Boost Your WordPress Site: 2 Simple Ways to Enhance Your 404 Page Template

When designing WordPress websites, one often overlooked yet essential element is the 404 error page. Many website owners are unaware that a well-designed 404 page can serve as a powerful tool for retaining users and enhancing engagement.

From our experience, using a default 404 page represents a missed opportunity. We have observed how a personalized 404 page can transform a potential exit point into an opportunity to redirect visitors back to valuable content.

In this article, we will present two effective strategies to enhance your WordPress 404 page template.

Why Should You Enhance Your 404 Page Template in WordPress?

Most WordPress themes come equipped with a basic 404 template, including the default themes provided by WordPress.

For instance, the image below illustrates the 404 page of ThemeIsle Hestia.

Many of these default templates are simplistic and do not display any content from your site. As a result, visitors who land on your 404 page are more likely to leave your WordPress website, leading to an increased bounce rate.

This situation is detrimental to your WordPress SEO and could impact your site’s visibility in search engine rankings.

Therefore, it is advisable to create a 404 page that reflects your own content and branding.

A personalized 404 page is an excellent opportunity to showcase your content, such as your most popular blog posts or featured products from your online store. You can also add links to your social media profiles and highlight recent comments.

If you need some creative ideas, we’ve curated a collection of the best 404 error page design examples for your inspiration.

Now, let’s explore how to enhance your 404 page template in WordPress. Use the quick links below to navigate directly to your preferred method:

• Method 1: Build a Custom 404 Page in WordPress Without Coding (Recommended)
• Method 2: Design a 404 Page Using the Full Site Editor (For Block Themes Only)

Method 1: Build a Custom 404 Page in WordPress Without Coding (Recommended)

The most effective way to enhance your site’s 404 page is by utilizing SeedProd.

SeedProd is the top landing page builder for WordPress, allowing you to create, edit, and customize your WordPress pages effortlessly, without any coding required.

SeedProd offers over 300 ready-made templates, including a variety of 404 designs. This allows you to create a professionally designed 404 page in just minutes.

The first step is to install the SeedProd plugin. For detailed instructions, refer to our step-by-step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

After activating the plugin, SeedProd will prompt you to enter your license key.

You can locate this information in your account on the SeedProd website. After entering the license key, click the ‘Verify Key’ button.

Once you’ve completed that, navigate toSeedProd » Landing Pages. In the ‘404 Page’ section, click on ‘Set up a 404 Page.’

You can now select a template for your 404 page.

To view a design, simply hover over it and click the magnifying glass icon.

When you find a design you like, click on ‘Choose This Template.’

We are using the ‘Oh No 404 Page’ design in all our images, but you can select any design you prefer.

After choosing a template, you’ll enter the drag-and-drop builder, where you can start personalizing your 404 page.

On the left side of the screen, you’ll see blocks and sections that you can add to your design, while the right side displays a live preview.

Most 404 templates come with pre-existing blocks, which are essential components of all SeedProd designs.

To customize any of these sections, click on the block in your layout. You can then make adjustments using the settings available in the left-hand menu.

To add a new block to your design, locate the block in the left-hand menu and drag it onto your layout. You can then customize the block as described earlier.

Start by adding your website logo to the 404 page, so visitors can easily identify that they are still on your site.

To replace the SeedProd logo with your own branding, click on the placeholder logo in your layout, then hover over the image in the left-hand menu.

When the option appears, click on the ‘Select Image’ button.

This will open the WordPress media library, allowing you to choose any image or upload a new file from your computer.

Many 404 templates also display your site’s main navigation menu. If you have multiple menus, you might want to select a different one.

To change this, click on the ‘Nav Menu’ block in your template. Then, open the ‘Menu’ dropdown and select any menu from the available options.

For additional details, please refer to our guide on adding custom navigation menus in WordPress themes.

When visitors arrive at your 404 page, they might feel uncertain about how they ended up there and what steps to take next. It’s beneficial to include a message that clarifies the content is unavailable and offers suggestions for what to do next.

To achieve this, add a ‘Headline’ and a ‘Text’ block to your design. You can then enter your message in the text editor located in the left-hand menu.

Next, we will modify the ‘Back To Home’ button to encourage visitors to explore a specific post instead of just returning to the homepage.

For instance, you could highlight your latest posts or showcase your most popular posts.

To customize the button, simply click to select it in the page layout. In the ‘Link’ field, enter the URL you want to direct visitors to instead.

Since the button will no longer link to the homepage, you’ll need to update the ‘Back To Home’ label. Just type a new message in the ‘Button Text’ box.

After that, click on the ‘Advanced’ tab. Here, you can adjust the button’s color, size, and other settings.

This is all you need to create a straightforward custom 404 page. However, there are many additional features and content options that can enhance the visitor experience, keep users engaged, and even boost your conversion rates.

Now, let’s explore some advanced features you can incorporate into your 404 page.

Showcase Your Most Popular Posts on Your WordPress 404 Page

First, consider displaying a list of your most popular posts. Since these articles are well-received, visitors are likely to find something appealing.

You can automatically generate this list using the MonsterInsights plugin, the leading analytics solution for WordPress, trusted by over 3 million websites.

MonsterInsights identifies the posts that attract the most visitors and adds them to your 404 page. For further information, check out our guide on displaying popular posts by views in WordPress.

Once you activate MonsterInsights, you can showcase your most popular posts by inserting a shortcode in WordPress. In SeedProd’s left-hand menu, locate the ‘Shortcode’ block and place it into your layout.

Next, copy the following shortcode:

[monsterinsights_popular_posts_widget theme="beta"]

Then, select the Shortcode block in the SeedProd editor. You can now paste the code into the left-hand menu.

By default, SeedProd does not display a preview of your most popular posts in the page editor, so be sure to click the ‘Preview’ button in the upper-right corner to see the shortcode in action.

To view the popular posts list within the SeedProd editor, simply toggle the ‘Show Shortcode Preview’ option.

In the shortcode provided, we are utilizing theme="beta", but MonsterInsights offers several themes to choose from.

To explore the available themes, navigate to Insights » Popular Posts in your WordPress dashboard and click on ‘Popular Posts Widget’.

You can then click on the various themes to preview them.

Once you find a design you prefer, simply update the shortcode in SeedProd. For instance, if you want to use the ‘Alpha’ theme, you would enter:

[monsterinsights_popular_posts_widget theme="alpha"]

Display Your Top-Selling WooCommerce Products

If you run an online store, consider showcasing your best-selling WooCommerce products on the 404 page. This can help drive additional sales through your custom 404 page.

In the left-hand menu, locate the Best Selling Products block and drag it into your layout.

SeedProd will automatically display some products. However, you can customize this block by selecting it in the editor and adjusting the settings in the left-hand menu.

You can customize the block by adjusting the number of columns, adding pagination, enabling shoppers to filter top-selling products, and more.

For additional details, refer to our guide on displaying popular WooCommerce products.

Although it’s called a specific block, you can use it to showcase various product types, such as items on sale or your highest-rated products.

To explore the available options, click on the ‘Type’ dropdown menu and select an option from the list.

Incorporate a Contact Form into Your WordPress 404 Page

Consider adding a contact form so visitors can reach out if they can’t find what they’re looking for. This form also allows users to report 404 errors, helping you fix broken links and enhance the experience for future visitors.

For further information, please check our comprehensive guide on fixing broken links in WordPress.

The most effective way to add a contact form to your site is by using the WPForms plugin, which is the top contact form plugin for WordPress and features a user-friendly drag-and-drop form builder.

For more information, refer to our detailed guide on creating a contact form in WordPress.

After creating a contact form, you can easily add it to your 404 page using the ‘Contact Form’ block. Locate the block in the left-hand menu and drag it into your design.

Next, open the ‘Select a Form’ dropdown menu and choose your desired contact form from the list.

The page editor will display a preview of the contact form you’ve selected.

Consider adding a brief introduction or a message encouraging visitors to reach out via your contact form.

To do this, simply insert a ‘Headline’ or ‘Text’ block above your contact form and enter your desired message.

How to Publish Your 404 Page

Once you are satisfied with the appearance of your 404 page, it’s time to publish it.

Click the dropdown arrow next to ‘Save’ and select ‘Save as Template.’

When prompted, enter a name for the template. This is for your reference, so feel free to choose any name you like.

Then, click on ‘Save Template.’

In the next popup, select ‘Return to Page Editor.’ You can then close the SeedProd page editor by clicking the ‘X’ button in the upper-right corner.

At this point, a popup may appear asking if you want to publish your 404 design. If you’re ready to proceed, click ‘Yes, Activate.’

If you prefer not to publish the template at this moment, simply click on ‘No, Close.’

Later, you can publish the design anytime by navigating toSeedProd » Pages. Here, toggle the switch in the ‘404 Page’ section to ‘Active.’

To view your 404 page, just append /404 to the end of your domain name.

Once your custom 404 page is published, it’s beneficial to monitor user engagement on that page. This helps you identify what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to refine your 404 design for better conversions and user interaction.

For more information, check out our beginner’s guide on installing Google Analytics in WordPress.

Method 2: Create a 404 Page Using the Full Site Editor (Applicable for Block Themes Only)

If you’re using a block-enabled WordPress theme, you can modify your site’s 404 page within the full site editor.

To begin, navigate toAppearance » Editorin your WordPress dashboard.

By default, the full site editor displays your theme’s homepage template.

To edit the 404 page, click on ‘Templates.’

You will now see a list of all the templates that comprise your block-based theme, including your blog page and archives page.

Click on the ‘404’ option to get started.

WordPress will display a preview of the current 404 page design.

To edit this template, click on the small pencil icon.

The full-site editor functions similarly to the standard WordPress content editor.

To add new blocks to your design, click the ‘+’ button.

You can now enter the name of the block you wish to add to the 404 page.

For instance, if you want to showcase your recent posts, type ‘Latest Posts’ and drag the block into your design.

After adding a block, you can customize it as needed.

Select the block in the preview, and the right-hand menu will display all available settings to modify its content and appearance.

The options available may differ based on the selected block, but you can generally adjust the background color, text color, and font size.

You might also consider displaying recent posts in a dropdown menu if desired.

Continue adding and refining blocks in your design using the same process outlined above. You can also arrange your WordPress widgets in columns or utilize WordPress block patterns for a quicker custom 404 page creation.

Once you’re satisfied with the appearance of your 404 page, click ‘Save’ to publish it.

To see your custom 404 page in action, simply add /404 to the end of your website’s URL.

When Should You Consider Redirecting 404 Pages?

A common reason for 404 errors is when visitors mistakenly enter an incorrect URL.

In such cases, redirecting users to another page is often unnecessary. However, we recommend implementing best practices to guide them back to the correct content.

If you’re short on time to create a custom 404 page, consider redirecting users to your homepage temporarily. This approach helps keep visitors engaged with your website.

Additionally, we highly recommend monitoring and redirecting 404 errors. This practice allows you to identify broken links and guide users to the most relevant pages.

By doing so, you can enhance pageviews and lower bounce rates while preserving the backlinks associated with those pages, which helps maintain your domain authority.

The All in One SEO plugin offers a convenient 404 error log and redirection feature. It’s user-friendly and requires no technical expertise to operate effectively.

For more plugin suggestions, explore our curated list of the top free 404 redirect plugins available for WordPress.

We hope this guide has assisted you in enhancing your 404 page template in WordPress. You might also find our expert recommendations for the best popular posts plugins for WordPress and our detailed article on creating high-converting landing pages helpful.

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