What makes a good 404 page

There are many galleries that list creative 404 pages. They are a lot of fun. And in most cases, appropriate for that site (a social network, a freelance designer, a creative marketing firm). But what if you’re a small, conservative business going for function over creativity? Let’s talk about what makes a 404 page function well. Here are the dos & don’ts.

A good 404 page:

• Looks like the rest of your site The same header & main navigation that is found everywhere else on your site should also be on your 404 page.
• Clearly states the page requested is not the one being viewed Include language on your 404 page that the link was not found or does not exist.
• Includes a link back to the homepage Your homepage is a good place for users to start. It should provide an easy way for them to get to most other pages of your site.
• Includes a site map (or at least the main sections of your website) Provide links to all pages of your site. If you have a large site, including the main sections, or most trafficked pages, is fine.
• Uses absolute links, not relative Since we don’t know how many folders deep a user might be when they find our 404 page, start all links with a preceding slash (<a href="/about/name.php">).

A great 404 page goes even further and:

• Contains your contact information At least a name, email & phone. Don’t assume they’ll continue to click around until they find what they’re looking for. They might just want to talk, or have a simple question.
• Has a search box Most content management systems come pre-built with search boxes. Google also offers a free, custom 404 widget that will insert a search box (and sometimes suggestions) on your 404 page based on the URL that is entered into the address bar. It takes seconds to install, and is customizable with CSS. We’re using it on our 404 page.
• Suggests other pages the visitor may have been looking for See the custom widget in the previous bullet.
• Has a personal feel Let your users know that a human being created the page, not some complicated algorithm.

Here’s what can ruin your 404 page, and send your visitors packin’. Please don’t be that guy.

• Don’t settle for the default 404 page that your hosting provider has setup for you. It looks nothing like your site. Your visitors might think something is broken. And chances are, that default page is as helpful as a pair of sandals in a snowstorm.
• Don’t allow the user to think he/she did something wrong. It’s your website, you take the fall. Be careful of your language. Read through it from a non-tech-savvy person’s perspective. If they question what they did to get there, and not what you did, that’s a bad thing.

A few examples of nice, functional 404 pages. Please share your examples in the comments (good and bad are both welcome).

• Science Overdrive – Written by a human. Contact info. Site map with annotations.
• Maxvoltar – Suggestions. Links. And a search box.
• Nectar Boutique – Accepts responsibility. Consistent navigation. Site map. Search box.
• carsonified – Very creative, yet still includes great information.
• STUDIO7DESIGNS – Simple. Highlights most important pages.
• KONIGI – Accept responsibility. Site map. Search option.