Understanding HTTP Status Codes for SEO: A Guide by Marketing Mishrag
Introduction
HTTP status codes are like secret messages between a browser and a server.
They tell search engines whether your page is working, moved, missing, or broken.
For digital marketers, developers, and SEO professionals, understanding status codes is critical for website health and SEO success.
In this blog by Marketing Mishrag, we will break down the key status codes, their SEO impact, and how to fix common issues.
What Are HTTP Status Codes?
✅ HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol) status codes are 3-digit responses that servers send to browsers.
✅ They indicate the outcome of a browser's request for a page, file, or resource.
Think of them as the internet's way of saying:
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"All good!" (200 OK)
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"This page moved!" (301 Redirect)
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"Oops, not found!" (404 Error)
Major Categories of Status Codes
🔹 1xx - Informational
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Example: 100 Continue
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Meaning: Request received, continue process.
🔹 2xx - Success
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Example: 200 OK
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Meaning: Request succeeded, page loaded properly.
🔹 3xx - Redirection
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Example: 301 Moved Permanently, 302 Found
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Meaning: Page moved to a different URL.
🔹 4xx - Client Errors
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Example: 404 Not Found, 410 Gone
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Meaning: The requested page/resource could not be found.
🔹 5xx - Server Errors
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Example: 500 Internal Server Error, 503 Service Unavailable
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Meaning: Server failed to respond correctly.
Important Status Codes for SEO
🔵 200 OK
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Ideal status.
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Means page is live and accessible.
🔵 301 Moved Permanently
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Tells search engines that the page has moved permanently.
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SEO Tip: Always use 301s for permanent redirects to maintain page authority.
🔵 302 Found (Temporary Redirect)
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Not ideal for SEO if used long-term.
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Temporary redirection only.
🔵 404 Not Found
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Hurts SEO if too many exist.
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Should be redirected or custom 404 pages should be designed.
🔵 410 Gone
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Indicates a page is intentionally removed forever.
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Helps clean up dead links from Google's index.
🔵 500 Internal Server Error
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Critical!
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Search engines see the page as broken — fix server issues quickly.
How HTTP Status Codes Impact SEO
✅ Broken pages (4xx, 5xx) hurt user experience and rankings.
✅ Proper redirection (301) preserves SEO value of moved pages.
✅ Search engines may remove inaccessible pages from their index.
✅ Too many 404 errors can lower a site's domain authority.
How to Monitor and Fix Status Code Issues
🔹 Step 1: Use tools like Google Search Console, Sitebulb, or Screaming Frog to crawl your site.
🔹 Step 2: Identify pages returning 404, 500, or incorrect redirects.
🔹 Step 3: Fix broken links, update internal links, or apply correct redirects.
🔹 Step 4: Set up custom 404 pages to guide users back to your main content.
🔹 Step 5: Regularly audit your site to ensure no new issues appear.
Pro Tip from Marketing Mishrag
✅ Always monitor your site's crawl errors.
✅ Keep an eye on mobile status codes too, as Google's mobile-first indexing makes them even more important!
Conclusion
HTTP status codes are not just technical jargon — they are crucial for SEO, user experience, and site authority.
By understanding and managing them properly, you can ensure that your site stays healthy, fast, and ranks higher on Google.
For expert help with SEO audits, error fixing, and complete digital marketing solutions, **contact Marketing Mishrag today! 🚀
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