This morning began much the same as others had—with the reassuring ritual of coffee. I picked up my favorite mug, the one from a perfect set, only to drop it through my fingers and break it on the kitchen floor. Witnessing my coffee mug on the floor in pieces was so dismal. As I got down to pick up the pieces, I had a queer thought: This is just how a broken link would feel.
You see, just like that beloved mug, broken links on a website were once whole. They had purpose, content, and connection. But over time, things change—pages get removed, URLs are mistyped, and domains expire. And what’s left behind? A path to nowhere. For the user, it’s jarring. They expect a destination, and instead, they get a dead end.
Broken links are not just annoying from an SEO standpoint— they’re actually damaging. They interrupt the user experience, mark your site as neglected to the search engines, and quietly undermine your site’s authority. Just as the lack of the second half of my mug set now makes the first one feel lacking, one single broken link can shatter the chain of trust for your entire site.
What can we do, then?
Audit regularly. Scan for dead links with tools just as you’d inspect your favorite stuff.
Redirect intelligently. If a page is missing, send users somewhere useful, such as a thoughtful 301 redirect.
Keep it relevant. Update older blog posts and resources so each click still counts.
That small mishap this morning made me realize how crucial maintenance is–in LIFE and in SEO. Whether it’s a coffee cup or a link, everything needs a little attention to maintain the connection.
If your website has some “cracks” or broken links, I’d be happy to assist you in repairing them.
Let’s make digital dead ends into bright, inviting paths once again. ????
Best, Christina Rose.