All Common SEO Page Errors and Their Fixes

Introduction

In the world of SEO, technical errors are silent ranking killers. You can have great content, but if your website has broken links, crawl issues, or missing tags — search engines won’t rank it properly.

That’s why understanding and fixing technical SEO errors is essential. This guide lists all common SEO page errors — from 404 to duplicate content — along with clear, easy-to-follow fixes to help you maintain a healthy, high-performing website.

1. 404 Error – Page Not Found

Meaning:
A 404 occurs when a page no longer exists or the URL is broken.

Impact:
Hurts user experience and signals poor maintenance to Google.

Fix:

• Use 301 redirects to guide users to relevant pages.

• Regularly scan your site using Google Search Console or Ahrefs.

• Create a custom 404 page with links to your homepage or services.

2. 301 Redirect Error

Meaning:
Redirecting permanently moved pages, but misconfiguration leads to broken paths or loops.

Impact:
Causes crawl delays and link equity loss.

Fix:

• Use 301 redirects for permanent moves only.

• Avoid long redirect chains.

• Test with Redirect Checker or Screaming Frog.

3. 302 Redirect Misuse

Meaning:
Temporary redirects used where permanent ones are needed.

Impact:
Prevents Google from transferring SEO value to the new URL.

Fix:

• Use 301 redirects when you intend to move a page permanently.

• Keep 302 for short-term use (like testing).

4. 500 Internal Server Error

Meaning:
A problem with the server or website code prevents loading.

Impact:
Blocks crawlers and ruins user trust.

Fix:

• Contact your web host.

• Review error logs and .htaccess configuration.

• Disable conflicting plugins or scripts.

5. Slow Page Loading

Meaning:
Pages take too long to load due to large images, heavy scripts, or slow hosting.

Impact:
Slows Google crawling and frustrates users.

Fix:

• Compress images using WebP format.

• Enable caching and CDN.

• Minify CSS, HTML, and JavaScript.

• Test with PageSpeed Insights.

6. Mobile Usability Issues

Meaning:
Your website doesn’t adapt properly to mobile screens.

Impact:
Hurts rankings since Google uses mobile-first indexing.

Fix:

• Use responsive design.

• Avoid overlapping text and buttons.

• Test your site with Google Mobile-Friendly Test.

7. Duplicate Content

Meaning:
Same or similar content appears on multiple URLs.

Impact:
Confuses Google and splits ranking authority.

Fix:

• Merge duplicate pages.

• Add canonical tags.

• Avoid posting identical descriptions or articles.

8. Missing or Duplicate Meta Tags

Meaning:
Title or description tags are either missing or reused.

Impact:
Lowers CTR and reduces keyword clarity.

Fix:

• Write unique meta titles and descriptions for every page.

• Use Yoast SEO or Rank Math plugins.

• Include keywords naturally (avoid stuffing).

9. Broken Internal Links

Meaning:
Internal links lead to non-existent or incorrect pages.

Impact:
Disrupts navigation and reduces crawl efficiency.

Fix:

• Find broken links using Ahrefs Site Audit or Screaming Frog.

• Update or remove incorrect links.

• Redirect deleted pages to new ones.

10. Crawl and Indexing Errors

Meaning:
Search engines can’t access or index some of your pages.

Impact:
Prevents visibility in search results.

Fix:

• Check Google Search Console → Coverage Report.

• Fix disallowed pages in robots.txt.

• Submit a clean XML sitemap regularly.

11. HTTPS and SSL Issues

Meaning:
Website is not secure (HTTP instead of HTTPS) or has mixed content.

Impact:
Google marks it unsafe, which affects trust and ranking.

Fix:

• Install a free SSL certificate.

• Redirect all pages to HTTPS.

• Replace internal links pointing to HTTP.

12. Canonical Tag Errors

Meaning:
Incorrect canonical tags cause duplicate indexing or confusion.

Impact:
Google may index the wrong version of a page.

Fix:

• Each page should have one correct canonical tag.

• Avoid pointing multiple pages to the same canonical URL.

13. Structured Data Errors

Meaning:
Schema markup is missing, incomplete, or incorrectly formatted.

Impact:
Prevents Google from showing rich snippets (stars, reviews, FAQs).

Fix:

• Validate markup in Rich Results Test.

• Use plugins like Schema Pro or Yoast.

• Fix syntax errors in JSON-LD format.

14. Robots.txt Errors

Meaning:
Robots.txt file blocks important pages accidentally.

Impact:
Stops Google from crawling valuable pages.

Fix:

• Review your robots.txt file manually.

• Don’t block folders like /blog or /services.

• Test using Google Robots.txt Tester.

15. Sitemap Errors

Meaning:
Outdated sitemap with broken or redirected URLs.

Impact:
Slows down indexing of new content.

Fix:

• Keep your XML sitemap updated.

• Include only active, canonical URLs.

• Resubmit in Google Search Console.

16. Orphan Pages

Meaning:
Pages that aren’t linked from anywhere on your site.

Impact:
Hard for Google to find and index them.

Fix:

• Link them from blog posts or navigation menus.

• Add them to your sitemap.

• Detect using Screaming Frog or Ahrefs.

17. Core Web Vitals Errors

Meaning:
Your website fails on Google’s performance metrics:

• LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)

• FID (First Input Delay)

• CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift)

Impact:
Poor user experience and lower ranking.

Fix:

• Optimize images and server response time.

• Reduce layout shifts caused by ads or sliders.

• Test in PageSpeed Insights.

Conclusion

Technical SEO is the backbone of your online success. Every error — from 404 pages to slow speed or incorrect redirects — affects how users and search engines view your site.

The good news? All these errors have simple solutions. By running regular audits, keeping your sitemap clean, and following technical SEO best practices, you can build a smooth, user-friendly website that ranks higher and converts better.

Pro Tip:
Audit your website monthly using Google Search Console and Screaming Frog to keep it technically strong and search-engine ready.