AdSense on 404 Pages?

[HuhuFruFru]

What is the best way?

1 - redirect 404errors to the main page?

2 - redirect 404errors to the page with the hightes paying keyword?

3 - or build an own 404document with much content on it and one or two adense-ads?

How do you handle this on your site?

[Jafo]

I believe putting AS on 404 pages is against TOS..

[LifeinAsia]

Forget about #3- it's against Google's ToS.

First, log the error so you can analyze why people are trying to get to a page that doesn't exist (often it's a broken internal link) and see if you can generate content for a real page at that location.

Second, provide links to other pages.

[jetteroheller]

4 - make an own 404 document with no AdSense

AdSense on error pages is not allowed.

Peole coming from a search engine want a certain information, shure not on Your main page.

So it's unpolite to throw them on the main page.

[hunderdown]

But if you throw them to the main page, they can navigate to the information they want, if your site is set up well....

[jomaxx]

IMO it's a confusing and lazy practice to redirect all 404s to the homepage or anywhere else.

If it's possible to determine where the user was trying to go (e.g. after a site redesign or if inbound-link typos have been found), redirect the user to the correct page seamlessly. If it's NOT possible, then show the user a custom 404 page which can be supplemented with whatever information or navigation you wish (not AdSense, though).

[dhiggerdhigger]

What about 403's ("forbidden")? Against the TOS?

Dave

[hyperkik]

Review the AdSense terms and conditions:

5. Prohibited Uses. You shall not, and shall not authorize or encourage any third party to: (v) display any Ad(s), Link(s), or Referral Button(s) on any error page...

[google.com...]

[turbohost]

You can also redirect them to the homepage and add an error message like 'you have been redirected to the homepage because this page does not exist anymore' on top of the screen. This is userfriendly and not against TOS.