Google webmaster tools & 'Soft 404' errors -- WEB400

Subject: Google webmaster tools & 'Soft 404' errors
From: David Gibbs <david@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2017 13:46:16 -0600
List-archive: <https://archive.midrange.com/web400/>
List-help: <mailto:web400-request@midrange.com?subject=help>
List-id: "Web Enabling the IBM i \(AS/400 and iSeries\)" <web400.midrange.com>
List-post: <mailto:web400@midrange.com>
List-subscribe: <https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/listinfo/web400>, <mailto:web400-request@midrange.com?subject=subscribe>
List-unsubscribe: <https://lists.midrange.com/mailman/options/web400>, <mailto:web400-request@midrange.com?subject=unsubscribe>

Folks:

This isn't specifically related to IBM i, but might be of interest.

Google Webmaster tools is flagging any page that who's title contains the words 'Not Found' as a 'Soft 404', indicating that the page couldn't be found but wasn't returning a 404 error.

It's also trying to follow any text that looks like a path name as if it were a link, even when it's not a link, and flagging the path as a hard 404 error.

Sometimes Google is too smart for it's own good.

david

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

This mailing list archive is Copyright 1997-2024 by midrange.com and David Gibbs as a compilation work. Use of the archive is restricted to research of a business or technical nature. Any other uses are prohibited. Full details are available on our policy page. If you have questions about this, please contact [javascript protected email address].

Operating expenses for this site are earned using the Amazon Associate program and Google Adsense.