404 vs. 410: Is It Worth Debating?

In the world of SEO, specific topics seem to persist through the ages, popping up every few years like clockwork. One such topic is the debate over whether to use a 404 or a 410 error status code for pages no longer available on a website. Despite the fact that this question has been addressed by Google representatives multiple times over the past two decades, it continues to be a point of discussion and speculation among SEOs.

It's a debate that has consumed countless hours of time and energy, with practitioners arguing the merits of each status code and poring over every word uttered by Google's search advocates for clues as to which is the "right" choice. 

But as we'll see, this obsession with the minutiae of status codes largely wastes time and effort, distracting us from creating great content and building authoritative websites.

So, if you're ready to put the 404 vs 410 debate to bed, join us on this journey through the annals of SEO history. By the end, you'll have a clearer understanding of why this debate is so futile and what you should be focusing on instead to drive real results for your website. Let's get started!

The Latest Word from Google's John Mueller

The most recent iteration of this debate came in the form of a question posed to Google's John Mueller on Reddit. When asked about the difference between using a 404 or a 410 status code for SEO purposes, Mueller's response was unequivocal:

"It doesn't matter. The difference in the processing of 404 vs. 410 is so minimal that I can't think of any time I'd prefer one over the other for SEO purposes."

Mueller acknowledged that there may be other reasons to prefer one status code over the other, such as being "semantically / pedantically superior" or "for better tracking in logs." However, regarding SEO, he clarified that the choice between 404 and 410 is meaningless.

The Futility of the Debate

As Mueller pointed out in his recent Reddit response, the amount of time and attention devoted to the 404 vs. 410 debate over the years is disproportionate to its actual impact on SEO. He goes so far as to say, "It would have been better to just live with the imperfect instead."

This sentiment echoes a more significant trend in the SEO industry, where practitioners often get bogged down in minutiae and theoretical distinctions with little to no bearing on real-world results. Instead of obsessing over the choice between 404 and 410 status codes, SEOs would be better served by creating high-quality, relevant content and building authoritative backlinks.

The Missed Opportunity

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of Mueller's Reddit response is not what he said about the 404 vs. 410 debate but what he didn't say about the original topic of the thread. The question was whether removing offending content alone would be enough to undo a penalty related to Google's Helpful Content Update.

Unfortunately, Mueller's response focused solely on the tangential issue of 404 vs. 410 status codes and did not address the more substantive question. This represents a missed opportunity to provide valuable insights and guidance to SEOs grappling with the aftermath of the Helpful Content Update.

The Neverending Debate

The debate over whether to use 404 or 410 status codes for pages not found is a prime example of the needless attention and wasted time that can plague the SEO industry. Despite repeated statements from Google representatives that the difference between the two is minimal and inconsequential for SEO purposes, the topic continues to resurface year after year.

As John Mueller so aptly put it, the choice between 404 and 410 is "one of those things that is theoretically correct, but which has ended up wasting so much time overall across the internet." Instead of getting bogged down in this pedantic debate, SEOs should focus on the factors that truly move the needle regarding search engine visibility and rankings.

So, the next time someone tries to draw you into a discussion about the merits of 404 vs. 410 status codes, take a page from John Mueller's book and simply say, "It doesn't matter." Then, get back to creating great content and building a robust and authoritative website.