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Let’s be real—broken links on your website or in your marketing emails are like having spinach in your teeth. Nobody wants to tell you about it, but it’s glaringly obvious to anyone who wants to know more about your site. And much like spinach, those broken links can leave a bad impression, making your business seem unprofessional. That’s why I’m here to help you fix the mess and get your site back on track.
I don’t build websites from scratch, but I do fix them. You might have a great brand, a beautiful design, and all the right intentions, but if your site or emails have broken links or outdated technology, it’s like inviting guests over to a spotless home with one glaring issue—there’s spinach in your teeth, and no one’s letting you know. It’s time to bring in a pro (that’s me!) to clean things up and save your reputation.
A New Client’s Spinach Moment: How Broken Links Can Hurt Your Business
Recently, I worked with a new client who had an absolutely stunning website. The design was sleek, the branding was on point, and their content was engaging. But there was one big problem—hidden throughout the site were multiple broken links. I could almost hear the frustration of their potential customers clicking on pages that led to error messages. Not only does this hurt your site’s user experience, but it also sends a message you don’t want: that you’re not paying attention to details.
This client had a strong brand, but had just changed brand names and her website domain and those broken links were the digital equivalent of having food stuck in your teeth during a big presentation. It’s small but embarrassing, and it can cost you. Broken links make your business look unprofessional, hurt your search engine rankings, and frustrate your visitors, who might just decide to go elsewhere.
SEO, Broken Links, and More: Let’s Fix What’s Holding You Back
I get it—technology is a maze, and even the best websites can have a few snags. That's where I come in. As a technology consultant, I don’t just focus on one big problem. I tackle the small, annoying issues that add up over time—broken links, SEO errors, out-of-date content, and all those little tech hiccups that are keeping your website from running smoothly.
Through my Fix One Thing package, I help small businesses clean up their digital mess. Whether it’s setting up Google Analytics, improving your site’s SEO, or installing a booking calendar, I’ve got you covered. And yes, that includes combing through your website to track down and fix those sneaky broken links that no one told you about.
You might be thinking, "I don’t even know where to start." No worries! I’ve got the tools and expertise to handle it. Tools like Screaming Frog and Google Search Console help me pinpoint exactly where those broken links are hiding, so you can stop losing business and start giving your clients a seamless experience.
Why You Need a Pro to Handle This
Let’s face it, no one wants to be the person who says, “Hey, I noticed your emails are a bit broken.” It’s awkward, right? But when your links aren’t working, it’s like trying to run a marathon with untied shoes—you’re going to trip eventually, and it won’t be pretty.
That’s why you need someone in your corner who’s willing to take an honest look at your website and give it the attention it needs. By fixing those broken links, tidying up your tech, and streamlining your digital tools, I can help you look polished and professional—exactly how you want to come across to your customers.
DIY Guide: How to Use Google Search Console to Find and Fix Broken Links
If you're ready to roll up your sleeves and check your website's health, Google Search Console is a great tool to get started. You can also refer to their "Get Started" guide.
Here's how to use it, step by step:
Sign in First, head over to Google Search Console and log in using your Google account. If you don't have one yet, you can create one quickly. This tool is free, so it's a no-brainer if you're managing a website.
Add a Property Once you're logged in, you'll need to add your website to the Search Console dashboard. Just enter your website's domain or URL prefix to add it as a "property." This allows Google to track and analyze your site’s performance.
Verify Ownership Google needs to confirm you actually own the site. You'll be asked to verify your ownership through various methods like HTML files, DNS, or Google Analytics. Follow the instructions and complete the verification step to gain full access.
Review the Index Coverage Report After your site is verified, dive into the Index Coverage report. This is where Google tells you which pages have been successfully indexed (or attempted to be indexed) and whether there are any issues. The more pages Google can index, the better your chances of showing up in search results.
Fix Errors and Warnings As you review the Index Coverage report, keep an eye out for errors and warnings. These might include 404 pages (a sign of broken links) or pages Google can’t crawl. Fixing these issues is key to keeping your website running smoothly and professionally.
Submit a Sitemap Submitting your website’s sitemap can help Google discover your pages faster. If you’re not sure what a sitemap is, don’t worry—it’s just a file that lists all the pages on your site, helping Google find and index them. There are plenty of plugins and tools that can help you generate one if you haven’t already.
Use the URL Inspection Tool The URL Inspection Tool is one of Search Console’s hidden gems. It gives you detailed insights into specific URLs on your site, including whether Google is able to crawl and index them correctly. If you think a page isn't showing up in search results, this tool can help you troubleshoot why.
Use the Performance Overview The Performance Overview section is your dashboard for tracking how well your site is doing in search. It provides metrics like total clicks, impressions, and the average position of your pages in search results.
Sort by Impressions If you're interested in improving your SEO (which, let’s be honest, you should be!), sort your top queries by impressions. This shows you which keywords are getting a lot of visibility but may not be converting into clicks. This can highlight potential opportunities to improve your site content and meta descriptions.
Why Verify Your Site? Verifying your site gives you access to confidential information about your website’s performance. It also allows you to influence how Google crawls your site, making sure Google knows about any changes or improvements you make over time.
By following these steps, you can start to uncover those "digital spinach" issues like broken links, slow-loading pages, and other website hiccups. But, of course, keeping an eye on this yourself is time-consuming and sometimes, a little tricky. If you're tired of playing dentist with your website, why not leave it to a pro?
Let’s Get Your Site in Tip-Top Shape
So, if your website feels a little off, or worse, you’re embarrassed to find out that customers are hitting dead ends instead of pages, reach out and let me take a deeper look at your site. I'll make sure it's sparkling and spinach-free!
Technology should bring you joy, not frustration. Let's fix those broken links, boost your SEO, and make sure your website truly reflects the awesome business you’ve built.
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