How to Prevent Broken Links: Pre-Publication Checks, URL Planning, and Ongoing Maintenance

Preventing broken links comes down to checking that links work before publishing, using stable URLs, setting up redirects before moving content, and continuing to check existing links. When deleting or moving a page, if relevant replacement content is available, set up a 301 redirect to that page first. Content on external websites should be checked regularly to confirm that it is still accessible. These practices can reduce the chances of visitors encountering error pages, but they cannot guarantee that external links will always work.

Before publishing, check not just that links exist, but that they lead to the right place

Semrush’s article on link maintenance recommends clicking each link or scanning links with a browser extension before publishing new content to confirm that the destination pages load properly. The aim is not only to identify inaccessible URLs, but also to catch links that were pasted incorrectly.

• Open each link in the article and confirm that it leads to the intended content.
• URLs should reflect the page content and website structure to reduce the need for future renaming or moves.
• Do not treat pre-publication checks as a permanent guarantee; existing content still needs ongoing maintenance.

Plan relevant replacement pages before moving or deleting pages

If a page is about to move, or relevant content is available to replace it after deletion, set up a 301 redirect before making the change so that visitors and search engines using the old URL reach a working page. The priority is the most relevant replacement content, not simply redirecting to any page that loads.

Also avoid letting redirects grow into longer chains. For example, redirecting an old URL to an intermediate page and then to the new page creates a redirect chain. A 2023 article on Neil Patel’s website notes that multiple redirects may increase loading times; when updating content, redirects should lead directly to the final destination. This differs from a redirect loop, in which two URLs redirect back to each other, preventing visitors from reaching the content.

Make link checking part of routine content maintenance

Broken links are not limited to text; image links can also fail. A 2025 article by Welly explains that Dead Link Checker can check for broken image and text links, while Broken Link Checker can provide link types, error codes, and the source of problems. These are the tool features described in that article; you should still confirm that they meet your needs before choosing a tool.

In addition to regular scans, check links when updating articles. Backlinko’s content update recommendations include checking whether information is accurate, whether it still addresses readers’ questions, and identifying broken links and outdated tools. This combines link maintenance with content corrections, rather than merely fixing URLs while leaving advice that is no longer applicable.

When an external source disappears, check whether the text citing it still holds up

If an external page is inaccessible and no reliable replacement source can be found, do not keep the broken link just for the sake of having a citation. Semrush recommends retaining the surrounding text after removing an external link if it can stand on its own. If an entire passage depends on that source for its purpose or credibility, the corresponding passage should be removed. For example, deleting only the citation link while leaving a claim that relies entirely on that source does not complete the maintenance work.