# Broken links and missing images found and fixed for you

> Your whole site is crawled on a schedule for broken links, missing images and pages that return errors, and we fix what we find. Included on every plan.

- Source: https://nerdsharks.com/features/broken-link-monitoring
- Publisher: Nerdsharks (Exeter, Devon, UK)
- Updated: 2026-09-27

A broken link is one that leads nowhere: the visitor clicks and gets a "page not found" error, known as a 404. They creep in over time, as pages are renamed, services change and other websites you link to move or close. Missing images do the same thing to how your site looks. On every Nerdsharks site, an automated crawler works through every page on a schedule, following each link and loading each image, the way a very patient visitor would. Anything broken is listed and we fix it, either by correcting the link or by setting up a redirect so old addresses still reach the right page. For you, that means fewer dead ends for customers and fewer signs of neglect for Google to notice.

## How it works

1. **The whole site is crawled** - On a regular schedule, a crawler visits every page of your site and follows every link and image on it, both to your own pages and to other websites.
2. **Problems are listed** - Links that return an error, images that fail to load and pages that have gone missing are gathered into a list, with the page each problem was found on.
3. **We fix them** - We correct broken links, replace missing images and add redirects so that old addresses, including ones customers may have bookmarked, take people to the right page.
4. **You hear if we need you** - If a fix needs a decision from you, such as a supplier you link to having closed, we ask. Otherwise it is simply done.

## Why it matters

- **Fewer dead ends for customers** - A customer who hits a "page not found" error often gives up rather than hunting around. Keeping links working keeps them moving towards getting in touch.
- **A site that looks looked after** - Broken images and dead links make a business look like it has stopped trading. Fixing them keeps the site looking as current as your work is.
- **Good housekeeping for Google** - Search engines follow links too. Fewer errors and properly redirected old pages help Google understand your site, and complement the SEO setup every site gets at launch.

## Questions

### What is a broken link?

A broken link is a link that takes a visitor to a page that no longer exists, usually shown as a "404 page not found" error. They build up over time as pages change and other websites move or close.

### Do broken links hurt SEO?

A few broken links will not sink your rankings on their own, but they waste visitors' time and make your site harder for search engines to crawl properly. Fixing them is simple good housekeeping, and we do it for you.

### What happens when I rename or remove a page?

We set up a redirect from the old address to the most relevant new page, so anyone following an old link or bookmark still lands somewhere useful instead of an error page.

### Is broken-link monitoring included?

Yes, scheduled broken-link checks and the fixes that follow are included on every plan, including Monthly at £99 a month.