What is the best way to handle links that lead to a 404 page

[mm916157]

Hi Team Moz,

I am working through a site cutover with an entirely new URL structure and have a bunch of pages that could not, would not or just plain don't redirect to new pages.

Steps I have taken:

• Multiple new sitemaps submitted with new URLs and the indexing looks solid

• used webmasters to remove urls with natural result listings that did not redirect and produce urls

• Completely built out new ppc campaigns with new URL structures

• contacted few major link partners

Now here is my question:

I have a pages that produce 404s that are linked to in forums, slick deals and stuff like that which will not be redirected. Is disavowing these links the correct thing to do?

[vmialik]

If you feel the links are harming you or your SEO efforts in anyway, you can go ahead and disavow them. However, the disavow link does not remove the links so it does not help with 404 errors, but will ignore them when it comes to your rankings.

Hope this helps!

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Well, the correct / best thing to do would be to try and get all of those links edited and pointed to live pages. That said, if you don't know who posted the links or have no way to get in touch with those who do, then it can be very awkward to achieve - still, link reclamation can be a great way to help with new links, seeing as they are already pointing to your site.

-Andy

[vivekrathore]

Edit the link backs you were getting to the 404 pages and point it to the new pages. Another option is to host a blank page (with header and footer) on the 404 page and 301 redirect it to the new pages. the page rank/ link profile will get passed to the new page.

[AlanMosley]

If the links are good ones, 301 redirect to a good page, you don't have to have a blank page at that url.

if they are bad links just leave them. if that are 404'ing then they can do you no harm.

The only 404's that can do you harm are ones from your own internal links, because it means you have link juice leaks. fix any if you have them

[JaneCopland]

Hi,

Definitely don't use disavow unless you think that the links are poor quality and could harm your site, or are actively harming it right now. That is what disavow is for, not for removing your 404 pages.

There is no harm waiting for Google to remove the 404 pages on its own, especially if you have used its URL removal tool as well. If there are any good links in the backlink profile of the 404ing pages, do attempt to contact the webmaster and have them changed - most people are more than happy to do this.