regular Link Maintenance

The second paragraph delves into the broader implications of having broken links on a website, such as damage to reputation and the importance of regular link maintenance for SEO performance and user experience. The speaker advises on the use of 301 redirects when moving content to a new URL instead of deleting and starting anew. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for viewers to use the free online broken link checker, emphasizing its ease of use and the benefits it brings to website management. The speaker also invites viewers to contact them through a secure form on their website and encourages engagement with the video by liking, sharing, and subscribing to the channel for more content on digital marketing and related topics.

Keywords

💡404 Error

A 404 error is a standard HTTP response code that means the requested resource cannot be found on the server. In the context of the video, encountering a 404 error is portrayed as a significant source of user frustration. The speaker emphasizes that a 404 error can lead to a negative user experience and discourage repeat visits to a website, which is detrimental to both user engagement and SEO.

💡Broken Links

Broken links are hyperlinks that lead to web pages that do not exist. The video discusses two types: internal links, which point to documents within the same website, and external links, which point to pages on different websites. The presence of broken links is highlighted as a major issue for website health, affecting SEO and user experience. The video script mentions the negative effects of broken links, such as increased bounce rates and decreased user satisfaction.

💡SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

SEO refers to the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engine results, thereby increasing its visibility and traffic. The video underscores the importance of SEO in the context of broken links, explaining that a website with numerous 404 errors and broken links is likely to suffer in search rankings. The speaker suggests using a broken link checker to maintain a healthy link profile, which is crucial for good SEO.

💡User Engagement

User engagement refers to the level of interest and interaction a user has with a website. The video script emphasizes that broken links can significantly reduce user engagement by leading to a poor user experience. When users expect seamless navigation and encounter broken links, it can result in a higher bounce rate and decreased likelihood of returning to the site.

💡Bounce Rate

Bounce rate is a metric used in web analytics that indicates the percentage of visitors who leave a website after viewing only one page. In the video, a high bounce rate is associated with a poor user experience, particularly when users encounter multiple broken links. The speaker suggests that fixing broken links can help reduce bounce rates and improve overall website performance.

💡Link Checker

A link checker is a tool used to identify broken or dead links on a website. The video introduces a free online broken link checker that can scan up to 3,000 web pages for broken links. The speaker advocates for the use of such automated tools over manual checking, which is time-consuming and impractical for large websites, to improve efficiency and maintain a healthy link profile.

💡Automated Link Checking Tool

An automated link checking tool is software that scans websites for broken links without manual intervention. The video script promotes the benefits of using such tools, including efficiency, accuracy, and the ability to generate comprehensive reports. The speaker provides a link to a shared Google document where viewers can access the recommended automated link checker.

💡HTML File

An HTML file is a text file used to create web pages. In the context of the video, the broken link checker's ability to save reports as HTML files is highlighted as a feature that allows website owners to review and address broken links at their convenience. The speaker suggests saving the report for future reference and action.

💡Digital Marketing

Digital marketing encompasses the various efforts to promote products or services via digital channels, such as websites and social media. The video, while primarily focused on broken link checking, is part of a broader discussion on digital marketing strategies. The speaker encourages viewers to subscribe to the channel for more content on digital marketing, indicating that maintaining website health is a component of effective digital marketing.

💡301 Redirect

A 301 redirect is a permanent redirect that tells search engines and browsers that a webpage has moved to a new URL. The video script advises using 301 redirects when moving content to a new URL instead of deleting the old page and creating a new one. This practice helps maintain SEO value and user experience by ensuring that users and search engines are directed to the updated content.

Highlights

The frustration of encountering a 404 error on a website.

Introduction to a free online broken link checker for up to 3,000 web pages.

Definition of broken links: internal and external links.

Negative effects of broken links on SEO and user engagement.

How a 404 error can deter users from revisiting a website.

The importance of user experience and its relation to bounce rate.

The impracticality of manual link checking for large websites.

Advantages of using an automated link checking tool.

Benefits of efficiency and accuracy with automated tools.

How automated link checkers can improve SEO.

Enhanced user experience as a major benefit of fixing broken links.

Introduction of the free online broken link checker as a new best friend for website maintenance.

The broader impact of broken links on website reputation.

Instructions on how to use the free online broken link checker.

Tips for maintaining a healthy link profile through regular audits and updates.

The importance of monitoring external links for changes.

Advice on using 301 redirects when moving content to a new URL.

The professional benefits of managing websites with fewer broken links.

How to access the free online broken link checker via a Google document link.

Encouragement to subscribe for more digital marketing content.

Transcripts

Okay, so imagine going to a website on the  internet and clicking the link and then you  

landed on a dreaded 404. That is just the height  of frustration, right? So today we're talking  

about Boost Your Website's Health and we're going  to give you a link for a free online broken link  

checker. It'll check up to 3,000 web pages and  the links therein, and it's entirely free. Okay,  

so what are broken links? Well, the definition  of a broken link, you get two flavors. There's  

internal links where you link to a document  within your content or an external link, and  

those are going to pages on different websites.  The negative effects of broken links in SEO or in  

user engagement, tremendous. So a 404 just about  guarantees a person won't come back. They're going  

to say, well, I can't go to that website anymore.  It just doesn't work. And a user experience  

standpoint, it's important, and it'll contribute  to your bounce rate. Visit your website and  

expect seamless navigation and instead encounter  multiple broken links. They're not going to come  

back to your site. So there's a need for a broken  link checker, and you can do it two ways. You can  

explore it manually, which takes forever on a site  that's got hundreds or even thousands of pages.  

Manually verifying each link means clicking on  the hyperlink, make sure it works, and that's  

not practical for most website owners. Okay On  the other hand, the automated link checking tool,  

like we're going to put in the Google document  link that we're going to share to you. And you  

just scroll down in the comments and you'll see  the link there to the shared Google document.  

And bazinga, there it is. The automated tool,  that's the way to go. There's benefits to using  

the automated link checker. And that broken link  checker is going to make you have these things.  

More efficiency because the automated tools  can do an entire website, identify the broken  

links in a fraction of time it would take to check  manually. It's accurate. Its comprehensive report  

can be saved as the HTML file, and you can look  at it later when you need to work on them. And  

improved search engine optimization is going  to happen when your broken link checker helps  

you maintain a healthy link profile. How they  say save the best for last? Well, enhanced user  

experience is probably the major benefit in that  you want your users to have a pleasant experience  

when they visit your content, and that's what's  going to happen. They're going to have higher  

user engagement and satisfaction as a result of  you fixing those links with your free broken link  

checker. And now it's time to say hello to your  new best friend in website maintenance. That's  

right, the free online broken link checker. I've  got the Google documents set up with a link to  

the source and you can get to that website.  It'll work in Linux, it'll work in Windows,  

probably work in a Chromebook because it's browser  based and that's going to get it done. So get  

those links fixed. So why is having a broken  link so bad? I mean, really, it's just a 404,  

right? Well, not really. It's a lot more bigger  picture than that. You can really damage your  

reputation by having 404 links on your website.  So I want you to use the free broken link checker  

and get yourself right with Google and Yahoo  and Bing, etc. And that's going to make you or  

break you. I often times say easy as cake. And the  free online broken link checker is exactly that,  

easy as cake to use. You go to the website URL,  you put in your web pages, you want to have it  

checked in the search bar, initiate the scan,  and then you wait. When it gets done, depending  

on the size of your site, review the report, fix  identified issues. Now, fixing them right then,  

that second, might not be a piece of cake. There  might be a bunch of them. So then you want to save  

that report as an HTML file so you can go back  and revisit it and work on it and get it done. The  

tips for maintaining a healthy link profile are  these. Regular audits, do it on a regular basis.  

Check those links. Update URLs that need updating  by your hand let people know that they've got a  

broken link if it's a third party that you need to  contact. Monitor external links that's ones i just  

mentioned because those could be changed could go  down number of things so check your external link.  

Once you get the internal links done, then they're  cast in stone. You don't have to worry about that.  

And anytime that you want to move content to  a new URL, use the 301 redirect. Don't delete  

that file and start a new one. It's better to have  the redirect. So I hope you now know regular link  

maintenance is a big part of what you do in your  job. It's going to improve your SEO performance.  

It's going to make for a better user experience.  And you're going to be more professional. The  

websites that you manage and maintain that have  lower number of broken links, well, that's going  

to make you look good. Okay. The free online  broken link checker, like I said, the link is in  

the Google document. Hey, to contact me, use the  secure contact form on guyrcook.com. If you like  

this video, found it helpful, give it a thumbs  up and share it with your friends. Subscribe  

to the channel for more valuable content on  digital marketing and other things. It's a wrap.