Create a Flawless User Journey: 404 Pages, Broken Links, and Redirects for Squarespace
Build with purpose - transform obstacles into opportunities through conscious website maintenance.
IN THIS POST
How custom 404 pages can transform errors into opportunities for connection
The impact of broken links on user experience, SEO, and brand trust
Why redirects are essential for preserving SEO value and guiding visitors seamlessly
Step-by-step instructions to implement these strategies on your Squarespace website
Tools and resources to help you maintain a polished, user-friendly site
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The Power of Website Maintenance for Conscious Creatives
In the digital realm, your Squarespace website serves as more than just a functional tool—it’s a vibrant reflection of your creative vision, your conscious values, and the experience you wish to share with your audience. Every page, every link, and every interaction plays a role in shaping how visitors perceive your work and connect with your brand. However, technical glitches like broken links or generic error pages can quietly erode this connection, creating unnecessary barriers between you and your audience.
Think of your website as a living space. Just as a welcoming, well-maintained environment invites guests to linger and engage, a polished, intuitive website encourages visitors to explore, discover, and connect. By addressing common pain points such as error pages, outdated URLs, and navigation interruptions, you ensure your digital space remains as intentional and impactful as the work you create. In this post, we’ll guide you through three foundational strategies to elevate and optimise your Squarespace website: custom 404 pages, broken link checks, and redirects.
Why Maintenance Matters
A website that flows effortlessly is a testament to your dedication to quality and professionalism. It shows your audience that you value their experience and respect their time. A well-maintained website free of errors and aligned with your brand’s identity builds trust and strengthens connections. Conversely, neglecting website maintenance can lead to frustration for visitors, missed opportunities for engagement, and even a decline in your SEO rankings.
But maintaining your website is about more than just solving technical issues—it’s about crafting an intentional digital space that reflects your values and vision. By proactively addressing potential roadblocks, you create an experience that not only supports your goals but also invites visitors to stay, explore, and connect.
How a Well-Maintained Website Enhances the User Experience
User experience lies at the heart of building meaningful connections through your website. It’s not just about functionality—it’s about creating a digital space that feels effortless and intuitive, where visitors feel supported and guided at every step. A website that flows smoothly enables your audience to fully engage with your content while forging a deeper connection with your brand’s values and vision.
Even small disruptions, like encountering a broken link or a generic error page, can interrupt this flow, leaving visitors feeling disconnected or frustrated. These seemingly minor moments can leave a lasting impression, potentially undermining the trust you’ve worked so hard to build. By actively prioritising user experience, you demonstrate care, intentionality, and alignment—qualities your audience will instinctively feel and appreciate.
Explore three transformative strategies to create a seamless and welcoming journey on your Squarespace website:
01. CUSTOM 404 PAGES
Errors are an unavoidable part of any online experience, but they don’t have to be a dead end. Every moment on your website is an opportunity to engage your audience and strengthen their connection with your brand—even when things go wrong. A generic 404 error page can leave visitors feeling lost or frustrated, but a thoughtfully designed custom 404 page transforms that challenge into a chance to delight, guide, and inspire trust.
WHY CUSTOM 404 PAGES MATTER
When a visitor stumbles upon a broken page, it’s a pivotal moment. A well-designed custom 404 page ensures that this moment doesn’t disrupt their journey but instead reinforces trust in your brand and keeps their connection intact.
Keep Visitors Engaged: Offer links to key pages, like your homepage or portfolio, and include a search bar to help guide them back on track.
Preserve Professionalism: A visually appealing 404 page aligned with your brand builds trust and strengthens credibility.
Showcase Creativity: Surprise and delight visitors with a unique design, helpful navigation, or a personalised message that reflects your brand’s tone and personality.
HOW TO CREATE A CUSTOM 404 PAGE IN SQUARESPACE
Log in > Pages > Scroll down to UTILITIES and select Systems Pages > 404 Page
Use Squarespace’s intuitive builder to design the page that aligns with your brand’s identity.
Assign it as your default error page from the dropdown menu OR if you have already created a 404 Page then select this page in the dropdown menu and assign as the default. Then hit Save
Test the page by navigating to a non-existent URL on your site to ensure it works seamlessly.
For a detailed guide, visit the Squarespace Help Center
02. BROKEN LINKS CHECKS
The Key to Smooth Navigation: Every link on your website is a bridge, guiding your audience to the information and experiences they seek. A broken link, however, becomes a barrier—disrupting navigation, eroding trust, and diminishing the seamless flow you’ve worked hard to create. While they may seem like minor inconveniences, broken links have a ripple effect on both user experience and SEO, making it harder for your audience to find and engage with your content.
By proactively auditing your website for broken links, you show care for your audience’s journey and ensure your digital space remains a place of clarity and connection. Each link that works as intended reinforces the trust your visitors have in your site, supporting their exploration and engagement.
TOOLS TO CHECK FOR BROKEN LINKS
Dead Link Checker | A quick and free online solution for scanning your site.
Broken Link Check | A free online tool that scans your website for dead links and provides reports for easy correction.
Ahrefs Broken Link Checker | Offers a comprehensive analysis of broken outbound and inbound links, helping you pinpoint and rectify issues efficiently.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider | A desktop program that crawls your website to identify broken links, server errors, and other SEO-related issues.
Google Search Console | A free tool from Google that helps you monitor and optimise your site’s presence in search results. It provides valuable insights, including identifying crawl errors like broken links, tracking keyword performance, and ensuring your pages are indexed properly.
Every link on your site is part of the user experience. Ensuring links work properly avoids unnecessary interruptions, keeps visitors engaged, and reflects the care you put into their journey.
03. REDIRECTS
Adapting to Change Seamlessly: Change is a natural part of growth, and your website is no exception. As your content evolves, pages may be updated, restructured, or retired. Redirects are the quiet heroes of this process, ensuring that no visitor is left behind. By seamlessly guiding users and search engines to the correct content, redirects preserve the cohesion of your website and maintain its integrity.
Redirects aren’t just a technical fix—they’re a thoughtful way of honouring the trust your audience places in you. Whether you’re retiring an outdated page or refreshing a URL to better reflect your offerings, redirects ensure that your audience’s journey remains intuitive and effortless. This small act of care reflects your commitment to providing a seamless experience, no matter how your site evolves.
HOW TO SET UP REDIRECTS IN SQUARESPACE
01. Go to Settings > Advanced > URL Mappings.
02. Use this format:
/old-url -> /new-url 301
03. Save and test the redirect to ensure it works properly. Adaptability is key in any creative process. Redirects ensure that when your content evolves or moves, visitors are seamlessly guided to the correct page. This preserves the value of your work while maintaining a smooth user experience.
How Website Maintenance Impacts Your SEO
Search engines like Google prioritise user experience when determining rankings. Errors such as broken links and missing pages send signals that your site is poorly maintained, negatively affecting your search engine visibility. Addressing these issues proactively enhances your site’s relevance and reliability.
The Role of Custom 404 Pages in SEO: Reducing bounce rates, improving user signals, and strengthening brand credibility contribute to higher rankings.
How Broken Links Harm SEO: Crawl errors, disruptions in link equity, and increased bounce rates signal poor quality to Google.
Why Redirects Are Essential for SEO: Redirects preserve the value of backlinks, ensure seamless crawling, and guide visitors to the right content without interruption.
HOW GOOGLE REWARDS PROACTIVE ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Google rewards websites that demonstrate reliability, relevance, and value. Proactive maintenance, such as creating custom 404 pages, fixing broken links, and implementing redirects, signals that your site is well-maintained and user-focused. This not only enhances your audience’s journey but also builds a strong foundation for organic traffic and long-term visibility.
By nurturing your website with care and intention, you cultivate a seamless and meaningful experience for your audience, fostering trust, connection, and reinforcing your brand’s integrity and values.
Last Thoughts: A Digital Space That Reflects Your Intentions
Your Squarespace website is far more than a collection of pages—it’s a dynamic and intentional expression of your brand’s heart, vision, and values. It reflects the creativity and purpose you bring to your work, offering visitors a seamless, welcoming space to connect with you. Every element, from the design to the functionality, contributes to shaping the experience your audience has with your brand.
By creating a custom 404 page, you transform what could be a frustrating error into a moment of connection. A thoughtfully designed 404 page reflects your professionalism and creativity, guiding users back on track while maintaining trust and engagement. This small but impactful step can make a significant difference in how visitors perceive your brand.
Auditing for broken links is a vital maintenance practice that keeps your website functioning at its best. Broken links can harm your site’s user experience and SEO, making it harder for your audience to find and engage with your content. Regular link checks ensure your digital space remains a clear and accessible pathway for your audience to explore.
Redirects are the unsung heroes of website optimisation. Whether you’ve restructured your content, retired an outdated page, or updated a URL, redirects ensure no visitor ends up lost. They keep your website cohesive and your audience on a journey that feels intuitive and effortless.
These practices—creating a custom 404 page, auditing for broken links, and implementing redirects—are more than just maintenance tasks; they are expressions of care and intention. They ensure your Squarespace website remains a vibrant, living representation of your unique energy and purpose. Proactive website care is about more than fixing technical issues—it’s about crafting meaningful experiences that inspire trust, build connection, and invite your audience to explore and engage with your brand fully.
When you prioritise these foundational practices, you ensure that your website not only runs smoothly but actively enhances your audience's experience. A polished, well-maintained website reflects your clarity, intentionality, and alignment, strengthening the trust and connection you’ve worked so hard to establish. Every effort you make, whether it’s a quarterly audit or a single redirect, contributes to creating a space that embodies your purpose and allows opportunities to flow with ease.
By nurturing your website as an extension of your energy, you’re creating more than a flawless user journey—you’re building a legacy of integrity, creativity, and connection. When your website works effortlessly, so can you. Let it be a powerful ally in your journey as a conscious, creative changemaker.
ACTIONABLE NEXT STEPS TO GET STARTED
Design Your Custom 404 Page
Use Squarespace’s intuitive builder to craft a page that reflects your brand’s personality and guides visitors back to key content. A welcoming, creative 404 page can turn a potential roadblock into a moment of trust and connection.Run a Link Audit
Use tools like Ahrefs Broken Link Checker or Google Search Console to scan your site for broken links. Addressing these ensures a smooth experience for your visitors and keeps your SEO strong.Implement Redirects
In Squarespace, set up 301 redirects for pages that have been moved or deleted. Redirects ensure users and search engines are seamlessly guided to relevant content, preserving the value of your hard work.Schedule Regular Maintenance
Commit to quarterly website audits to check for broken links, review content, and ensure all pages align with your brand’s evolving goals and values. This proactive care keeps your site in top condition and aligned with your vision.
By taking these steps, you’re not just maintaining a website—you’re nurturing a digital space that aligns with your purpose and vision. This empowers your audience to explore your offerings with ease, trust, and genuine connection.
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CREATOR | Michelle Gee
