404 Error Pages

I am told that having a good 404 error page (that's the "page not found" error) on your website is generally the last chance you have to engage a visitor. There is a choice: helpful, creative, funny or any combination of those.

Let us consider those options for this new website. An urge to be helpful isn't what makes me get up in the morning, so that's discarded.

This site has a good collection of amusing and creative examples. Anyone who knows me will be aware that my design skills prevent me from even imagining I might be able to produce something as creative as even the worst of those. So, the second option is unavailable to me.

That leaves funny. Unfortunately, very few people agree with my assessment of the world's funniest joke. I had better not try funny.

That is a dilemma since I need a 404 error page for this website. Consequently, I decided to take a different approach. I thought, "what does the visitor really want?". If the visitor is anything like me, then the answer is probably, "a drink". With that in mind, I crafted my new 404 error page, which you can visit here.

Of course, here, there will plenty plenty of opportunities for visitors to see my 404 error page because I'm not especially competent.

3 comments

  1. I don't like rum. Can I have a Honey Chillie Tequini instead?

    — Joe Fri, 13 Mar 2009

  2. I like Rum, but could I have a purple cocktail please...

    — Jaimie Thu, 26 Mar 2009

  3. I suppose you could. Something with beetroot in, perhaps?

    — Stewart Fri, 27 Mar 2009