How to Fix Broken Service Page Links: A Step-by-Step Guide

Changed a service page URL and now some visitors are seeing “Page Not Found”? It’s an easy issue to miss during a website update, especially when the new page looks and works exactly as expected.

The problem is often the links left behind. Your menus, blog posts, ads, or search listings may still send people to the old address.

You can put that journey back together. Follow these steps to find the affected links, choose the right fix, and check that visitors can reach your service again.

Download the step-by-step flowchart to help your team decide when
to restore a page, add a redirect, or remove outdated links.
Keep it handy for your next website update.

Download the Flowchart ↓

Step 1: Find the Broken URL and the Links Pointing to It

Run a website crawl using your SEO audit tool. Look for internal links whose destinations return 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone).

For each issue, record the unavailable URL and the pages linking to it. This gives your team a clear repair list.

Check active marketing links separately. A website crawl may not discover links in ads, emails, or printed materials.

Step 2: Decide Whether to Restore, Redirect, or Remove Links

The correct action depends on what happened to the page.

Situation	Correct action
The page was accidentally deleted	Restore it at its original URL.
The service page permanently moved to a new URL	Add a 301 permanent redirect from the old URL to the new one.
The page was removed and a relevant replacement exists	Redirect to that replacement if it meets the original visitor’s intent.
The service was permanently removed with no relevant replacement	Keep a proper 404 or 410 response and remove links to the deleted page.

You do not need to redirect every deleted page. The destination should genuinely help someone who followed the original link.

Step 3: Configure a 301 Redirect Where Appropriate

If the page moved permanently, ask your developer to configure a 301 permanent redirect through your CMS or server.

For example:
/seo-service/ → 301 redirect → /seo-services/

The redirect should lead directly to the final live page. Avoid sending visitors through several intermediate URLs.

Do not automatically redirect unrelated deleted pages to your homepage. Someone looking for a specific service should reach a relevant replacement.

Step 4: Update Internal Links

After adding the redirect, update links across your website to point directly to the correct live URL.
Review:

• Main navigation and footer links.
• Service listings and related service pages.
• Blog posts and resource pages.
• Enquiry buttons and other calls to action.

If no replacement exists, remove the outdated link or revise the surrounding content so it still makes sense.

Step 5: Correct Advertising and Campaign Links

Update the destination in active ads, email templates, social profiles, and business listings.

Where possible, ask partner websites or directories to update their links too. A redirect helps visitors using older links, but links you control should use the final address.

Check that the updated destination matches the campaign’s offer and includes a working enquiry or booking option.

Step 6: Update the Sitemap and Canonical Reference

Remove the deleted or redirected URL from your XML sitemap. Include the replacement if it is intended to be indexed.

Check that the replacement page’s canonical tag points to the correct preferred URL. For a standalone service page intended to appear in search, this will usually be its own final address.

These references should consistently identify the page you want search engines to discover.

Step 7: Test the Complete Visitor Journey

Do more than check whether the page opens. Verify the technical response and the action a customer needs to take.

Check	Expected result
Old URL when a redirect is needed	Returns a 301 and leads directly to the relevant replacement.
Restored or replacement page	Returns 200 OK and displays the intended service content.
Permanently removed page without a replacement	Returns 404 or 410.
Updated internal links	Point directly to the correct live page.
Enquiry form or booking CTA	Works successfully.

Testing the enquiry form matters: visitors need to be able to complete the journey after reaching the page.

Step 8: Help Google Discover the Replacement

In Google Search Console, inspect the replacement URL and request indexing if appropriate. Submit the updated sitemap if needed.

Requesting indexing does not guarantee inclusion or immediate recovery. It supports discovery after you have corrected the page and its references.

Step 9: Monitor the Fix and Prevent Repeat Issues

Crawl the website again to confirm that the affected internal links are resolved. Monitor visits and enquiries to understand whether the customer journey is recovering.

For future updates, make these checks part of the publishing process:

• Decide what happens to the old URL before changing it.
• Configure any required redirect when the change goes live.
• Update internal links, campaign destinations, and sitemap entries.
• Test the final page and its enquiry or booking flow.
• Schedule regular crawls to catch newly broken links.

Start with restoring access, then correct the links that send visitors there. Making these checks routine will help your next website update run more smoothly.
For the business context behind these checks, read How Broken Service Pages Can Cost Your Business Leads and Sales.