Experiencing an error when trying to access a website can be a frustrating experience for any user. It might even lead to visitors leaving your site and never coming back. But with cPanel, you can create custom error pages that not only communicate the error more effectively but also keep users engaged, providing them a much more positive experience.
Custom error pages can serve a variety of purposes: they can offer helpful information, point users to other relevant pages on your site, and even inject a bit of humor to lighten the mood. In this blog post, we’ll guide you on how to create custom error pages such as 404, 403, and 500 in cPanel.
What are Error Pages?
Error pages are the pages that users see when they try to navigate to a page that doesn’t exist or is inaccessible. The most common types are 404 (Not Found), 403 (Forbidden), and 500 (Internal Server Error). The standard error pages that come with most servers are generic and unhelpful. Custom error pages can provide users with helpful information and guide them back to a working page.
Accessing cPanel
To get started, you need to log in to your cPanel account.
After logging in, look for the “Advanced” section or the “Errors” icon in the cPanel dashboard.
This will take you to the page where you can manage error pages.
Customizing Error Pages
Now we’ll go over how to customize the error page.
Step 1: Select the Error Page
After you’ve located the “Error Pages” icon, click on it. You’ll be directed to a page where you can choose the type of error page you want to edit. Let’s say you want to customize your 404 error page. Click on the “404 (Not Found)” link.
Step 2: Edit the Error Page
On the next screen, you’ll find a text editor similar to what you’d find in any CMS. You can insert HTML, CSS, and even JavaScript. This is where you can get creative. You can write a friendly message, add images, or include links to other pages on your site. Remember, the goal is to provide a helpful, engaging page for your users.
Step 3: Insert Special Server Tags
cPanel provides special server tags which you can use to add dynamic information to your error pages. For example, you could use the `<!–#echo var=”HTTP_REFERER” –>` tag to display the URL of the page that the visitor came from. To use these, simply insert them into your HTML code.
Step 4: Save the Changes
After you’ve finished customizing your error page, make sure to save the changes. Your error page is now live.
Testing Your Error Pages
After setting up your custom error pages, it’s important to test them to make sure they work as expected. You can do this by intentionally trying to access a page on your site that doesn’t exist or is inaccessible.
Conclusion
Transforming error pages from generic roadblocks into engaging, helpful signposts can enhance the user’s experience and reflect positively on your brand. With the right blend of creativity and utility, you can turn errors into opportunities. With cPanel, this process is a breeze, leaving you more time to focus on creating captivating content.
Remember, a little bit of care and attention to these overlooked aspects can significantly improve your website’s user experience.
If you’re looking for a web hosting provider that includes cPanel, check out our web hosting services here. You may also read our blog about backing up and restoring your website using cPanel.
