Every year, millions of URLs stop working. This phenomenon, known as "link rot," affects websites of all sizes—from personal blogs to major news organizations. Understanding why links break can help you protect your own content.
What is Link Rot?
Link rot (also called "link decay") occurs when a URL that once pointed to valid content no longer works. The link might return a 404 error, redirect to an unrelated page, or simply time out.
Studies have found alarming rates of link rot:
- 38% of links on government websites are broken (US Government Accountability Office)
- 49% of URLs in Supreme Court opinions are non-functional (Harvard Law School)
- 25% of news article links break within 2 years
Common Causes
1. Website Restructuring
When websites redesign or reorganize, URLs often change. Without proper redirects, old links break.
Example: A company moves from /products/widget-123 to /shop/widgets/123
2. Content Removal
Pages get deleted for various reasons:
- Legal takedown requests
- Outdated information
- Storage costs
- Policy violations
3. Domain Changes
Companies rebrand, merge, or go out of business. When a domain expires or changes ownership, all its links break.
4. File Hosting Service Changes
File hosting services are particularly prone to link rot:
- Files expire after inactivity periods
- Services shut down entirely
- Storage policies change
- Copyright takedowns
5. Platform Migrations
Switching platforms (WordPress to Shopify, etc.) without URL preservation breaks all existing links.
The SEO Impact
Broken links hurt your SEO in several ways:
Wasted Link Equity
When other sites link to your broken pages, you lose valuable "link juice." Those external links become worthless.
Poor User Experience
Visitors who encounter 404 errors are likely to leave. High bounce rates signal to search engines that your site isn't valuable.
Crawl Budget Waste
Search engine bots spend time crawling broken links instead of your actual content, reducing overall crawl efficiency.
Trust Signals
Sites with many broken links appear neglected, reducing perceived trustworthiness.
How to Fight Link Rot
1. Monitor Your Links
Regularly check that your external links still work. Tools like DeadLinkRadar can automate this process.
2. Use Redirects
When you change URLs, implement 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones. This preserves both user experience and link equity.
3. Archive Important Content
Use services like the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine to preserve pages you link to.
4. Choose Stable Platforms
For critical content, prefer platforms with good longevity track records.
5. Build Internal Links
Don't rely solely on external links. Create a strong internal linking structure you control.
The Numbers Game
For content creators who share file hosting links, the stakes are even higher:
- Rapidgator: Files may expire after 60-90 days of inactivity
- K2S: Similar inactivity policies
- Mega: 180-day inactivity limit on free accounts
Regular monitoring ensures you catch dead links before your audience does.
Take Action
Link rot is inevitable, but its impact is manageable. By monitoring your links and responding quickly when they break, you can maintain a healthy, trustworthy web presence.
Start monitoring your links with DeadLinkRadar—free for up to 25 links.