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To fix soft 404 errors on Google search engine, you can follow these steps:
1. Review Pages: Identify the pages Google has flagged as soft 404 errors. These are typically pages that return a "200 OK" status code but display content similar to a 404 error.
2. Check Content: Ensure that the content on these pages accurately reflects the intended content. Soft 404 errors often occur when a page has thin or irrelevant content.
3. HTTP Status Codes: Make sure the server returns the correct HTTP status code. Soft 404s usually return a "200 OK" status, but they should return a "404 Not Found" if the page doesn't exist.
4. Use Custom 404 Page: Create a custom 404 error page that provides helpful information and navigational links. This helps users and search engines understand that the page isn't found.
5. Update Links: Check internal and external links pointing to these pages. Update or remove any broken links to prevent soft 404 errors.
6. Submit Sitemap: Update your sitemap.xml file to reflect any changes in your site structure or removed pages, and submit it to Google Search Console.
7. Fetch as Google: Use Google Search Console's "Fetch as Google" tool to verify how Googlebot sees your pages. This can help identify any issues with crawling or indexing.
8. Monitor: Regularly monitor your site for soft 404 errors using Google Search Console or other website monitoring tools. Address any new occurrences promptly.