Why is SEMRush reporting a 404 error on our Webflow website that includes our site URL followed by a colon ("/:")? How can we fix this issue?

If SEMRush is reporting a 404 error on your Webflow website that includes your site URL followed by a colon ("/:"), it implies that SEMRush detected a broken link or a URL that isn't properly formatted on your site.

To fix this issue, follow these steps:

1. Identify the broken link: SEMRush should provide you with the specific URL that is causing the 404 error. Take note of this URL.

2. Check your site for broken links: Use a website crawler or a link checking tool to scan your entire website and identify any broken links. There are several tools available, such as Screaming Frog or W3C Link Checker, that can help with this process.

3. Verify the formatting of the URL: Double-check the formatting of the URL that SEMRush is reporting as a 404 error. Make sure there are no additional characters or typos, such as the colon ("/:") following the URL.

4. Update the broken link: Once you have identified the broken link, you have a few options to fix it:

a. Fix the link internally: If the broken link is pointing to a page on your own website, update the URL to the correct page. Make sure the new URL is properly formatted and doesn't contain any typos.

b. Redirect the broken link: If the broken link points to a page that no longer exists or has been moved, you can use a 301 redirect to redirect the old URL to a relevant page on your site. In Webflow, you can set up redirects in the project settings or on a per-page basis.

c. Remove the broken link: If the broken link is no longer needed or doesn't serve any purpose, consider removing it altogether. This will prevent any future 404 errors.

5. Update and resubmit your sitemap: After fixing the broken link, update your website's sitemap file to reflect the changes. Once updated, resubmit the sitemap to search engines like Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools. This will help search engines re-crawl and index your site with the corrected URLs.

6. Monitor for further issues: Keep an eye on your site's performance and regularly check for any new 404 errors or broken links. Set up regular crawls with tools like SEMRush, Google Search Console, or other website monitoring tools to ensure the health of your website and catch any potential issues early.

By following these steps, you should be able to identify and fix the 404 error reported by SEMRush on your Webflow website.