Search engine optimization (SEO) is a multifaceted discipline, and one often overlooked yet crucial component is crawlability. If search engines like Google can’t efficiently access and understand your site, even the best content and backlinks won’t help you rank. Crawl errors disrupt this process and quietly damage your visibility. In this post, we’ll dive into the most common crawl errors, why they matter, and—most importantly—how to fix them.
What Are Crawl Errors and Why Should You Care?
Search engine crawlers, also known as bots or spiders, traverse your website’s pages to understand its structure and content. They use this information to index your site and determine how it appears in search results.
Crawl errors occur when these bots face obstacles accessing your site. These errors can prevent entire pages from being indexed, directly hurting your rankings and visibility.
Ignoring crawl errors is like locking your best products in a room and expecting customers to find them.
1. 404 Page Not Found Errors — How Broken Links Damage SEO
A 404 error means the page no longer exists or the URL is incorrect. While occasional 404s are natural, excessive or critical 404s lead to a poor user experience and wasted crawl budget.
Causes of 404 Errors:
- Deleted or moved pages without proper redirects
- Typing errors in internal or external links
- Broken backlinks from other websites
How They Affect SEO:
- Disrupt the user journey
- Reduce page authority
- Signal poor site maintenance
Fixing 404s:
- Use Google Search Console to identify them
- Redirect broken URLs to the closest relevant page using 301 redirects
- Update internal links
Pro Tip: A professional seo agency in Brampton will regularly monitor 404s to protect your site structure and UX.
2. Server Errors (5xx) — When Your Site Goes Silent to Google
5xx errors are server-side issues indicating that something is wrong on your web host or server configuration.
Common 5xx Errors:
- 500 Internal Server Error
- 502 Bad Gateway
- 503 Service Unavailable
Causes:
- Hosting downtimes
- Overloaded servers
- Faulty plugins or themes
Prevention:
- Use reliable hosting
- Monitor server uptime
- Limit unnecessary scripts
When evaluating your site’s health, it’s wise to consult experts offering seo services in Calgary, who often include technical audits in their packages.
3. Redirect Errors — When Good Intentions Go Wrong
Redirects guide users and bots from one URL to another. But misconfigured redirects can create loops or dead ends.
Types of Redirect Issues:
- Infinite redirect loops
- Chains (multiple redirects in sequence)
- Incorrect 302 instead of 301
How to Fix:
- Use Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to identify chains and loops
- Update .htaccess or server config files
- Ensure old URLs point directly to their final destination
Redirects should serve as a bridge, not a maze.
4. Robots.txt Blocking Important Pages
The robots.txt file tells search engines which parts of your site they can or cannot access.
Common Mistakes:
- Blocking essential folders like /blog/ or /products/
- Syntax errors causing entire site to be disallowed
Solutions:
- Use “Allow” and “Disallow” rules carefully
- Check the file at yourdomain.com/robots.txt
- Use Google Search Console’s “robots.txt Tester”
Be cautious: one misplaced character in robots.txt can tank your visibility.
5. Noindex Tags on Important Pages
“Noindex” tells search engines not to include a page in search results. While useful for thin content or private pages, it’s dangerous when misused.
Common Mistakes:
- Accidentally applying noindex to service or landing pages
- CMS plugins automatically marking pages as noindex
How to Fix:
- Run a site-wide crawl using Screaming Frog
- Check for
- Remove the tag or update plugin settings
Knowing where and why to use “noindex” is critical.
6. Crawl Budget Waste — Are You Prioritizing the Wrong URLs?
Crawl budget is the number of pages Google will crawl during each visit. Wasting it on non-valuable URLs means your key pages might go unnoticed.
Symptoms:
- Thousands of URLs with little or no SEO value (e.g., faceted filters, session IDs)
- Crawling duplicate content
Optimization Tips:
- Use canonical tags
- Block unnecessary parameters in Google Search Console
- Consolidate duplicate content
Make sure critical service pages, like your seo company in Vancouver, get the attention they deserve.
Tools to Identify Crawl Errors (Free + Paid Options)
1. Google Search Console
- Free and direct insights from Google
- Crawl error reports, mobile usability, coverage status
2. Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Desktop-based crawler
- Ideal for finding redirect chains, noindex tags, 404s
3. Ahrefs & SEMrush
- Site audit features
- Visual reports for crawl issues and performance trends
4. DeepCrawl / Lumar
- Enterprise-level audits
- Automation and custom crawl rules
Understand the tools before acting — not all errors carry the same weight.
How Fixing Crawl Errors Improves Your Rankings and User Experience
Benefits of Resolving Crawl Errors:
- Faster and more accurate indexing
- Improved user journeys
- Higher trust signals to search engines
- Increased site speed and reduced bounce rate
Real-World Example:
A mid-sized eCommerce site fixed over 1,200 404s and saw a 38% increase in organic traffic within 6 weeks.
Final Thoughts
Crawl errors are often silent killers of your SEO success. Regularly auditing your site, understanding the root causes, and resolving issues proactively can dramatically improve your visibility and user experience.
If you’re not sure where to begin, consult a professional team to run a full technical audit and get your SEO foundation in top shape.
Need help? Whether you’re in Brampton, Calgary, or Vancouver, local experts can guide you with tailored solutions.