Broken links are a small problem that can create a much bigger one. They frustrate visitors, waste crawl budget, weaken internal navigation, and make a site feel neglected. If you want a healthier website, fixing broken links should be part of your routine maintenance, not an occasional tidy-up.
For website owners, bloggers, marketers, agencies, freelancers, and consultants, this is one of the simplest technical SEO tasks with clear practical value. It helps search engines crawl your site more efficiently, supports better user experience, and makes your content structure easier to trust and understand.
Why Broken Links Matter
A broken link sends users or search engines to a page that no longer exists or cannot be reached. That can happen when a page is deleted, a URL changes, a product goes out of stock, or a third-party website removes a resource you linked to.
From an SEO perspective, broken links do not automatically ruin a website, but they do signal poor upkeep. Too many of them can create friction for visitors and make it harder for search engines to move through your pages cleanly. If you are reviewing wider technical issues, a free website SEO audit can help identify link problems alongside indexing and crawlability concerns.
Types of Broken Links to Watch For
Internal links
These point to pages on your own site. If they break, visitors may miss important content, and search engines may struggle to understand your site structure. Internal links are especially important because they help connect related pages and guide users through your content.
External links
These point to other websites. They can break when the destination page is removed or changed. External link issues are common in blog posts, resource pages, and older articles that reference tools, studies, or partner websites.
Redirected links that are not updated
A link may still work, but if it passes through unnecessary redirects, it can slow page loading and create a less efficient path for users and crawlers. It is better to update the link directly when the final URL is known.
How to Find Broken Links
The first step is knowing where the problems are. Use a mix of manual checks and SEO tools so you do not miss anything important.
- Check your most important pages first, such as homepage links, service pages, category pages, and top blog posts.
- Use Google Search Console to spot crawl errors and pages that may be returning errors.
- Run a site crawl with an SEO tool such as Screaming Frog SEO Spider to find broken internal and external links.
- Review reports from your CMS or plugin if you use WordPress, especially after site migrations or content updates.
- Test links in older content, because those are often the pages where broken links build up quietly over time.
Google’s own guidance on making links crawlable is useful if you want to understand how search engines interpret link paths and page discovery.
How to Fix Broken Links Properly
The right fix depends on why the link is broken. Do not just remove it without checking the context.
If the target page has moved, update the link to the new destination. If the page has been replaced with a better version, point the link to that most relevant page. If the content no longer exists and there is no suitable replacement, remove the link or rewrite the sentence so it still reads naturally.
For internal links, check whether the linked page still exists, whether the URL changed, and whether a redirect is in place. For external links, confirm whether the source is still live and whether there is another trustworthy source that fits the same purpose. If your site has broader indexing or discovery issues, Backlink Works can also be a useful SEO learning resource when you are working through technical improvements.
Best Practices for Keeping Links Healthy
- Audit your site regularly rather than waiting until users report problems.
- Keep a simple record of important URLs so you can update links quickly after changes.
- Use descriptive anchor text that makes sense even when the page title changes slightly.
- Update links when you refresh or republish content, not only when something breaks.
- Check links after migrations, redesigns, category changes, or CMS updates.
- Make sure your most linked pages stay stable, especially cornerstone content and key landing pages.
- Use redirects carefully and only when they genuinely preserve user value.
Link health is closely tied to website structure. When your content is organised clearly, internal links are easier to manage, and it becomes simpler to spot pages that no longer fit the site map. This also supports better search visibility because both users and crawlers can move through the site with less confusion.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Ignoring broken links in older posts because they seem low priority.
- Fixing only internal links and forgetting external references.
- Replacing broken URLs with homepages or unrelated pages just to make the link work.
- Leaving long redirect chains in place instead of updating the link directly.
- Assuming a plugin or tool will catch every issue without manual review.
- Changing URLs without checking all the internal links that point to them.
One of the most common problems is treating broken-link cleanup as a one-off task. In reality, websites change constantly. New content is published, old pages are retired, products are updated, and outside resources disappear. Regular checks are part of basic website maintenance.
Practical Checklist
- Review your top pages for broken internal links.
- Scan new content before publishing it.
- Check older posts for dead external references.
- Update redirected URLs where possible.
- Use Search Console and a crawl tool to verify fixes.
- Recheck the page after changes are made.
If you want to understand how link health fits into broader SEO planning, the Backlink Works site can be a helpful place to explore wider optimisation topics without losing focus on practical site maintenance.
Conclusion
Fixing broken links is a straightforward but important way to keep your website healthy. It improves navigation, reduces friction for visitors, and helps search engines crawl your content more effectively. While it is not a standalone ranking strategy, it supports the technical and user experience foundations that strong SEO depends on.
For best results, build broken-link checks into your normal SEO routine. Review key pages, update links when content changes, and use trusted tools to catch issues early. A healthy site is easier to maintain, easier to navigate, and better prepared for long-term organic growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I check for broken links?
For most websites, a monthly review is a practical starting point. Large sites, ecommerce stores, and frequently updated blogs may need more regular checks. It is also wise to run a scan after a redesign, migration, category change, or major content update.
Do broken links hurt SEO directly?
Broken links do not usually cause an immediate penalty, but they can make it harder for users and search engines to move through your site. Over time, that can weaken usability, create crawl issues, and reduce the quality of your internal linking structure.
Should I remove broken external links or replace them?
It depends on the context. If the original source still has a relevant replacement page, update the link. If not, remove it or replace it with a trustworthy source that genuinely supports the content. Avoid forcing a replacement that does not fit the topic.
What is the best tool for finding broken links?
There is no single best tool for every site. Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, and CMS plugins are all useful in different ways. Search Console helps you spot indexing and crawl issues, while a crawler is better for finding broken internal and external links across the whole site.
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