In your long history of website surfing, there might be tons of 404 pages that you have encountered.  Some websites probably don’t have the best looking 404 error page, while others do. Considering that this page is important for a website, the least you can do is to make it look interesting. 

How to Arrange a Great 404 Error Page?

Not being able to find certain information on a website is disappointing. It can reduce the quality of user experience significantly. To make the page more visually pleasing and at the same time helpful, you should follow this guideline.

• Being consistent with the website’s brand

The “not found” page should be consistent with the other parts of the website. As a part of the website, it should be an extension of the brand. The design elements in this error page should match the main page.  Those design elements include color scheme, font choices, and logo.

• Adding functional buttons

Although the 404 pages show that the information user’s looking for isn’t available, the pages can still be made functional. It can be done by adding certain buttons so that users can perform other actions on the page. You can attach a search bar on the page or links to popular pages in the website.

• Embedding humor in the page

Seeing the “not found” announcement is not pleasant, but you can turn it into something fun. Some websites embed memes or funny .gif into their 404 error pages to add humor. This approach manages to entertain the website’s visitors.

• Providing interesting offers

Another way to turn this page into something valuable for the website is by providing a call-to-action button to the brand’s interesting offers. You can make it seem like it’s the brand’s way of apologizing for not providing the web page. The offer can be a discount on certain products or even a free trial for the brand’s programs.

Top 7 Examples of 404 Pages

Are you looking for inspiration to improve the “not found” pages on your website? Here are some cool examples of 404 error pages that you ought to take note from:

• The OOPS Pack

This particular template is designed to be an intuitive 404 error web page. The design is clean and easy to understand. It has the inclusion of a search bar to help users take action when encountering the page. The template appears great in the mobile browsers too.

• Connection Lag Template

Although designed to inform connection issues, it can also be used to report “not found” errors. The concept is very simple and it has a clean design. There is a “Read More” button so that visitors can learn why their search doesn’t come out fruitful. The page also still has the main page functions on top.

• R.I.P 404 Design

If you want something a little bit quirky, this design should be a great choice. The cemetery theme might provide comic relief to visitors looking for certain information in the website. It has a function button which is the “Go Home” button. This function allows users to restart their search.

• Animated Sunshine Design

It is a cute design that suits websites with more playful themes. There is an action button provided in the template, namely the “Go Home” button. This template is also useful because it includes full documentation of the template so you can optimize it

• Error 404 Design

Among other examples of 404 pages in here, this one might be the most functional. When visitors encounter this page, there will be three action options: return to the home button, search bar, and a contact form. The page also translates well when it is accessed from tablets.

• The AirMail 404 Design

This design is quite straightforward as users will be presented with the simple text of 404 error. There are two customizable buttons that website administrators can use to direct users to other pages in the website. It is also an intuitive design that appears great on mobile devices.

• Responsive 404 Page

It is a good choice of the template if you want to reach your target audience better. The template enables you to provide textual information to the visitors about the “not found” error. Additionally, the template is also equipped with social media buttons to allow visitors to contact you through these platforms.

The 404 pages on the website shouldn’t be left bare as they can be a valuable asset for your website. These designs provide inspiration for making the “not found” error look cooler and entertaining.