Comments on: Index pages Vs. 404 errors

By: guioconnor

guioconnor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:29:08 +0000

@Adam Snider -

And, I also think that Jen made a really good point about load-times for custom 404 pages. I agree with her, as well. :)

She definitely did!

@John Dykstra -

And I absolutely adore your layout, sir! Perhaps someday I’ll be able to whip something up similar to this, though right now my web design skills are lacking.

Well, thanks, I’m flattered. I hope you manage to do what you are willing to do with design as well.

By: John Dykstra

John Dykstra — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 18:10:40 +0000

If only I had the ability to edit my 404’s. Anyway, great post. And I absolutely adore your layout, sir! Perhaps someday I’ll be able to whip something up similar to this, though right now my web design skills are lacking.

By: Adam Snider

Adam Snider — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:14:17 +0000

I don’t think I quite understood what you meant until I read people’s comments. But, now that I understand your message, I have to agree with you. And, I also think that Jen made a really good point about load-times for custom 404 pages. I agree with her, as well. :)

By: guioconnor

guioconnor — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:21:54 +0000

@Jen / domestika -

Oh yeah, maybe I talk a good point… but have I customized all of my own 404 pages yet? Don’t ask! :D

Oh, well, but if you just came up with the Idea, Lee would recommend you not to act too quickly anyway.

By: Jen / domestika

Jen / domestika — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 13:22:55 +0000

Oh yeah, maybe I talk a good point… but have I customized all of my own 404 pages yet? Don’t ask! :D

By: guioconnor

guioconnor — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:43:55 +0000

@Collis - Hi Collis, welcome to Zo’C.

What Jen mentioned about people clicking away on custom pages never really crossed my mind, that’s a good point.

Neither did I, I’ll have to change mine too.

I think is a common mistake of people to focus on the fact that the page hasn’t been found when, strategically, it would be more appropriate to focus on how to help the user to find whathever (s)he wants.

By: Collis

Collis — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 00:35:54 +0000

What Jen mentioned about people clicking away on custom pages never really crossed my mind, that’s a good point. I guess a 404 needs to be uber simple. I always mean to do more work on ours, but it always feels somewhat low priority :-)

By: guioconnor

guioconnor — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:47:14 +0000

@Jen / domestika -

Don’t you think?

Yes, absolutely!

By: Jen / domestika

Jen / domestika — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 21:35:37 +0000

True, the 404 page is another opportunity to introduce your website or blog to a potential new reader. Just thinking about this might be best accomplished, it occurs to me that it is even more important for a 404 page to deliver the essential message in a concise and intriguing way - and to do it *fast*! Custom error pages don’t cut it if they’re so jam-packed with info that we see ‘404′ in the title bar and click away before the content of the page even come up on display… At least with the home page, you might have another couple of seconds before the visitor gets bored and goes elsewhere, but someone who lands on a 404 is usually on a mission to find a particular bit of information, don’t you think?

By: guioconnor

guioconnor — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 17:56:54 +0000

@Patrick -

An index page and a 404 page are an opportunity to entice a reader further into your website. The challenge is in making a clear call to action without overwhelming the visitor.

Exactly!

@Michael Martine -

Putting as much effort into a 404 as into the home page makes great sense.

I’m glad you agree :-)

By: Michael Martine

Michael Martine — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:09:53 +0000

Guilherme, I think I get your point: each one is a landing page, essentially. The visitor needs certain information immediately: where am I? Why do I care? Where can I go from here? Putting as much effort into a 404 as into the home page makes great sense.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 00:16:50 +0000

I too wonder about issues such as these. I know that one of my websites is on a few blogrolls out there, and visitors who click through are bound to be confused by a website that has 3 fairly broad categories.

A good web page where people are landing like this needs to be able to quickly size up the website and home in on the information they want. If there are too many clicks to get down to the actual article they want, then you might lose some traffic along the way. On the other hand, if you list too many links or too much information on the index page, the effect can be overwhelming and intimidating to a first-time visitor who just stumbled onto the website.

I think some ideas have come along to help with this. A “popular post” section or a “reader favorites” section can highlight some of your best content and get it out in front of new visitors. For example, I can instantly see on Zo’c that there are articles about web design and Gmail organization, simply from the top posts in the sidebar. I can potentially learn more about the blog and it’s content from scanning the top posts than from trying to take an entire index page.

An index page and a 404 page are an opportunity to entice a reader further into your website. The challenge is in making a clear call to action without overwhelming the visitor.