How Do I Fix Broken Links on Squarespace?

Broken links on your Squarespace site can negatively impact user experience and SEO. To fix these issues, you can follow these comprehensive and detail-oriented steps:

1. Identify Broken Links:

• Google Search Console: Submit your Squarespace site to Google Search Console. This tool will help you identify broken links by providing a list of URLs that return 404 errors.
• Online Link Checker Tools: Use third-party tools like Screaming Frog, Dead Link Checker, or Ahrefs that can crawl your site and report broken links.
• Squarespace Analytics: Check the 404 page errors section in Squarespace Analytics. Navigate to Analytics > Traffic > Not Found to view pages that users tried to access but received a 404 error.

2. Document the Broken Links:

• Once you’ve identified the broken links, document them in a spreadsheet. Include columns for the broken URL, the source page where the link is located, and the type of link (internal or external).

3. Internal Links:

• Correct Internal Links:
  1. Edit Broken Links: Navigate to the page where the broken link is located.
  2. Fix the URL: Edit the link to point to the correct page within your website.
  3. Save Changes: Ensure all changes are saved.
• Redirection: If the page the link originally pointed to has moved or been deleted, set up a redirect.
  1. Old URL to New URL Redirect: Navigate to Settings > Advanced > URL Mappings.
  2. Add a Redirect: Use the following syntax: /old-url -> /new-url 301. This will permanently redirect traffic from the broken link to the correct page.

4. External Links:

• Verify the Correct URL: Check if the external page has moved or if there’s an updated URL.
• Update the Link:
  1. Navigate to the Page: Go to the Squarespace page where the external link is located.
  2. Edit the Link: Replace the broken link with the correct URL.
  3. Save Changes: Ensure the new link is saved and functional.

5. Regular Maintenance:

• Periodic Checks: Schedule regular intervals (monthly or quarterly) to check for broken links using the tools mentioned above. This helps ensure links remain functional and up-to-date.
• Monitor Feedback: Pay attention to user feedback. If visitors report broken links, prioritize fixing them.

6. SEO Considerations:

• Update Sitemap:
  1. Resubmit Sitemap: After fixing broken links, resubmit your updated sitemap to Google Search Console.
  2. Verify Crawling: Check to ensure Google can successfully crawl your updated URLs.
• User Experience: Fixing broken links improves the user experience, which can positively influence your site’s SEO as well. Ensure that key pages are always accessible to users and search engines alike.

7. Considerations and Limitations:

• Content Management: If you have extensive content or multiple contributors, establish a process for regularly updating links.
• Technical Skill: While fixing broken links is generally straightforward, if your site structure is complex, consider seeking assistance from a Squarespace professional or a web developer for comprehensive management.
• Access: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to edit website content, especially in collaborative or business environments.

By following these steps, you’ll not only address broken links but also maintain the health and efficacy of your Squarespace site for a better overall user and SEO performance.