404 Errors - Site Capture 404 Errors I have been working on a template to sell at themeforest.net. I thought I would start

Tom · 17th January 2010, 10:14 AM

I have been working on a template to sell at themeforest.net. I thought I would start out simple and do a 404 error page template (also includes 400, 401, 403, 410, 500, 503 and a maintenance page)

But they rejected it, and some feedback on their forum advised to add twitter and other content to the page... what is this fad with adding twitter to every single page and what relevance does that have with an error page?

I kept it simple and clean so it would fit nicely with any website that uses it, no javascript or over the top graphics either.

All controlled from a single php file to set the error messages etc. (i did include static HTML pages too)

Any advice from the good folks here?

Michael · 17th January 2010, 01:07 PM

I like it, I cant see adding the sites Twitter would be useful as they werent looking for the info on Twitter.

Tom · 17th January 2010, 03:19 PM

aye neither can I.

But add it I will.. and then try again.

WelshStew · 19th January 2010, 12:42 PM

I guess it depends on the site that is trying to implement it.

Some of things I would expect are around similar content on the site (related articles for instance) or if you want to push certain content to the user - i.e. recent products / articles.

Twitter I would see as a little pointless on a page like this.

Tom · 19th January 2010, 12:53 PM

I dont know if its my short sightedness but an error page is exactly that, and error page. 1 functionality I could understand adding is to the 404 and 410 page and that would be a search function and url spelling checker. but the rest are errors which either the user have caused or the server has caused, regardless of how much extra content you add if the server is failing the error page will end up failing in a way too.

Frinkky · 19th January 2010, 04:03 PM

The idea of pushing content via an error page is a good way of trying to keep a visitor on site. Some people (me included) tend to go elsewhere if I get a 404 but by offering suggestions or related content to a search parameter theres a good chance you'll keep them around that much longer. As for twitter? as has already been said - can't see the point of that.

404 Error Pages, One More Time - Smashing Magazine

17th January 2010, 10:14 AM	#1
Tom Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 730 Blog Entries: 16 Thanks: 17 Thanked 34 Times in 34 Posts Expertise: Design & Graphics Experience: Quite Good	404 Errors Site Capture 404 Errors I have been working on a template to sell at themeforest.net. I thought I would start out simple and do a 404 error page template (also includes 400, 401, 403, 410, 500, 503 and a maintenance page) But they rejected it, and some feedback on their forum advised to add twitter and other content to the page... what is this fad with adding twitter to every single page and what relevance does that have with an error page? I kept it simple and clean so it would fit nicely with any website that uses it, no javascript or over the top graphics either. All controlled from a single php file to set the error messages etc. (i did include static HTML pages too) Any advice from the good folks here? __________________ Fusion Web Hosting - Friendly and easy to use www.fusionservers.co.uk

17th January 2010, 03:19 PM	#3
Tom Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 730 Blog Entries: 16 Thanks: 17 Thanked 34 Times in 34 Posts Expertise: Design & Graphics Experience: Quite Good	aye neither can I. But add it I will.. and then try again. __________________ Fusion Web Hosting - Friendly and easy to use www.fusionservers.co.uk

19th January 2010, 12:42 PM	#4
WelshStew Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,844 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 13 Thanked 36 Times in 34 Posts Expertise: (X)HTML / CSS Experience: Professional	I guess it depends on the site that is trying to implement it. Some of things I would expect are around similar content on the site (related articles for instance) or if you want to push certain content to the user - i.e. recent products / articles. Twitter I would see as a little pointless on a page like this. __________________ WelshStew follow me on twitter here \| WelshStew - Web Design & Web Development \| Motorhome hire uk

19th January 2010, 12:53 PM	#5
Tom Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 730 Blog Entries: 16 Thanks: 17 Thanked 34 Times in 34 Posts Expertise: Design & Graphics Experience: Quite Good	I dont know if its my short sightedness but an error page is exactly that, and error page. 1 functionality I could understand adding is to the 404 and 410 page and that would be a search function and url spelling checker. but the rest are errors which either the user have caused or the server has caused, regardless of how much extra content you add if the server is failing the error page will end up failing in a way too. __________________ Fusion Web Hosting - Friendly and easy to use www.fusionservers.co.uk

19th January 2010, 04:03 PM	#6
Frinkky Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 700 Thanks: 0 Thanked 37 Times in 37 Posts Expertise: Design & Graphics Experience: Professional	The idea of pushing content via an error page is a good way of trying to keep a visitor on site. Some people (me included) tend to go elsewhere if I get a 404 but by offering suggestions or related content to a search parameter theres a good chance you'll keep them around that much longer. As for twitter? as has already been said - can't see the point of that. 404 Error Pages, One More Time - Smashing Magazine __________________ Jon Warner Web Pro Cafe :: The PixelForge :: Follow my Twits (or something) :: LinkedIn

17th January 2010, 01:07 PM	#2
Michael Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 974 Thanks: 56 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	I like it, I cant see adding the sites Twitter would be useful as they werent looking for the info on Twitter.

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