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In October, we reported that Google treats a 410 stronger than a 404 status code. I am not sure exactly when Google made the 410 status code that important, but I believe it was sometime in October.
A new thread surfaced in Google Webmaster Help where it was suggested by a Googler to use the 410, once again.
Googler, Jonathan Simon said:
Last year we started started treating 410 Gone responses as being a stronger signal for indicating when a page no longer exists. So for the situation you describe (where 301 redirects aren't practical) returning a 410 response is the way to go.
It seems to me that when Googlebot discovers a 410, it will communicate to Google to not index that page for a really long time. I believe Google will check pages they know to be 404ed every now and then. Maybe a 410 will tell Googlebot to never check back or check back extremely rarely?
Just keep in mind that the 410 is much stronger than a 404 response - it may come in handy in your future SEO projects.
Forum discussion at Google Webmaster Help.
Comments:
Sean Supplee
01/27/2010 02:08 pm
Yicks! I had no idea about the 410 page I have always heard about making sure you do something with your 404 page which normally either redirects you back to my main page or some type of special ad to prompt the visitor to take action.
Suresh Chowhan
01/28/2010 06:28 am
Its really interesting use of 410. Previously, I use 301 for a old 404 page, also for not required page. But 410 can help much, if I no longer want to be live or index or crawl or redirect any page.
YA
02/01/2012 03:30 pm
410 ... make your life easier!!