Check a small website for broken links manually
You can find many link problems by walking through a small website with a simple checklist. Check where each important link actually ends, not just whether a page opens. An old menu, unrelated homepage or unavailable booking page can be a broken customer journey even when the browser does not display a technical error.
Before you start
- Start with a list of public pages and the customer tasks they support.
- Create columns for source page, link label, destination, result and action needed.
- Separate ordinary navigation from calls, forms, bookings and payment actions.
What to do
Check shared navigation first
Open the main menu and footer links from the public site. Check that each ordinary link reaches the expected page and that the page title matches the promise. Record links that loop back unexpectedly or land on an unrelated page; a successful load alone does not make them correct.
Follow the main customer journeys
On each key page, check its primary button and relevant document links. For a café, this could mean reaching the current menu and visit information. For a service business, it could mean finding the correct enquiry page. Inspect booking and checkout destinations without placing a booking or making a purchase.
Record evidence precisely
Note the source URL, visible link text, destination address and what went wrong. A 404 response means the requested resource was not found, but access restrictions and provider outages are different issues. Capture a screenshot where useful, avoiding private details and personal account information.
Repair and retest one route at a time
For a link you control, use the correct current destination or remove an obsolete promise with a clear replacement. After publishing an authorised correction, test it from the original source page. Check duplicate buttons and document references rather than assuming one repaired link updates every copy.
What to check
- Shared navigation and main customer actions reach relevant destinations.
- Wrong content and outdated files were recorded alongside technical errors.
- Each repaired route was retested from its actual source page.
Sources and further reading
Platform features can change. Check the provider’s current guidance before changing a live service.