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Errors are always unpleasant, and no one really enjoys seeing them, especially when they appear when they\u2019re trying to find something important on your website. However, a 404 error page can be customized, and many people choose not to. A 404 page just represents something that cannot be found to a lot of people and businesses when it could instead represent an opportunity to market.<\/p>\n
There is a difference, however, between an attractive and an effective 404 error page.\u00a0 Here are a few ways you can turn an error into something that works for you.<\/p>\n
Education<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of worrying about someone not finding what they were looking for, offer a small consolation to your potential customers and give them a list of commonly accessed links. While a 404 error may make many customers turn away, posting commonly accessed links can bring them back onto the working pages of your website.<\/p>\n Show Your Personality<\/strong><\/p>\n 404 websites can be put to use when they\u2019re used to brand your business, too. For example, eMusic is a subscription-based MP3 service that\u00a0 brings new music to clients browsing the site. When a page that doesn\u2019t exist is visited, the 404 error says \u201cpage not found. But maybe the internet brought you here to discover some cool new music instead!\u201d Not only are they using this page to brand themselves as an upbeat, charismatic company, they\u2019re also bringing potentially lost sheep back into the fold by offering more music to listen to.<\/p>\n