How to Use Free SEO Tools to Identify Broken Links

---

Broken links can be a significant obstacle to a seamless online experience, leading to user frustration and negatively impacting your website's SEO. The good news is that you can use free SEO tools to detect and rectify broken links, ensuring your website remains user-friendly and search engine-friendly. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of using these tools to identify and address broken links effectively.

1. Google Search Console:

Google Search Console is a valuable free tool that not only monitors how Google views your website but also helps you identify and fix broken links. Here's how:

• Log in to your Google Search Console account.
• Select your property (website).
• In the left-hand menu, click on "Coverage."
• Look for any errors or excluded pages related to broken links.

You'll find detailed information about the specific URLs with issues, and you can proceed to address them.

2. Online Broken Link Checkers:

Several free online broken link checkers can quickly scan your website for broken links. Here's a basic process you can follow:

• Visit a reputable broken link checker website like "Dead Link Checker" or "Online Broken Link Checker."
• Enter your website's URL.
• Start the scan, and the tool will identify any broken links on your site.

Once the tool has finished scanning, you'll receive a list of URLs with broken links. You can then review and update those links on your website.

3. Browser Extensions:

Browser extensions can help you identify broken links on the pages you visit. These extensions typically highlight broken links, making them easy to spot. Here's how to use them:

• Install a browser extension like "Check My Links" (available for Google Chrome).
• Open a webpage you want to check for broken links.
• Click the browser extension icon to initiate the scan.

The extension will highlight any broken links in red, allowing you to quickly locate and address them.

4. Screaming Frog SEO Spider:

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a versatile tool that offers free and paid versions. It's a desktop-based tool for comprehensive website analysis, and it can also be used to find broken links. Here's how:

• Download and install Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
• Launch the application.
• Enter your website's URL and click "Start."

The tool will crawl your website and provide a list of URLs with various issues, including broken links.

5. Google Analytics:

Google Analytics, which is already installed on many websites, can also help identify broken links. Here's how:

• Log in to your Google Analytics account.
• Navigate to "Behavior" in the left menu.
• Select "Site Content" and then "All Pages."
• Use the "Secondary Dimension" drop-down menu to add "Page Title" as the secondary dimension.
• Search for any page titles that indicate 404 errors or broken links.

By following these steps, you can identify broken links that are leading to 404 error pages on your website.

6. Website Content Management System (CMS):

Many popular CMS platforms, like WordPress, have built-in features to help you find and fix broken links. In WordPress, for instance, you can:

• Install a plugin like "Broken Link Checker" or "Redirection."
• Run scans to identify broken links.
• Once identified, you can easily update or remove the problematic links directly from your CMS.

In conclusion, using free SEO tools to identify and rectify broken links is a vital step in maintaining a smooth and user-friendly website. By addressing these issues promptly, you can improve the user experience, prevent SEO penalties, and ensure that your website functions seamlessly, ultimately leading to higher user satisfaction and better search engine rankings.