Google Toolbar 5

Google stealing 404 pages?

[Kufu]

It seems that the new Google Toolbar will hijack your 404 page. This post from Matt Cutts blog tells you about the non-evil nature of this new 'feature'.

[mattcutts.com ]

[Quadrille]

... but you can turn it off.

And it won't replace a customised 404 (except a very small one).

No need to panic :)

[skipfactor]

If I were a webmaster without a custom 404 page, I'd prefer this to users clicking a SERP over to IE's kiss-of-death 404 and a back button to Google and competitors. The webmaster gets 2 more chances, a site search, and it's back to Google land. Not saying they won't throw AdWords in there at some point. That wouldn't be very 'good' though.

Nonetheless, it appears as though the old non-custom 404 will become quite a rare find for users as every browser and toolbar out there tries to muscle-in their 404s like address bar search.

[Quadrille]

Just out of interest, why would you prefer a bog-standard 404 page to one that may help visitors find you?

Is this a 'human rights' issue, or is there some practicla reason?

Personally, some of my 404s say "This is a local page, there's nothing for you here", and there'll be a tear in my eye as Google replaces them with helpful information. But that's just me ;)

[marodhum]

>> This is a local page, there's nothing for you here <<

LOL Quadrille, that's a good one.