What Are Broken Links in SEO and How to Find and Fix Them

June 09, 2026

Nithya
4 min read

Introduction

A visitor clicks a link on your website expecting useful information, only to land on an error page. It is frustrating for users and sends the wrong signals to search engines.

This is why understanding broken links in SEO is important. Even a well-designed website can lose traffic, trust, and visibility if broken links are left unfixed. Regular monitoring helps keep your website healthy and ensures visitors always reach the content they need.

What Are Broken Links in SEO?

Broken links in SEO are links that no longer lead to a working page.

When someone clicks the link, they usually see a 404 error or another message indicating the page cannot be found.

Broken links can occur when:

• A page is deleted
• A URL is changed without a redirect
• A website structure is updated
• External pages are removed

In Search engine optimization, working links help search engines understand website structure and content relationships. Broken links interrupt this process and create unnecessary obstacles.

Why Broken Links Are Bad for Your Website

Ignoring broken links in SEO can create several problems.

First, they damage user experience. Visitors may leave your website if they repeatedly encounter errors.

Second, broken links make it harder for search engines to crawl your website efficiently. This can affect indexing and visibility.

A proper seo site audit often reveals hidden broken links that website owners may not notice during normal browsing.

Broken links can also affect link building seo efforts. If valuable pages become unavailable, any authority passed through those links may be lost.

🔍 Did You Know?

Broken links create a poor experience for website visitors.

Search engines may reduce trust in websites with many dead links.

Types of Broken Links You Should Know

Not all broken links in SEO are the same.

Internal Broken Links

These point to pages within your own website that no longer exist.

For example, a blog post linking to an outdated service page.

External Broken Links

These point to other websites that have removed or changed content.

Even though the issue exists on another website, it still affects your visitor experience.

Broken Image Links

Images can also become broken if files are deleted or moved.

Redirect Errors

Sometimes links point through multiple redirects or lead to incorrect destinations, creating navigation problems.

A complete website audit helps identify all these issues before they impact performance.

💬

"User experience and technical SEO go hand in hand."

— Aleyda Solis

How to Find Broken Links on a Website

Finding broken links in SEO is easier than many people think.

Several methods can help.

Use SEO Audit Tools

A good seo audit tool can crawl your website and report broken pages.

Check Search Console

Google Search Console often reports pages returning errors.

Review Analytics Data

Traffic drops on important pages may indicate hidden issues. This is where seo analytics becomes valuable.

Run a Website Scan

Many platforms allow you to find broken links across large websites automatically.

You can also use tools that help check website seo health and identify link-related problems.

🔍 Did You Know?

Many websites lose traffic because broken links remain unnoticed for months.

Regular checks help maintain a healthy website structure.

💬

"Broken pages create broken experiences for users."

— Rand Fishkin

Easy Ways to Fix Broken Links

Once you identify broken links in SEO, fixing them should become a priority.

Update the Link

Replace outdated URLs with the correct destination.

Add Redirects

If a page has moved, create a redirect to guide users to the new location.

Restore Deleted Content

If an important page was removed accidentally, restoring it may be the best solution.

Remove Unnecessary Links

Sometimes old references no longer serve a purpose and can be removed.

Strengthen Link Quality

When replacing broken external links, prioritize trusted sources that contribute to high-quality backlink opportunities and stronger authority.

A strong link-building strategy should always include regular maintenance to prevent broken pages from accumulating over time.

Key Takeaways

✔ Broken links can harm SEO and user experience
✔ 404 errors make websites look unreliable
✔ Regular audits help identify hidden issues
✔ Internal and external broken links both require attention
✔ Fixing broken links improves crawlability and trust

Conclusion

Understanding broken links in SEO is essential for maintaining a healthy website. Broken pages frustrate visitors, waste crawl resources, and can reduce trust from search engines.

Regular audits, proactive monitoring, and timely fixes help protect rankings and improve user experience. At SEO DADA, technical SEO practices like broken link management play an important role in building stronger and more reliable websites.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can broken links reduce website traffic?

Yes. Broken links in SEO can reduce traffic by creating poor user experiences and making it harder for search engines to crawl important pages. Visitors who encounter errors often leave without exploring further.

Are internal broken links worse than external broken links?

Internal broken links in SEO are generally more harmful because they directly affect your website structure and navigation. However, external broken links can still damage credibility and user trust.

What tools can help find broken links?

Several SEO tools can find broken links automatically. Google Search Console, crawling software, and comprehensive SEO audit platforms can help identify errors and improve website health.