Are you displeased when you land on an ugly error page? Do you wish you had a bit more control over how visitors to your WordPress website were greeted and informed about any issues? Well, fret no more. With this easy tutorial, you can now create your own custom error page in WordPress account. Don’t let those pesky errors ruin the look of your site; follow this guide and create an attractive and informative error page that will provide your visitors with the alert they need, in a style of your choosing.
1. What is a Custom Error Page?
A custom error page is an HTML page that is displayed to visitors when they encounter certain types of errors, such as when a website is down or offline. This error page might be a standard error page, or it could be a more creative and personalized one.
There are several benefits of custom error pages:
- Visitors have a sense of control and understanding that their request could not be fulfilled
- You are able to market your website using this page, directing visitors to other pages or promotions
- It can provide an interactive experience to visitors
Moreover, a custom error page acts as a way of expressing your website’s brand and tell visitors who you are. It is an important page that needs to be taken into consideration when designing and maintaining your website.
2. Why Should You Create a Custom Error Page in WordPress?
When users access a web page that no longer exists or gets an error while attempting to access the website, they will be guided to the default error page. For most WordPress websites, the default error page includes a generic message that doesn’t do anything to alleviate the user’s confusion about why the page wasn’t displayed. This can easily frustrate visitors and may even cause them to leave the website. To solve this issue and improve user experience, it’s a good idea to customize your error page.
Creating a customized error page in WordPress is fairly simple and offers several advantages. You can save yourself from facing confusion or embarrassment by letting your visitors know that an error has occurred and that you are working on fixing it. Additionally, you can use this opportunity to create an attractive page that keeps people engaged, rather than letting them feel let down. Here’s what you can do:
- Include a friendly message: Providing a friendly message to your visitors makes them feel that they are welcome and appreciated. This can help maintain a sense of goodwill.
- Link back to the homepage: Create a link on the page that takes people back to the homepage so they are not stuck on the error page.
- Include social media links: Feature links to our social media accounts so it’s easy for visitors to stay connected.
Creating a custom error page is a great way to improve the user experience on your website and give people a better idea about what went wrong. It’s even a great opportunity to showcase your brand and make a great first impression with visitors that might not have visited your website before.
3. Strategies for Designing Your Custom Error Page
Put Your Logo On It!
The simplest way to make your error page look professional and branded is to use your logo and color scheme. A unified experience across your brand’s design is essential to make sure end-users are aware of who is responsible for their issue. Get creative with your logo – use illustrations, GIFs, or even create a unique animation!
Make it Accessible!
When considering designing your custom error page, you should always bear accessibility in mind. Your error page must work with assistive technologies such as screen readers, where visuals can’t be perceived. Furthermore, be sure to add language translations so end-users can understand the issue and potential solutions. Here some tips to make your error page accessible:
-Add text labels and/or alt descriptions for all images
-Provide a skip navigation shortcut for screen readers
-Include tooltips for additional explanation and clarity
-Display error codes in plain language
4. Final Steps: Publishing Your Custom Error Page in WordPress
Publishing Your Error Page
Once your custom error page design is ready for display, you can take the following steps to publish it in WordPress:
- Go to Dashboard and select the ‘Appearance’ option.
- From the Appearance menu, select the ‘Theme Editor’ option.
- On the Editor page, select the ‘404’ template file and add in all the content you previously saved to your computer.
- Press the ‘Update File’ button to set your changes live.
The last step is to check if your custom error page is indeed showing up when an error occurs. Take one of your URLs and add in some random characters to it and voila, you’ll see your beautiful new error page on your site. And now you can be sure that all your users have a great experience on your site, despite any errors that may arise. Creating a custom error page doesn’t have to be difficult. Putting in a bit of extra effort to make a memorable and informative custom error page can make all the difference when it comes to user experience on your website. Keep customers informed of errors and you’ll have a leg up when it comes to keeping happy and loyal visitors.
Need a website for your business?
We offer affordable WordPress website design services that helps you create a powerful online presence. Our team of experienced designers has extensive knowledge of WordPress. And can create a custom wordpress website design with elementor pro that perfectly reflects your brand and message.
