Common HTTPs Response Codes & What They Mean

If you’re running a website - especially an e-commerce site - you’ve probably come across HTTPs response codes. These little numbers play a big role in how your site functions and how users and search engines perceive it. From ensuring your visitors get the right pages to keeping your SEO and PPC efforts on track, understanding these codes is essential.

In this blog, we’ll break down some of the most common HTTPs response codes. We’ll explain what they mean, why they happen, and how they can impact your site’s performance. Whether you’re new to this or just need a refresher, we’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in and decode the mysteries of HTTPs response codes!

What are HTTPs Response Codes?

HTTPs response codes are three-digit numbers sent by a server in response to a client's request made to the server. These codes are part of the HTTP protocol and help indicate whether a request was successful or if there was an issue. Think of them as the internet’s way of communicating status updates between your web server and your user's browser.

How Do They Work?

Whenever you type a URL into your browser and hit enter, your browser sends a request to the web server hosting that website. The server then processes the request and sends back a response along with an HTTP status code. This code tells your browser (and you) whether everything went smoothly or if there was a problem.

Why Are They Important?

Understanding HTTPs response codes is crucial for anyone managing a website. Here’s why:

User Experience: They directly affect how users interact with your site. A smooth experience keeps visitors happy, while errors can drive them away.

SEO: Search engines like Google use these codes to understand how your site is performing. Frequent errors can negatively impact your search rankings.

PPC Campaigns: If your landing pages have errors, your PPC campaigns can suffer. This can increase costs and reduce effectiveness.

Knowing the common response codes and what they mean helps you quickly identify and fix issues, ensuring your site runs smoothly and efficiently.

Common HTTPs Response Codes

Now, let's break down some of the most common HTTPs response codes you’ll encounter and what they mean for your website. There are dozens of different response codes, ranging from 100 to 599, but we’re only going to focus on those you’ll likely see on your own site.

200 OK

This code indicates that the request was successful, and the server returned the requested resource.

Cause: The server successfully processed the request without any issues.

Effect: Positive user experience. Users get what they’re looking for without any hitches. No negative impact on SEO or PPC.

301 Moved Permanently

This code means that the resource has been permanently moved to a new URL.

Cause: Typically used for URL redirection when a page has been moved or a site has been restructured. For example, if you have changed the URL address for a page or removed a page from your site, you’ll need to set up a 301 from the old address to the new one.

Effect: Crucial for maintaining SEO value. Properly set up 301 redirects ensure that link equity is passed from the old URL to the new one, preventing loss of traffic and avoiding broken links.

302 Found (Temporary Redirect)

This code indicates that the resource has been temporarily moved to a different URL.

Cause: Used for temporary redirection, such as when a site is under maintenance or undergoing updates. Implementing this type of redirection is practical for when you need to temporarily send your site traffic elsewhere.

Effect: Maintains user experience by redirecting them to a functional page. However, excessive use can confuse search engines, potentially impacting SEO.

400 Bad Request

This code means that the server cannot process the request due to client error.

Cause: Malformed request syntax, invalid request message framing, or deceptive request routing.

Effect: Negative user experience, as users are unable to access the requested resource. Frequent occurrences can impact SEO by indicating poor site health.

401 Unauthorised

This code indicates that the request requires user authentication.

Cause: The resource being accessed requires login credentials or valid authentication that has not been provided or failed. You might see this code if you are trying to access a website’s backend dashboard or CMS without having first logged in.

Effect: Blocks access to content, which can frustrate users if they are unaware that they need to log in or don’t have valid credentials.

403 Forbidden

This code means that the server understands the request but refuses to authorise it.

Cause: Permission issues or access restrictions set by the server. You might see this response code if you are trying to access a staging or build website which has blocked access.

Effect: Negative user experience if critical content is inaccessible. Can impact SEO if search engines are unable to crawl important pages.

404 Not Found

This code indicates that the server cannot find the requested resource.

Cause: Broken links, deleted content, or incorrect URLs. This is perhaps the most common HTTPs response code of all, especially for ecommerce websites that regularly update their product range and remove old products from their sitemap.

Effect: Poor user experience, as users cannot find what they’re looking for. Significant negative impact on SEO if not addressed promptly, as it indicates a lot of missing content.

410 Gone

This code means that the resource is no longer available and will not be available again.

Cause: Permanently removed content without redirecting to a new URL. This code is used to signal to search engines that that removed page will never be reused or reinstated.

Effect: Can be used to clean up old content, signalling to search engines that the resource is gone for good. Needs careful handling to avoid negative SEO impact, as it indicates permanent removal of content.

500 Internal Server Error

This code indicates a generic server error.

Cause: Server misconfiguration, overload, or unexpected conditions that prevent the server from fulfilling the request. This HTTPs response code can pop up if a website’s hosting provider is experiencing server issues.

Effect: Major disruption to user experience, as the site becomes inaccessible. Detrimental to SEO and PPC campaigns, as frequent 500 errors signal poor site health.

503 Service Unavailable

This code means that the server is temporarily unable to handle the request.

Cause: Server overload, maintenance, or temporary issues.

Effect: Negative user experience, as users cannot access the site. Potential impact on SEO if the issue persists, as search engines may struggle to crawl the site.

Next, we’ll explore how these HTTPs response codes can impact SEO, PPC, and user experience, and what you can do to manage them effectively.

Impact on SEO, PPC, and User Experience

Understanding how HTTPs response codes affect your site is crucial for maintaining a strong online presence. Let’s explore the impact these codes can have on SEO, PPC, and user experience, and how to manage them effectively.

Related: The Impact of Website Speed on User Experience and SEO

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation)

Search engines like Google use HTTPs response codes to understand how your website is performing. Here’s how different response codes can impact your SEO:

200 OK: Positive impact. It means your pages are accessible and functioning well, which is great for your SEO rankings.

301 Moved Permanently: Essential for SEO. Proper 301 redirects help maintain the SEO value of your pages by passing link equity from old URLs to new ones. This prevents loss of traffic and maintains your search rankings. However, it’s important to know that a 301 isn’t always necessary. Sometimes, letting Google or other search engines process a 404 and gradually remove it from their index is fine. Similarly, a 410 HTTPs code might suit better when a page’s content or its URLs link equity is redundant.

Keep Reading: The Importance of Logical URL Structures

302 Found (Temporary Redirect): Mixed impact. While it helps maintain user experience during temporary changes, excessive use can confuse search engines and affect SEO. Use 302 redirects sparingly and only when necessary.

400 Bad Request: Negative impact. Frequent 400 errors indicate poor site health and can harm your SEO rankings. Ensure your URLs and request syntax are correct to avoid these errors.

401 Unauthorised & 403 Forbidden: Mixed impact. While these codes are necessary for security, if critical content is blocked from search engines, it can negatively affect your SEO. Ensure important pages are accessible to search engine crawlers.

404 Not Found: Significant negative impact. High numbers of 404 errors can drastically reduce your SEO rankings. Regularly check for broken links and implement 301 redirects to keep your site healthy. In the case of ecommerce sites whose product ranges frequently change, this might not be necessary. However, you should always redirect 404ing category, subcategory, landing and content/pillar pages.

410 Gone: Specific use for SEO. Use 410 codes to clean up old content, signalling to search engines that the resource is permanently gone. This can help maintain a clean site structure but should be used judiciously.

500 Internal Server Error & 503 Service Unavailable: Major negative impact. Frequent server errors can signal to search engines that your site is unreliable, leading to lower rankings. Address server issues promptly to maintain good SEO health.

PPC (Pay-Per-Click) Campaigns

HTTPs response codes also play a crucial role in the effectiveness of your PPC campaigns. Here’s how:

Landing Page Quality: Codes like 404, 500, and 503 can degrade the quality of your landing pages, negatively impacting your ad performance and increasing costs.

Ad Performance: Errors on landing pages lead to poor user experience, resulting in higher bounce rates and lower conversion rates. This can decrease your Quality Score, making your PPC campaigns more expensive and less effective.

Ad Approval: Persistent HTTPs errors can lead to disapproval of your ads. Ensure your landing pages are error-free to maintain smooth ad operations.

Read More: How to Improve Ecommerce Website Conversion Rates

User Experience

User experience is directly affected by HTTPs response codes. Here’s how different codes impact your visitors:

200 OK: Positive experience. Users can access content smoothly, leading to higher satisfaction and engagement.

301 Moved Permanently & 302 Found: Generally positive if implemented correctly. Users are seamlessly redirected to the correct pages, maintaining a smooth browsing experience.

400 Bad Request, 401 Unauthorised, 403 Forbidden, 404 Not Found: Negative experience. Users encountering these errors may get frustrated and leave your site, leading to higher bounce rates and lower engagement. However, a well-designed 404 page can help retain and redirect traffic to relevant pages.

410 Gone: Mixed experience. If not communicated properly, users might get confused. Ensure you provide clear messaging on why the content is gone and where they can find relevant information.

500 Internal Server Error & 503 Service Unavailable: Major negative experience. These errors can make your site completely inaccessible, leading to frustration and loss of trust in your brand.

Managing HTTPs Response Codes

To maintain a healthy website and provide the best possible experience for your users, follow these best practices:

Regular Monitoring: Use tools like Google Search Console and website audit tools to regularly check for HTTPs errors. A comprehensive SEO audit is a great way to understand your site’s performance.

Proper Redirects: Implement 301 redirects for moved or deleted content to maintain link equity and user experience.

Fix Errors Promptly: Address 400 and 500 series errors as soon as possible to prevent negative impacts on SEO and user experience.

Communicate Clearly: Use custom error pages to explain why a user might be seeing an error and provide them with alternative options or navigation links.

By proactively managing HTTPs response codes, you can ensure a smooth, efficient, and enjoyable experience for your users while maintaining strong SEO and PPC performance.

Are You Managing Your Site’s Content?

Understanding and managing HTTPs response codes is essential for maintaining a robust online presence. These codes influence how users interact with your site, how search engines rank your pages, and how effective your PPC campaigns are.

At Blackpepper, we’re here to help you navigate these technical aspects and ensure your e-commerce site performs at its best. Need assistance with managing your site’s performance? Contact us today, and let’s keep your site running smoothly and efficiently!