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Fixing the “Link You Followed Has Expired” Error in WordPress

Encountering the “link you followed has expired” error on your WordPress site can be frustrating, especially when it affects the user experience and SEO performance. This post offers a step-by-step guide to help you diagnose and resolve this issue effectively.

Understanding the Error

The “link you followed has expired” error typically occurs when a URL on your site returns a 404 status code, indicating that the page cannot be found. This can happen due to several reasons such as deleting or moving pages without updating links, incorrect URL structure, or broken links from external sources.

Identifying the Problematic Links

To identify the broken links on your site, you can use WordPress plugins like Broken Link Checker or Better Search Replace. These tools will scan your site for broken links and provide a list for you to review.

Fixing Individual Broken Links

• Locate the broken link: Find the URL of the broken link from the plugin’s report.
• Edit the relevant post or page: Go to your WordPress dashboard, locate the post or page containing the broken link, and open it for editing.
• Identify and correct the problematic URL: In the editor, find and replace the incorrect URL with the proper one.

Using 301 Redirects

If you need to redirect multiple broken links to a specific page or URL, consider using 301 redirects. This technique tells search engines that the page has permanently moved to a new location and helps maintain SEO performance.

Checking Permalink Structure

Incorrect permalink structures can cause broken links. To check your permalink structure, go to Settings > Permalinks in the WordPress dashboard and select a suitable structure from the available options.

Monitoring Your Site Regularly

Regularly monitoring your site for broken links is essential to maintaining its health and performance. By using plugins like Broken Link Checker, you can schedule regular scans to ensure that your site remains error-free.

Conclusion

Resolving the “link you followed has expired” error in WordPress is a manageable task with some investigation and troubleshooting. By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining a healthy, user-friendly, and SEO-optimized site.