Return 404 status and set expiration dates for removed videos.
- Return 404 status and set expiration dates for removed videos1 cited source1 category
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Why this matters
Signaling video removal ensures search engines remove outdated videos from index and avoid frustrating user experience with dead links.
Hypothetical standard operating procedure
Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.
- Configure your server to return HTTP 404 status for pages of removed videos.
- Create user-friendly 404 pages explaining video unavailability.
- Add expiration dates in Video Sitemap or mRSS feeds for each removed video.
- Ensure video sitemap updates are submitted to search engines promptly.
- Audit video URLs regularly to identify and mark removed content properly.
Watch for
Not returning proper status codes or signaling removal causes search engines to display stale and unavailable video results.
Definition of done
Removed video URLs return 404 HTTP status and video sitemaps indicate expiration dates.
Sources & attribution
Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.