How to Handle Broken External Links on Your Website

Introduction

Broken external links can harm your website’s SEO and user experience. SEMrush flags these issues, helping you identify and resolve them. This guide explains what broken external links are, why they matter for SEO, and how to fix or ignore them efficiently.

What Are Broken External Links?

Broken external links are hyperlinks on your site pointing to another website that no longer functions. These links may return a 404 error or fail to load entirely, often caused by the target page being removed, moved, or temporarily unavailable.

Why Are They Bad for SEO?

Search engines like Google prioritize user experience. Broken links can frustrate users, leading to negative perceptions of your website. While you cannot control external pages, maintaining functioning links ensures your site appears credible and user-friendly.

How to Fix Broken External Links

Follow these steps to address broken links flagged by SEMrush:

1. Verify the Issue: Open the SEMrush report and test the flagged URL to confirm the problem.

2. Identify the Link: Locate the broken link on your website by searching through images, text, or navigation.

3. Fix the Link: Remove, update, or replace the link to ensure functionality. If it’s a typo, correct the URL.

When Can You Ignore This Issue?

You can ignore the issue if:

• The link works when manually tested, as SEMrush may occasionally flag working links due to bot-blocking or temporary downtime.

• A plugin generates the link, and the problem lies within the plugin itself. Consider troubleshooting the plugin or reevaluating its use.

Conclusion

Fixing broken external links is vital for maintaining your website’s SEO and user experience. While SEMrush makes this process straightforward, occasional false positives or plugin-related errors may require you to ignore certain issues. Address these concerns promptly to keep your site optimized and trustworthy.