A Comprehensive Guide To HTTP Status Codes For SEOs

In SEO audits, a crucial aspect involves interpreting HTTP status codes on a website. These codes aren’t just technical details; they provide insight into the site’s condition and functionality, impacting its search engine performance. 

The commonly encountered 404 not found status signifies a missing page, presenting a significant challenge. To understand such codes, auditors must examine server logs thoroughly to identify and address errors effectively. Besides 404 errors, other status codes pose complex challenges, requiring in-depth analysis within SEO audits.

Delving into HTTP status codes is like navigating a maze; each code reveals a story about the website’s functionality and user interactions. It’s an exploratory journey where decoding codes uncover valuable insights.

Auditors refine strategies to enhance website visibility and user engagement with each insight. This knowledge empowers them to make changes that resonate with users, creating an inviting and user-friendly website.

Mastering HTTP Status Codes For SEO

Every time a webpage is accessed, it triggers the generation of a status code, a crucial element in web communication that provides the browser with additional information and instructions. These codes are not just technical jargon; they are pivotal in facilitating smooth browsing experiences and influencing search engine optimization (SEO). 

When search engine bots crawl web pages, they interpret these status codes, and specific ones can significantly impact SEO performance. The urgency of understanding and managing these status codes cannot be overstated; it is essential for ensuring optimal visibility and ranking in search engine results.

SEO experts utilize HTTP status codes to diagnose and optimize website health, ensuring search engines accurately index and rank their pages.

Cast Of Characters

• Visitor: Individuals accessing a website, potentially engaging with its content and services.
• Robot: An automated program or algorithm scanning and indexing web pages for search engines to enhance website visibility.
• Link Authority: Website credibility and relevance based on the quality and quantity of inbound links from other sites.
• Pages: Various web pages within a website contain unique content and information tailored to specific topics or purposes.

HTTP Status Codes

When a browser requests a service from a web server, an error may occur, resulting in the server responding with an error code such as “404 Not Found.” These errors are called HTTP status messages. Each time a request is made, the server returns a status message to indicate the request’s outcome. The most common status message is “200 OK,” indicating a successful request.

Below is a list of HTTP status messages that a server might return in response to various requests:

1xx: Information

1. 100 Continue: The server has received the request headers. The client should proceed by sending the request body.
2. 101 Switching Protocols: The requester has instructed the server to switch protocols.
3. 103 Early Hints: This status, used with the Link header, allows the browser to start preloading resources while the server prepares the response.

2xx: Successful

1. 200 OK: The request is successful.
2. 201 Created: The request is fulfilled, creating a new resource.
3. 202 Accepted: The request is accepted for processing, but processing is not complete.
4. 203 Non-Authoritative Information: The request is processed successfully, returning information from another source.
5. 204 No Content: The request is processed successfully, with no content returned.
6. 205 Reset Content: The request is processed successfully, but no content is returned, so the requester must reset the document view.
7. 206 Partial Content: The server is delivering part of the resource due to a range header sent by the client.

Also Read: Google Not Indexing Pages? Quick Fixes You Need

3xx: Redirection

1. 300 Multiple Choices: This response indicates a link list where users can select a link to navigate to a specific location. A maximum of five addresses are available.
2. 301 Moved Permanently: This status code signifies that the requested page has moved to a new URL permanently.
3. 302 Found: The requested page has temporarily moved to a new URL.
4. 303 See Other: The requested page is available under a different URL.
5. 304 Not Modified: This indicates that the requested page has not been modified since it was last requested.
6. 307 Temporary Redirect: The requested page has temporarily moved to a new URL.
7. 308 Permanent Redirect: The requested page has moved to a new URL permanently.

4xx: Client Error

1. 400 Bad Request: The request is invalid due to bad syntax.
2. 401 Unauthorized: Due to authentication failure, the server refuses to respond to a valid request.
3. 402 Payment Required: This status is reserved for future use.
4. 403 Forbidden: The server refuses to respond to a valid request.
5. 404 Not Found: The requested page is not found but may become available in the future.
6. 405 Method Not Allowed: The requested page does not support the provided request method.
7. 406 Not Acceptable: The server can only generate a response the client does not accept.
8. 407 Proxy Authentication Required: The client must authenticate with the proxy before proceeding.
9. 408 Request Timeout: The server timed out while waiting for the request.
10. 409 Conflict: The request could not be completed due to a conflict.
11. 410 Gone: The requested page is no longer accessible.
12. 411 Length Required: The server requires the “Content-Length” to be defined in the request.
13. 412 Precondition Failed: The server evaluated the false precondition specified in the request.
14. 413 Request Too Large: The server refuses the request because the request entity is too large.
15. 414 Request-URI Too Long: The server refuses the request because the URI is too long.
16. 415 Unsupported Media Type: The server refuses the request because the media type is not supported.
17. 416 Range Not Satisfiable: The server cannot supply the requested portion of the file.
18. 417 Expectation Failed: The server cannot fulfill the requirements of the Expect request-header field.

5xx: Server Error

1. 500 Internal Server Error: Indicates a generic error message when no specific message is applicable.
2. 501 Not Implemented: Signifies that the server either doesn’t recognize the request method or cannot fulfill the request.
3. 502 Bad Gateway: Indicates that the server, acting as a gateway or proxy, received an invalid response from the upstream server.
4. 503 Service Unavailable: Denotes that the server is unavailable due to overload or being down.
5. 504 Gateway Timeout: Shows that the server, acting as a gateway or proxy, didn’t receive a timely response from the upstream server.
6. 505 HTTP Version Not Supported: The server doesn’t support the HTTP protocol version used in the request.
7. 511 Network Authentication Required: The client must authenticate to gain network access.

Note: Technically, code 301 is “Moved Permanently” and 302 is “Found,” but in SEO, they’re commonly referred to as “Permanent Redirect” and “Temporary Redirect.”

The Canonical Tag

• REL Canonical: This attribute is used as an alternative to 301 redirects, maintaining Page A’s visibility for visitors while efficiently addressing URL duplication concerns.
• Alternative to 301 Redirects: REL Canonical serves as a substitute method for URL management, preserving the presence and accessibility of Page A for visitors without necessitating permanent redirection.

Conclusion

SEO professionals must grasp HTTP status codes to optimize website performance and user experience effectively. Understanding the meanings and implications of different status codes enables them to troubleshoot issues, enhance crawlability, improve indexing, and elevate search engine rankings. From familiar codes like 200 OK to critical ones like 404 Not Found and beyond, a comprehensive knowledge base empowers SEOs to navigate technical challenges, maintain website health, and ensure superior online visibility for clients or businesses.

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