The 404 Mistake Everyone Makes (WordPress, Joomla, and Everyone Else)

We all make the same mistake. WordPress users. Joomla users. Everyone.

We spend weeks designing our homepage. We obsess over menu navigation. We test every button and form. Then we publish our site and forget one thing: what happens when someone hits a broken link?

They see a cold, technical error message that screams: "This site doesn't care."

Recently, Brian Teeman wrote about this exact problem in the Joomla Community Magazine. His article, "The 404 That Could: Why Your Joomla Site Deserves a Brilliant Error Page", focused on Joomla sites. But here's the thing: this isn't a Joomla problem. It's a universal mistake.

WordPress sites do it. Joomla sites do it. Custom-built sites do it. We all treat 404 pages as an afterthought. And we're all wrong.

Why Your 404 Page Matters

Your 404 page is your safety net. It catches visitors when things go wrong and guides them back to safety. A well-designed one keeps users engaged, protects your brand, and can even make people smile.

Without a custom 404 page, visitors see a cold, technical error message. It says nothing about your brand. It offers no help. It just says "error" and leaves people stranded.

With a good 404 page, you can:

• Keep users engaged — Offer helpful links, a search box, and navigation
• Protect your credibility — Stay on-brand and on-style
• Improve SEO — Fewer bounces and more time on site
• Add personality — A touch of humor can make a mistake feel human

Think of your 404 page as a brand ambassador in an awkward situation. If it handles things gracefully — perhaps with a bit of humor — people remember.

The Universal Mistake

Here's what most of us do:

We build our site. We test everything. We launch. Then someone clicks a broken link or types a wrong URL. They see:

"404 - Page Not Found
The page you are looking for does not exist or has been moved."

That's it. No help. No personality. No way forward except the back button.

This is the mistake everyone makes. WordPress users. Joomla users. Everyone. We treat 404 pages like they don't matter. But they do.

Every broken link is a chance to lose a visitor. Every 404 error is a chance to show you care. Most sites fail this test.

What Makes a Great 404 Page?

A great 404 page does three things:

1. Explains what happened — In plain language, not technical jargon
2. Offers a way forward — Links to popular pages, search box, or navigation
3. Stays on brand — Matches your site's design and voice

That's it. Simple. But most sites skip all three.

How to Fix It: WordPress

WordPress makes custom 404 pages easy. Here's how:

Option 1: Use Your Theme's 404 Template

Most WordPress themes include a 404.php file. You can edit it directly, but that's risky — theme updates will overwrite your changes.

Better approach: Create a child theme and customize the 404 template there. This protects your changes from theme updates.

Option 2: Use a Plugin

Plugins like "404page" or "Custom 404 Pro" let you design a custom 404 page without touching code. They're simple, but they add another plugin to maintain.

Option 3: Custom Code (Recommended)

Create a custom 404 page in your child theme's 404.php file. Here's a simple example:

<?php
get_header();
?>

<section class="error-404">
    <div class="container">
        <h1>Oops! This Page Took a Coffee Break</h1>
        <p>The page you're looking for doesn't exist. But don't worry — we've got plenty of other great content.</p>
        
        <div class="error-404-actions">
            <?php get_search_form(); ?>
            <a href="<?php echo home_url(); ?>" class="button">Go Home</a>
        </div>
        
        <h2>Popular Pages</h2>
        <?php
        wp_list_pages([
            'title_li' => '',
            'number' => 5,
            'sort_column' => 'post_date',
            'sort_order' => 'DESC'
        ]);
        ?>
    </div>
</section>

<?php
get_footer();
?>

This gives visitors a search box, a home button, and links to popular pages. Simple. Helpful. Effective.

How to Fix It: Joomla

Joomla 5 makes custom 404 pages easier than ever. As Brian Teeman explains in his article, the default Cassiopeia template includes built-in support for customizing 404 and 403 pages.

Using Cassiopeia Template

The Cassiopeia template includes two new module positions: error-403 and error-404. These positions replace the default error message.

To use them:

1. Go to your Joomla administrator
2. Create a new module (search box, popular articles, custom HTML)
3. Assign it to the error-404 position
4. Publish it

That's it. Your custom 404 page is live.

Using Your Own Template

If you're using a custom template, add this code to your error.php file (usually at /templates/your-template/error.php):

<?php $errorCode = $this->error->getCode(); ?>

<?php if ($this->countModules('error-' . $errorCode)) : ?>
  <div class="container">
    <jdoc:include type="modules" name="error-<?php echo $errorCode; ?>" style="none" />
  </div>
<?php else : ?>
  <!-- Fallback default error content -->
<?php endif; ?>

This checks if you have modules assigned to the error position. If yes, it shows them. If no, it shows your fallback content.

Customize the Message

Add your own HTML and text for the 404 message. Keep it friendly and on-brand. For example:

"Oops! The page you're looking for took a coffee break. Try the links below or head back to the homepage."

Simple. Human. Helpful.

Quick Start: Use Our 404 Page Generator

Don't want to write code from scratch? We've built a free 404 Page Generator tool that makes creating custom error pages easy.

Our generator lets you:

• Choose your format — PHP for WordPress/Joomla or standalone HTML
• Pick a template style — Coffee Break, Matrix*, Space Adventure, or Minimal Clean
• Customize everything — Title, message, colors, and links
• Preview live — See exactly how your 404 page will look
• Download both versions — Get PHP and HTML files, ready to use

Just fill in your details, customize the design, and download your files:

• PHP version — 404.php for WordPress or error.php for Joomla
• HTML version — 404.html for static sites or custom server configurations

Upload the file to your site, and you're done. The tool generates both versions so you can use whichever works best for your setup.

Try the 404 Page Generator →

It's free, works entirely in your browser (no data sent to servers), and takes less than 5 minutes to create a professional 404 page in both PHP and HTML formats.

What to Include on Your 404 Page

Your 404 page should include:

• A clear, friendly message — Explain what happened in plain language
• A search box — Let visitors find what they're looking for
• Links to popular pages — Homepage, blog, services, contact
• Navigation menu — Help visitors find their way
• Your brand voice — Match your site's tone and style

That's it. You don't need animations or games (though they can be fun). You need clarity and helpfulness.

Examples of Great 404 Pages

Here are some examples that get it right:

• GitHub — Simple message with a search box and links to popular pages
• Mailchimp — Friendly message with helpful links and a search box
• Slack — Humorous message that matches their brand voice

They all do the same thing: explain what happened, offer help, and stay on brand.

Test Your 404 Page

After you create your custom 404 page, test it:

1. Visit a non-existent URL (for example, yourdomain.com/thispagedoesnotexist)
2. Check that your custom layout appears correctly
3. Verify it matches your site's design
4. Test all links and search functionality
5. Check it on mobile devices

If everything works, you're done. If not, fix it. This matters.

The Bottom Line

We all make the same mistake. We ignore our 404 pages. We treat them like they don't matter.

But they do. Every broken link is a chance to lose a visitor or keep them engaged. Every 404 error is a chance to show you care or show you don't.

Don't let your 404 page be an afterthought. Make it the unsung hero that turns mistakes into moments of connection. Make it helpful. Make it human. Make it yours.

Whether you run WordPress, Joomla, or any other platform, the solution is the same: create a custom 404 page that explains what happened, offers help, and stays on brand.

It takes 30 minutes. It makes a huge difference. Do it.

Need Help?

If you need help creating a custom 404 page for your WordPress or Joomla site, we can help. Our website development service includes custom error page design, and our maintenance plans include ongoing site improvements like this.

Don't let broken links break your brand. Fix your 404 page today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do 404 pages affect SEO?

Yes. Too many 404 errors can hurt your SEO. But a well-designed 404 page can reduce bounce rate and keep visitors on your site longer, which helps SEO.

Should I redirect 404 errors to my homepage?

No. Redirecting all 404 errors to your homepage is bad for SEO and user experience. Instead, create a custom 404 page that helps visitors find what they're looking for.

How often should I check for broken links?

Check monthly. Use tools like Google Search Console to find 404 errors, then either fix the broken links or create redirects to the correct pages.

Can I use humor on my 404 page?

Yes, if it matches your brand voice. A bit of humor can make a mistake feel human and memorable. Just make sure it's helpful, not just funny.

Do I need a different 404 page for mobile?

No. Your 404 page should be responsive and work on all devices. Test it on mobile to make sure links are easy to tap and text is readable.