https://ssl ." : "http://www.");
document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + " google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">
var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-xxxxx-x");
pageTracker._trackPageview("/404.html?page=" + document.location.pathname + document.location.search + "&from=" + document.referrer);
</script>

This code sends a virtual page view of "/404.html?page=[pagename.html?queryparameter]&from=[referrer]" to your account, where [pagename.html?queryparameters] is the missing page name, and referrer is the page URL from where the user reached the 404 page.

4. Look for /404.html in the Top Content report to display 404 pages and associated page and the referring information

Screenshot from Google Analytics

Drill down through Analytics to segment the data into paid and non-paid visits to identify sources of 404's.

Screenshot from Google Analytics

5. Then decide on an appropriate course of action considering the following for each significant instance of the 404

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16
Mar 09

Tracking 404's/file not found errors in Google Analytics

James Fairweather Photograph

Frequently we come across sites that don’t have Google Analytics tracking code installed on 404 error pages. This simple guide will show you how valuable the information is that can be obtained simply by implementing a piece of custom tracking code, and how to interpret it.

About the author

James is an online marketing executive in the online marketing team at Coast Digital. He works on a combination of SEO, PPC and email marketing campaigns.

He has in-depth experience in the online world; having been involved with various online projects over the years, and has worked in digital marketing since graduating from university. 

Joining Coast Digital in August 2007, James has been involved with a number of our B2B and B2C clients, spanning several sectors – in particular finance, media, consumer electronics, technology and travel.

Speaking about the industry, James says: “One of the most important contributory factors to ensuring success with SEO is keeping on top of the latest industry news and opinions and to be ‘in the loop’ within the digital marketing community.”

He continues: “There’s so much information out there, it’s a real skill being able to digest the bits that matter, quickly. It’s got to be one of the most important industries to know ‘what’s going on’ in, and it’s going to be exciting to watch how quickly it changes over the next few years."

James is a certified Google AdWords Professional and is Google Analytics IQ certified.

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