A short, human apology (“Looks like that link moved”) feels better than a cryptic error code. Pair empathy with action.
List your most-viewed docs, products, or posts. It’s a quick win for visitors who aren’t sure where to go next.
Search converts frustration into forward motion. Place the input front and center and auto-focus it for keyboard users.
Humor works when it reinforces your brand voice, but never at the expense of clarity. Users still need help.
Review your 404 reports weekly. Fixing the underlying links prevents the same visitors from hitting the wall again.
Broken links happen everywhere. Make sure buttons and search inputs are thumb-friendly and load quickly.
Keep readers exploring articles even when links go stale.
Redirect shoppers to best sellers or support when product links break.
Deliver branded safety nets for clients as part of UX retainers.
Guide users back to docs, dashboards, or billing without support tickets.