Building your website may start out as an exciting adventure, but as the process unfolds you may come to realize that there may be unexpected difficulties and hurdles along the way.
Even small errors can become very irritating to visitors and cost your business losses in revenue. But fear not; here at Southtown Web Design we offer our ultimate guide for getting through the 10 most prevalent website errors.
From the perilous 404 Error to the treacherous Broken Images, we’ll help you troubleshoot and fix these errors to ensure that your website is functioning at its best and provide an enjoyable user experience. So, grab your compass, and let’s begin our quest to conquer the website error wilderness!
#1 404 Error
Error 404 means the page cannot be found and occurs when links pointing back have not been updated.
So, to resolve it check to see if your page has moved or been removed – if it has been moved, set up a redirect; and for deleted ones create an alternative page or divert visitors accordingly; taking these steps will eliminate your 404 errors and help your website operate more smoothly again.
#2 Internal Server Error
Internal server errors (ISEs) are error messages displayed when servers encounter issues that are unable to fulfill requests made of them. They could be due to several causes including incorrect file permissions, corrupted .htaccess files, issues with plugins/themes, memory limits being exhausted quickly or an interference in server configuration settings.
Here are some common ways to fix internal server errors on a WordPress website:
- Scan Server Logs: Before diagnosing the cause of any issue, analyze server logs to see if there are any relevant error messages that might help pinpoint its origins.
- Deactivate plugins: One by one, deactivate and then reactivate each plugin until you discover which is causing the issues.
- Switch Back to a Default Theme: In order to determine whether or not your current theme is at fault, attempt switching to one of its default themes and seeing if any issues still arise.
- Increase the PHP Memory Limit: Increase the PHP memory limit to ensure WordPress has enough available memory for operation.
- Fix Your .htaccess File: Before making changes to or editing the .htaccess file, always create a backup copy as this may help ensure the integrity of any code modifications that take place.
- As a last resort, reinstalling WordPress may help resolve any core file-related issues on your server. Although this approach could potentially be risky and cause disruptions to your site, hiring someone with experience to oversee any significant modifications should be carefully considered before undertaking this course of action.
Fixing an internal server error on a WordPress website can be complex and may require technical expertise to complete. Therefore, if you lack this experience or knowledge regarding its technicalities it may be wiser to reach out to a WordPress designer or your hosting provider for assistance, if attempting this yourself.
#3 Slow Page Load Times
Slow websites can negatively impact user experiences and result in potential customers leaving. Here are some tips that may help improve website speed:
- Optimize images: The most common issues when it comes to a slow website are large image files. Use a plugin to compress and bring down your file size before you upload them to your website. Another tool you can use is photoshop or any tool of your choice.
- Use caching: Caching can help reduce the load on the server and improve website speed. Install a caching plugin like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache to improve page load times.
- Remove plugins: Too many plugins added into a WordPress site can drastically slow down your website. Go through and remove any plugins that you don’t need or use anymore.
- Use a Content Delivery Network (CDN): A CDN can help reduce the load on the server and speed up the website. Consider using a CDN service like Cloudflare.
For more information on speeding up your website, see my other article “Why is My WordPress Site Loading So Slow“. It offers in-depth details on ways to enhance website speed and performance.
#4 Broken Links
Broken links may occur when pages are moved or deleted, or when their link is mistyped. To correct broken links on your website, first identify which ones exist using Google Search Console or another broken link checker tool; once identified, update or redirect visitors accordingly.
#5 SSL Certificate Errors
An SSL certificate error occurs when a website’s SSL certificate is not properly configured or has expired. To fix this error, you should first check if your SSL certificate is valid and up to date.
If not, you can purchase a new SSL certificate or renew your existing one. You should also ensure your SSL certificate is properly configured on your server.
Additionally, to provide even more security for your website, you may consider obtaining a Wildcard SSL certificate, which can secure multiple subdomains with a single certificate. This can save time and money while providing peace of mind that your website’s subdomains are protected.
#6 Website Not Mobile-Friendly
With increasing numbers of users accessing websites on mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is essential. If your website is not mobile-friendly, you can fix this error by using a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes.
If you don’t have any idea on how to build your website to be more responsive, it is important to hire a website designer that has experience in this area.
Additional reasons you should switch to a mobile-friendly website
| Criteria | Mobile-Friendly Website | Non-Mobile-Friendly Website |
|---|---|---|
| User Experience | Optimized for small screens, easy navigation. | Difficult to navigate, may require zooming and scrolling. |
| Loading Speed | Faster due to optimized elements. | Slow, large elements may take time to load. |
| SEO Rankings | Higher rankings due to mobile-first indexing by Google. | Lower rankings due to non-compliance with mobile-first indexing. |
| User Engagement | Higher, as content and design cater to mobile users. | Lower, due to frustrating user experience. |
| Conversion Rate | Higher, as simple navigation and checkout processes aid conversions. | Lower, as complex processes lead to cart abandonment. |
| Maintainability | Easier, as responsive design allows for single-source updates. | Harder, as updates may need to be done for multiple versions. |
#7 Poor Navigation
It can be very difficult for people to find what they’re looking for on a site with a poorly constructed navigation menu. Which can also cause a bad user experience that will make potential customers leave your site. But don’t worry, there are some simple ways to fix this issue.
One way is to make sure your website has clear and easy-to-use navigation menus. These menus should be intuitive and show visitors where they can find the information they need easily.
Another helpful tip is to use breadcrumbs and internal links. Breadcrumbs show visitors where they are on your website, while internal links connect different pages on your website and guide users to more related content.
By implementing these tips, you can make it easier for visitors to navigate your website and find the information they need, without getting lost in the process. This can help improve their experience and keep them coming back for more.
#8 Poor Website Design
Your website design plays an important role in how visitors perceive and engage with your content, from perception of credibility to ease of interaction for users. That is why investing in an eye-catching yet user-friendly website that creates an engaging experience for all is so critical. A website redesign can be a powerful strategy to enhance the overall look and functionality of your site.
One way of accomplishing this goal is by hiring a professional web designer who can craft websites that are both visually attractive and user-friendly, meeting both of your specific requirements and target audience. They can work alongside you to create something amazing!
Also crucial, is making sure your website’s design accurately represents your brand identity and allows visitors to recognize it immediately, building their confidence to engage with your content more comfortably. By investing in an attractively designed site, you can enhance both credibility and create an unforgettable user experience for your target market.
#9 Broken Images
Broken images can happen when the image file is deleted or moved or when the image link is mistyped. To fix this error, you should first identify the broken images on your website using a tool such as Google Search Console or a broken image checker.
After you’ve found the broken images on your site, you can replace them with new images or you can fix the link to the existing image that was broken. It is also important to ensure that your images are optimized for the web and are not too large, which can impact page load times, as mentioned earlier.
#10 Spam Comments
If your website allows comments, you’ve probably encountered lots of spam. Make sure you’re always going through your comments, as some of them may potentially harm your website.
In order to fix this error, you can use a spam filter to detect and remove comments automatically. You can also moderate comments manually to make sure that only legitimate comments are published on your website.
WordPress makes this process much easier and doesn’t allow comments to be auto posted without first being approved.
This concludes the 10 most common website errors and how to fix them
Errors on websites can be frustrating, yet often resolved with the proper tools and strategies in place. By recognizing and correcting common website errors, you can better increase visitor satisfaction while making sure your site runs as intended.
As such, be sure to regularly monitor and prevent website errors in order to provide an accessible, user-friendly, and successful online experience. With careful effort you can build a site with an enhanced user experience for everyone!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common website error?
The most common website error is the 404 error, also known as “Page Not Found”. This error usually occurs when a user tries to access a webpage that doesn’t exist. It might be due to a broken link, a removed page, or a typo in the URL.
How do I fix my website errors?
Fixing website errors depends on the nature of the problem. Some common solutions include updating or correcting broken links, fixing coding errors, updating outdated software, or optimizing for mobile use. Regular audits of your website can help to identify and correct these issues.
What are errors in a Web page?
Errors in a web page can vary widely. They can be broken links, images not loading, 404 errors, incorrect or outdated content, poor load times, or coding issues. These errors can affect the user experience and the site’s search engine rankings.
What are the three kinds of possible errors which are found in web applications?
The three kinds of possible errors that are found in web applications are compilation errors, runtime errors, and logical errors. Compilation errors occur when the code is not syntactically correct. Runtime errors occur during the program’s execution. Logical errors are when the program doesn’t perform as intended despite having correct syntax and no runtime errors.
