Custom 404 pages

[Shawn Gossman]

How important is a custom 404 page for your forum?

Is this something you have customized?

If so, show us what you've done!

 

[Tracy]

Mine is not that complex.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Mine is not that complex.

View attachment 521

I still think it looks better than the default.

What files/templates do you edit for that? Or is it a plugin?

 

[Tracy]

I still think it looks better than the default.

What files/templates do you edit for that? Or is it a plugin?

It's using Siropu's Custom 404 page add-on for Xenforo with a customized 404 template which the add-on uses.
Clicking on Marvin takes you to the search page and they also have the option to go to the home page.

 

[Uncrowned Guard]

I always enjoy custom 404 pages, but now my main focus is on ensuring the page helps the user and redirects them back to the site as a whole. I will gladly point out that the nice pages help keep people around, but if it is nice and prevents a bounced user, that is even better.

 

[Tracy]

but now my main focus is on ensuring the page helps the user and redirects them back to the site as a whole

Auto-redirecting, without a notice page is not the best user processing. With a 404 page they at least know that the content they are trying to reach does not exist by the link that they used.

 

[Uncrowned Guard]

Auto-redirecting, without a notice page is not the best user processing. With a 404 page they at least know that the content they are trying to reach does not exist by the link that they used.

Auto-redirecting was not my intention there. I meant more so, offering a way for the user to move from that 404 back onto the content of the site. Features like a good explanation of why they have the error, access to site menus, and things to click on to get out of the error while they are on the page. Essentially, suggestions and options for the user to do next, instead of just hitting the back button and being gone forever.

 

[Tracy]

I meant more so, offering a way for the user to move from that 404 back onto the content of the site. Features like a good explanation of why they have the error, access to site menus, and things to click on to get out of the error while they are on the page.

Agreed. And that's one of the reasons I created the custom page I did. I always hated the default XF error page and found it as useless as breasts on a boar hog when it came to helping the end users out to figure out what the issue was. In many ways you can still tell that the UI for Xenforo was designed by developers.