How to Find and Fix Broken Links of Website (Checklist & Case Study)
Broken links are one of the most overlooked issues in website management. Not only do they harm user experience, but they also negatively impact your SEO rankings. Imagine a visitor clicking on a link to a key product page, only to land on a 404 error page — frustrating, right?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover what broken links are, why they matter, how to find them, and step-by-step instructions to fix them. We’ll also include a real-life case study, an actionable checklist, and tips to prevent broken links in the future.
By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to maintain a fully healthy website, improve user experience, and boost your organic traffic.
1. What Are Broken Links?
Broken links are hyperlinks that lead to pages that no longer exist or return an error code. There are several types of broken links:
- 404 Errors (Page Not Found) – The most common broken link issue.
- 403 / 401 Errors (Access Denied) – Links to pages restricted or password-protected.
- 500 Errors (Server Error) – The linked page fails due to server issues.
- Redirect Loops – Links that redirect infinitely without reaching a destination.
- Dead External Links – Links pointing to external websites that are removed or moved.
2. Why Broken Links Are Bad for Your Website
2.1 SEO Impact
Google crawlers consider broken links as a sign of a poorly maintained site. While one or two broken links may not drastically affect rankings, a website with multiple broken links can:
- Reduce crawl efficiency, wasting Googlebot’s crawl budget.
- Lower domain authority, as outbound links to dead pages signal neglect.
- Impact ranking for important keywords, as broken internal links prevent link equity distribution.
2.2 User Experience Impact
Broken links frustrate users. They can:
- Increase bounce rates, as visitors leave your site after encountering errors.
- Reduce trust and credibility, especially for e-commerce or service websites.
- Negatively affect conversion rates, as users can’t access important product or service pages.
2.3 Brand Reputation
A website full of broken links looks unprofessional. Customers may perceive your business as neglectful or outdated, which is harmful for long-term brand perception.
3. How to Find Broken Links on Your Website
There are manual and automated methods to find broken links. We recommend combining both approaches for maximum accuracy.
3.1 Using Google Search Console
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool that can identify broken pages:
- Go to Coverage → Check for 404 errors.
- Go to Enhancements → Look for issues in mobile usability or AMP that could cause broken pages.
- Export the list for easier management.
Pros: Free and Google-provided
Cons: May miss some external broken links
3.2 Using Screaming Frog SEO Spider
Screaming Frog is a professional SEO tool for website crawling:
- Download Screaming Frog and enter your website URL.
- Run the crawl → Click on the Response Codes tab.
- Filter by Client Error (4xx) and Server Error (5xx) to find broken links.
- Export results for detailed review.
Pros: Accurate, works for large websites, identifies internal and external links
Cons: Free version limited to 500 URLs
3.3 Online Broken Link Checker Tools
Some easy-to-use online tools:
- Ahrefs Site Audit – Checks for broken links and SEO errors.
- SEMrush Site Audit – Highlights broken pages and fixes.
- Dead Link Checker – Free tool for small websites.
Tip: These tools are useful for quick scans, but for full accuracy, use Screaming Frog.
3.4 Manual Checking
For smaller websites, manually check links:
- Browse your site and click all links.
- Use browser extensions like Check My Links (Chrome) to highlight broken links on each page.
Best for small blogs or single-page websites
4. How to Fix Broken Links
Once you’ve identified broken links, it’s time to fix them. The fix depends on whether the link is internal or external.
4.1 Fixing Internal Broken Links
Internal broken links are links pointing to pages within your website:
- Update URLs – Ensure the link points to the correct page.
- Redirect 301 – If the page was moved, set up a 301 redirect to the new URL.
- Delete Links – If the page is no longer relevant and there’s no replacement, remove the link.
Tip: Use Redirection plugin on WordPress for managing 301 redirects easily.
4.2 Fixing External Broken Links
External broken links point to other websites:
- Update the Link – If the content has moved, update to the new URL.
- Remove the Link – If there’s no replacement, remove the link to avoid SEO penalties.
- Use a Web Archive – Optionally, link to the Wayback Machine for historical reference.
4.3 Fixing Image Links
Broken images also affect UX and SEO:
- Re-upload missing images.
- Update image URLs if they were moved.
- Use alt text for all images to maintain SEO.
5. Tools to Fix Broken Links
For WordPress websites, several plugins make fixing broken links easy:
- Broken Link Checker – Scans your website and emails you about broken links.
- Redirection – Manage 301 redirects for moved pages.
- Yoast SEO – Helps with content updates and internal linking.
UX Tip: Always test redirects before going live to avoid loops.
6. Broken Link Prevention
Preventing broken links is easier than fixing them:
- Regularly audit your website (monthly or quarterly).
- Use relative URLs for internal links instead of absolute URLs.
- Implement 301 redirects when deleting pages.
- Monitor external links periodically.
- Avoid linking to untrustworthy or unstable sites.
7. Case Study: How Fixing Broken Links Increased Traffic
Client: Local e-commerce store, ~250 pages
Problem: Organic traffic plateaued at 2,000 visits/month. Screaming Frog detected 35 broken internal links and 18 broken outbound links.
Solution Implemented:
- Fixed internal links → Updated URLs & added 301 redirects
- Updated broken external links → Replaced with authoritative sources
- Set up a monthly audit schedule with Broken Link Checker plugin
Results After 3 Months:
- Organic traffic increased from 2,000 → 3,400 visits/month
- Bounce rate decreased from 62% → 48%
- Conversion rate increased by 12% due to improved UX
Conclusion: Broken link management significantly improved SEO, user experience, and conversions.
8. SEO Benefits of Fixing Broken Links
Fixing broken links can improve:
- Crawlability – Googlebot can index your pages efficiently.
- User Experience – Users stay longer on your site.
- Link Equity Distribution – Internal link juice flows correctly to important pages.
- CTR & Engagement – Fewer errors increase click-throughs.
- Brand Trust – Users perceive your website as professional.
9. Step-by-Step Broken Link Fix Checklist
| Step | Action | Tool / Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crawl website to find broken links | Screaming Frog / Ahrefs / SEMrush |
| 2 | Export broken link report | CSV / Excel |
| 3 | Identify internal vs external broken links | Separate for action |
| 4 | Fix internal links | Update URLs, 301 redirects, delete obsolete links |
| 5 | Fix external links | Update, remove, or use Wayback Machine |
| 6 | Fix broken images | Re-upload / update URLs / add alt text |
| 7 | Verify fixes | Crawl again to ensure no errors remain |
| 8 | Set up monitoring | Use Broken Link Checker plugin / monthly scans |
| 9 | Prevent future issues | Educate content team, update links on new posts |
| 10 | Document changes | Maintain log for SEO audits |
10. UX & Design Considerations
- Error Page Design: Design a friendly 404 page that guides users back to relevant content.
- Link Styling: Use consistent colors and hover effects to indicate clickable links.
- Navigation: Ensure menus & footers are free of broken links.
- Mobile UX: Test links on mobile devices for usability.
11. Advanced Tips
- Use canonical tags to prevent duplicate content errors when fixing broken links.
- Monitor Google Analytics 404 pages report for user-facing errors.
- Implement internal link audits when launching new content.
- Use structured data to boost visibility for pages linked internally.
Conclusion
Broken links are a silent killer of SEO and user experience. By following this guide, performing audits regularly, and implementing fixes systematically, you can:
- Boost organic traffic
- Improve user satisfaction
- Increase conversions and sales
Remember, proactive monitoring and using the right tools is key. With a structured approach, broken links no longer have to hold your website back.
Final Checklist
- Crawl website monthly for broken links
- Fix internal links → update / redirect
- Fix external links → update / remove
- Repair broken images
- Monitor Google Search Console coverage & errors
- Use plugins like Broken Link Checker / Redirection
- Optimize 404 pages for UX
