Imagine this: Your site is technically fine with no broken links, no server crashes. Still, your traffic starts to slip. The culprit? A seemingly harmless URL parameter, like srslitd.
This kind of parameter often sneaks into URLs through tracking systems or dynamic content generation. But when it creates duplicate or empty versions of pages, search engines might start flagging them as soft 404 Errors—pages that look okay but offer no value. Unlike regular 404 errors, these don’t scream “broken”; they quietly drain your SEO performance.
Whether you are running a full-scale eCommerce site or a lean content platform, this guide will show you how to spot and eliminate the SRSLTID problem before it spreads.
What is a Soft 404 Error?
A soft 404 error happens when a page technically loads (it returns a 200 OK status), but the content tells Google, “There’s nothing useful here.” So even though the page isn’t broken, it’s not delivering real value, and search engines treat it as if it’s missing.
For example, a product page that’s been removed but still shows a “Product not found” message without returning a proper 404 Not Found status is a classic soft 404. Another common cause? Pages generated by URL parameters like srslitd that don’t display meaningful content, or worse, look like thin duplicates of existing pages.
Search engines expect content to match intent. If they see a page that pretends to exist but fails to deliver, they flag it. And that’s where your SEO issues begin.
Reasons for Soft 404 Errors
Soft 404 Errors don’t just show up randomly, they’re almost always the result of how your site is built, structured, or managed. Here are the most common triggers:
- URL Parameters Like srslitd
Dynamic URL parameters can generate hundreds of page variations. If those versions don’t have unique or valuable content, search engines may flag them as soft 404s. They look like duplicates or empty shells.
- Thin or Empty Content
If a page loads but has barely any information, like a blank product page or a generic “no results found” message, it tells Google the page isn’t useful. That’s a soft 404 issue.
- Templated Pages with No Real Data
Sometimes pages are built from templates but never filled in with actual content. They appear to exist, but serve no purpose to users or crawlers.
- Deleted or Expired Content
A product, article, or service gets removed, but the URL still loads a default “not available” message, without the proper 404 or 410 status. These pages mislead crawlers into thinking they’re still alive.
- CMS or Server Misconfiguration
Some sites are set up to show a “friendly” error message without actually telling the browser or search engine that the page is gone. That breaks the trust between your server and Google.
These soft errors pile up quietly, creating SEO bloat and weakening your site’s overall integrity. Before these issues arise, it’s important to take the needed action.
Core Differences Between Normal 404 and Soft 404 Errors
Not all “missing” pages are treated the same by search engines. Here’s how a regular 404 and a soft 404 differ and why it matters:
| Feature | 404 Error | Soft 404 Error |
| HTTP Status Code | Returns a 404 Not Found (or 410) | Returns a 200 OK, even though the content is missing or irrelevant |
| What Google Sees | “This page doesn’t exist.” | “This page technically works, but it’s empty or useless.” |
| User Experience | Shows a clear error or custom 404 page | May show a bland message like “no results found” or blank content |
| SEO Treatment | Google stops indexing it | Google may continue crawling it, that waste crawl budget |
| Common Cause | Broken link, deleted page, mistyped URL | Parameterized URL, empty template, no meaningful content |
Bottom line:
- 404s are expected—they’re part of the web.
- Soft 404 Errors are misleading—they make your site look unreliable to search engines.
Search engines want clarity. When a page is gone, they need a firm “404.” When your site says “this is fine” but delivers nothing, it raises red flags.
SEO Impacts of Soft 404 Errors
Soft 404 errors don’t just clutter your backend, they directly harm your SEO performance. Here’s how:
- Wasted Crawl Budget
Search engines like Google have a limit on how many pages they’ll crawl per site. When bots waste time on empty, low-value pages (like those with srslitd), they might skip real, important content.
- Diluted Page Authority
Every internal link is a vote of confidence. If links point to SEO soft 404 pages, they’re channeling SEO value into dead ends, weakening your site’s overall authority structure.
- Poor User Signals
Soft 404s often lead to high bounce rates and low engagement. When users hit a blank or useless page, they leave fast, and that behavior tells Google the page isn’t worth ranking.
- Indexing Low-Quality Content
Soft 404 pages sometimes still get indexed, especially if they return a 200 status. This makes your site look bloated with irrelevant or duplicate content, which drags down your site’s perceived quality.
- Negative Impact on Core Web Vitals
Empty or broken-feeling pages hurt user experience. That can ripple into performance metrics Google uses to evaluate site quality.
Soft 404s waste resources, confuse crawlers, frustrate users, and quietly erode your SEO. Ignoring them isn’t an option if you care about visibility.
How Do Soft 404 Errors Affect a Website?
Soft 404 errors are like invisible cracks in your site’s foundation. They’re not always obvious, but over time, they weaken everything around them. Here’s how they hit your website where it hurts:
- Lower Search Rankings
When Google detects too many soft 404s, it assumes your site has quality control issues. That can lead to ranking drops, not just for bad pages, but for good ones too.
- Reduced Crawl Efficiency
Crawlers waste time on junk pages instead of discovering and indexing content that actually matters. That means new pages might get delayed or skipped altogether.
- Loss of Organic Traffic
Pages that are flagged as soft 404 errors often disappear from Google search results. If they were previously driving visits, that traffic is gone.
- Bad User Experience
Users landing on thin, broken, or empty pages bounce fast. That sends negative signals to Google and damages trust with real people.
- Weakened Internal Linking
When links point to soft 404s, the internal structure breaks down. You lose the ability to guide both users and search engines effectively through your site.
Soft 404s might seem like a technical SEO issue, but they quietly erode your site’s performance and reputation until your visibility starts to slip.
Where Can You Find Soft 404 Errors?
You can’t fix what you can’t see. Soft 404s don’t scream for attention, they hide behind technically “working” pages. But with the right tools, they’re easy to track down.
1. Google Search Console Soft 404
Your first stop.
Go to: Pages → Why pages aren’t indexed → Soft 404
Here, Google lists all the pages it thinks look valid but offer no value. This is your core reference point.
2. Crawl Tools (e.g., Screaming Frog, Sitebulb)
Run a full crawl of your site.
Look for:
- Pages returning 200 status but with “noindex” tags
- Thin content (very low word count)
- Duplicate titles and meta descriptions
- URLs with suspicious parameters like srslitd
These tools can simulate how Google search engines experience your pages and highlight red flags.
3. Google Analytics or GA4
Look for pages with:
- Very high bounce rates
- Low average time on page
- Little to no conversions or engagement
These can be clues that a page is empty, confusing, or not meeting user intent.
Finding soft 404s is about pattern recognition. The tools will show you the data, your job is to spot the pages that don’t pull their weight.
How to Fix Soft 404 Errors?
Once you’ve found soft 404s, the next step is cleaning them up fast. Fixing them improves crawl efficiency, strengthens your content structure, and boosts your SEO performance. Here’s how to do it:
1. Identify the Source
Start by mapping out where the problem originates:
- Are dynamic parameters like srslitd creating duplicate or empty URLs?
- Are content templates loading without actual content?
- Is your CMS returning a 200 OK for pages that should be marked as gone?
2. Use the Right HTTP Status Codes
- If a page is truly gone and should stay gone → return a 404 (Not Found) or 410 (Gone).
- If the page exists and is valuable → ensure it returns a 200 OK with quality content.
3. Add Canonical Tags
If duplicate versions of the same page exist due to URL parameters, use a canonical tag to point all versions to the primary URL. This consolidates SEO signals and prevent page dilution.
4. Block Useless Parameters
Tell Google to ignore problematic parameters using:
- URL Parameters Tool in Google Search Console (if available)
- robots.txt to block crawling of specific patterns
- Clean up internal linking to avoid spreading bad URLs
5. Redirect When It Makes Sense
If a deleted or outdated page has a natural alternative (like a newer product or relevant category), use a 301 redirect. That preserves link equity and helps users find what they’re looking for.
6. Improve Thin Pages
If a soft 404 is caused by low-content pages, fix it:
- Add unique, helpful content
- Update titles, descriptions, and media
- Ensure the page serves a clear purpose
7. Monitor and Repeat
Soft 404s can resurface if your templates, parameters, or auto-generated pages aren’t controlled. Build this into your regular technical SEO audits.
Think of fixing soft 404s as clearing out the clutter, so search engines and users can focus on the content that actually matters.
Don’t Let Hidden Errors Steal Your Rankings
Soft 404s are silent SEO killers, especially when caused by rogue parameters like srslitd. They fly under the radar but create serious damage over time. Fixing them isn’t just good practice, it’s essential if you want your site to perform the way it should.
Need Help Fixing Soft 404 Errors and Boosting SEO?
You don’t need to chase invisible errors alone. At Lyxel&Flamingo, we combine data-driven insight with boundary-pushing problem-solving to fix hidden technical SEO issues like soft 404s, parameter bloat, and crawl waste. Let’s make your site stronger, faster, and more findable.
Reach out now to audit your site’s health and unlock its full SEO potential.
FAQs
Q. What is the SRSLTID parameter?
A. It’s a tracking or dynamic parameter sometimes added to URLs. Alone, it’s not harmful, but if it generates duplicate or empty pages, it can lead to soft 404 errors.
Q. Are soft 404s the same as broken links?
A. Not quite. Broken links lead to real 404 errors. Soft 404s are trickier; they look like working pages but offer no real content.
Q. Can Google penalize me for soft 404s?
A. While not a penalty, they do reduce your site’s perceived quality, affecting rankings.
Q. Can I just ignore soft 404s?
A. You can, but you’ll risk crawl inefficiencies and SEO loss. Fixing them pays off.
