How can I prevent 404 errors in Google Search Console for CMS Collection Pages in Webflow that only contain a photo, name, and external links, without creating a layout or using redirects?

To prevent 404 errors in Google Search Console for CMS Collection Pages in Webflow that only contain a photo, name, and external links without creating a layout or using redirects, you can utilize a technique called soft 404 handling. This technique involves dynamically generating appropriate headers and content for these pages to inform search engines that they are not actually 404 errors, but rather intentional pages with minimal content.

Here's how you can implement this technique in Webflow:

1. Set up a CMS Collection specifically for these pages. Create the necessary fields such as photo, name, and external links.

2. Design a template for these CMS Collection Pages. Since you mentioned not wanting to create a layout, you can utilize Webflow's Collection Page template feature. It allows you to create a template just for specific CMS Collection Pages without interfering with your main layout. Design the template to display the photo, name, and external links in a visually appealing way.

3. Add custom code to the CMS Collection Page template. In the page settings of the template, you'll find the Custom Code section at the bottom. Inside this section, you can add JavaScript and HTML code to handle the soft 404 scenario. The code should dynamically generate the appropriate headers and content for these pages.

To indicate to search engines that the page is intentionally minimal, you can set the HTTP response code to 200 OK instead of the default 404 Not Found. This can be done through JavaScript by adding the following code to the Custom Code section:

```javascript

```

This code utilizes the `history.replaceState` method to modify the URL and make it appear as if the page actually exists. However, the actual content displayed on the page remains minimal.

4. Publish your website. Once everything is set up, publish your website to make these changes live.

By implementing soft 404 handling with custom code on the CMS Collection Page template, you effectively prevent 404 errors from being reported in Google Search Console. The dynamically generated headers and content trick search engines into understanding that these pages are intentional, despite their minimal content.