Digital Marketing News Topics Week 16 2024

For over two decades, there has been a debate between using a 404 or a 410 error status code for missing pages. But Google’s John Mueller has finally weighed in. He says that the difference between the two is minimal and inconsequential for SEO purposes.

For reference, 401 error page indicates that the user is unauthorised to access the requested resource. This typically occurs when authentication credentials are missing or incorrect and the server requires valid credentials for access. A 404 error page signifies that the requested resource could not be found on the server. It’s essentially the “page not found” message users encounter when they navigate to a URL that doesn’t exist or has been moved or deleted.

Mueller commented in a Reddit discussion, “It doesn’t matter. The difference in processing of 404 vs 410 is so minimal that I can’t think of any time I’d prefer one over the other for SEO purposes.”

This helps clear up a lot of different perspectives on the matter. Here’s a quick timeline:

2009: 410s were considered more permanent
2010:  Then there was a belief that 410s were quicker
2012: Mueller mentioned that Google treats both 404s and 410s identically.
2014: They clarified that 410s were immediate, with 404s experiencing a 24-hour delay.
2021: Mueller reiterated that either option is acceptable. They also hinted possibly introducing 404 vs 410 reporting in Search Console.
2024: It does not matter because the difference is minimal. 

This demonstrates the evolving nature of SEO discussions. We know it’s hard to keep track of all these changes. That’s why Move Ahead Media stays on top of the game to make sure are client’s don’t have to worry. Leave your SEO to us and focus on what you do best.

Source: https://www.seroundtable.com/googledifferences-between-410-404-minimal-37205.html