404 pages
 
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404 Pages, also known as Error Pages or Not Found error messages, alert users that the content they were looking for could not be located on a specific server. These page can (and should) be customized.<br>
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404 Pages, also known as Error Pages or Not Found error messages, alert users that the content they were looking for could not be located on a specific server. These page can (and should) be customized.
=== What Problem This Solves  ===
=== What Problem This Solves  ===
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Standard 404 Pages are dead-ends for users. By customizing a 404 page, a website can re-engage users.  
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Standard 404 Pages are dead-ends for users. By customizing a 404 page, a website can re-engage users and greatly reduce site abandonment.<br>
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=== When to Use This Pattern  ===
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'''Existing websites:'''&nbsp;Use this pattern when you are undergoing any type of content review (formal or informal).
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=== When to Use This Pattern ===
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'''New websites:'''&nbsp;Custom 404 pages should be part of the content deliverables for site launch.&nbsp;
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Existing websites:&nbsp;Use this pattern when you are undergoing any type of content review (formal or informal).  
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'''Tip:'''&nbsp;To quickly find a 404 page, enter websitename.com/404  
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New websites: Custom 404 pages should be part of the content deliverables for site launch.&nbsp;
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<br>
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=== What's The Solution?  ===
=== What's The Solution?  ===
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Effective 404 Pages accomplish the following:
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*Communicate/reinforce a brand's voice
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*Redirect users to meaningful site content
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*Reinforce a site's primary call-to-action
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*Give users the ability to contact the company directly (if relevant)
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*Include the top navigational menu to give users a map back to familiar territory
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*Do not blame the user for making a mistake
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Effective 404 Pages accomplish the following:
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=== Why Use This Pattern  ===
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- Communicate/reinforce a brand's voice
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Effective 404 pages can greatly reduce site abandonment.  
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- Redirect users to meaningful site content
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- Reinforce a site's primary call-to-action
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- Give users the ability to contact the company directly (if relevant)
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- Include the top navigational menu to give users a map back to familiar territory
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- Do not blame the user for making a mistake
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Why Use This Pattern
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Edit this. Describe the user and business benefits for this pattern, with links to evidence or additional research data if available.  
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=== References  ===
=== References  ===
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#A list of interesting external links, if applicable
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#To come (Be wary of many of the "great 404 pages!" sites out there. Many are design-heavy with little to no usefulness. See Project Fedena example below.)
=== Examples Gallery  ===
=== Examples Gallery  ===
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Emma email marketing 404 Page
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'''Emma email marketing 404 Page'''
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Grade: A+
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[[Image:Emma_404.jpg]]
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SAP 404 Page
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Grade: A+
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Grade: C
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[[Image:Emma 404.jpg|thumb|left|Emma 404.jpg]]<br>
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'''SAP 404 Page'''
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Grade: C
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[[Image:Sap 404-mediocre 404 page.jpg|thumb|left|Sap 404-mediocre 404 page.jpg]]<br>
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'''Project Fedena'''
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Grade: D (Well-designed. Not at all useful.)<br>
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[[Image:Project fedena 404-not useful.jpg|thumb|left|Project fedena 404-not useful.jpg]]<br>
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Bonnier Corporation 404 Page
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'''Bonnier Corporation 404 Page'''
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Grade: F
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(Publishers of Popular Science, Spa and Saveur, among others)
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Grade: F<br>
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[[Image:Bonniercorp 404-awful 404.jpg|thumb|left|Bonniercorp 404-awful 404.jpg]]
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Categories
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=== Categories ===
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Use the categories button on the toolbar (last icon on top row) to insert one or more categories for this pattern.
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[[Category:Editorial|Editorial Patterns]]

Latest revision as of 17:41, 4 February 2011

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