How can i fix a 404 with cards?

[TravG]

I am trying to redirect all the bad links that Google found coming into my site. I am just using the htaccess file and doing a 301. First off I guess that is the best way right?

I have redirected all the bad links except one. The page that has a link has a wildcard in it (I think that is what it is called - %). The bad link points to this page /%E2%80%A6a-casinos-for-2013/ I tried to redirect it like the others but it does not work. I assuming its because of the percentage signs.

Can anyone tell me how to fix this?

Thanks - Travis

[universal4]

Hey Travis, can you drop me a pm with the link that Google shows as a 404?

The %E2 is probably â do you have a page with that in it?
The %80 is probably `
The %A6 is probably ¦

You could try
â`¦A6a-casinos-for-2013/

I have experimented a little using wildcards in redirects, I just gotta dig up some notes to send you what I found worked...

Rick
Universal4

[TravG]

Hey rick - thanks. The PM is on its way.

[edgarf76]

I read in google webmaster tools that 404s dont hurt the site. When I see one, I mark it as fixed. I thought I was doing it the correct way.

[TravG]

Well you actually have to fix it or it will keep showing up in that report.

[edgarf76]

Thank you @ultimatepoker, Some pages were coming up as HTML errors in webmaster tools for description and title. I fixed both and waiting but they were still coming up as html errors. I deleted the pages and then they came up as 404s. I looked under the errors and it said that 404's cannot hurt your site. So I figured I would mark them as fixed so in my reports there are no errors (at least in my reports).

The thing that I'm confused about is how to get rid of the error. If a page is MYURL.com/404 would I have to make a new post with that same page name in order to supersede the error? If anyone can help me out with this or if they know a good site with a tutorial and can post it that would be great. Thanks!

[GaryTheScubaGuy]

You just need an htaccess file as you suggested. I would also optimise your 404 with at the very least your navigation template as well and monitor them (or Google WMC will for you). Depending on the platform there are also plugins like Yoast Wordpress SEO that can be further optimised.

Run ScreamingFrog to identify them all, redirect with Yoast one-by-one, or just do the htaccess

[GaryTheScubaGuy]

K.i.s.s.

[TravG]

How I handle that is to redirect the deleted page back to either the homepage or if you created a new page in place of the deleted page redirect it to that page. That is the best way I have found to handle that. You can do all that from your htaccess file using 301 redirects. if you are unsure how to edit your htaccess file simply do a google search and you will find a bunch of info on it.

You do not want a bunch of 404 errors whether it says they do not hurt your site or not (I believe they do hurt your site). The last thing you want is a vistor to go to that page and loose the visitor because the page doesnt exist.

Also make sure the deleted page no longer appears in your site map. I have had run into that with wordpress site map plugins. If you delete a page or change the URL make sure you rebuild your site map.

And as Gary said above make sure you have a 404 error page with the bare minumum beinng navigation links so the visitor can at least click to stay within your site. I am not very good with teh 404 page and mine is pretty baisc. It just shows the navigation and sidebar and a homepage link within the text of a short paragraph.

[universal4]

OK Travis,

I did a bit of testing and if the url encoding chart I checked is correct I think I have a fix for your 301 using wildcards.

I tested this to work on one of my sites.

I will send this info to you in a pm.

Rick
Universal4

[edgarf76]

Thank you @ultimatepoker. I have to do my homework on this one. i've never dealt with 301's and I am cleaning up a site and have deleted pages so I am going to get more 404's in webmaster tools.

[nameeta26]

Thanks for sharing this kinda of web error topic, my friends had got like this error and put me to get the answer. And now perhaps I have got the answer. Thanks again friends.

[edgarf76]

Im having another 404 problem since I installed the simple backup wordrpress plugin. It rewrote the htaccess file and every times I try to edit it, it still goes to 404's. Has anyone had this happen or know of a solution with the simple backup wordrpress plugin?