Using a site map builder to add Google sitemaps to your website can be very beneficial. With Google sitemaps, you can inform search engines when you have new or updated content. This process allows search engines to more intelligently crawl your site, significantly reducing the amount of time it normally takes to index your pages. A site map builder is especially beneficial for any site with pages that are only accessible through a search.
The best part about sitemap protocol is that once it is in place, the submission process will be fully automated, giving you more time to concentrate on other aspects of your website. Smart webmasters love Google sitemaps because they can increase traffic without having to do a great deal of work.
Getting Started
If you are interested in adding Google sitemaps to your website, the first thing you will want to do is study the free tutorials that are available on the Google website. These tutorials can walk you through the entire process and answer almost any question you might have.
Your next step will be installing a Google sitemap generator. There are many different site map builder programs out there that will help you generate the sitemap. Some builders can also help you create an rss feed, an html sitemap, and other url submission lists.
Creating Google Site Maps
There are several things you will want to keep in mind when creating Google sitemaps. A sitemap must begin with an opening urlset tag and end with a closing urlset tag. It must also include a url entry for each url and a loc child entry for each url parent tag.
Another important rule to note is that sitemaps should be no larger than 10MB when uncompressed. They should also contain fewer than 50,000 urls. Anything more, and you will need to create multiple sitemap files.
If all of this sounds confusing to you, a site map builder will come in very handy. This program can take care of the trickier, and more time consuming portions of creating sitemaps.
Placing and Submitting Sitemaps
The best spot to put your sitemap is at the root directory of your html server. Once your sitemap is in place, you can validate the xml structure with one of the many free online sitemap validation programs. Validating now can save you from submission errors and a huge headache later on.
The final step is to submit your sitemap. To do this, you will need to sign up for a free Google account or sign in on your existing account if you already have one. Only first time submissions require the access of a Google account; resubmits have many other options.
Once your Google sitemaps have been accepted, you will notice your pages being indexed much faster. You may also see an increase in traffic. If you want to keep check on stats, you can request daily crawler reports. You may also be able to utilize follow up measures through your site map builder.
Adding Google Search To Website
First, I better define a sitemap. It is simply a map of your website and lists of all your sections and pages. A sitemap speeds up the indexing of your pages in Google and can help viewers find their way around your site. There are three basic types of sitemaps. So, what kind of sitemap should I use? It depends what you intend to do with your sitemap. You may also use more than one kind of sitemap on your site.
First, there is the traditional HTML which is useful in utilising your Link Text. This makes it easier for human visitors to navigate the site.
Second, there is the XML Sitemap which is utilised by Google's search engine. Google's sitemaps contain URLs and indexing information. This information is read by a Spider and the information is indexed. The number of URLs in a sitemap is limited to fifty thousand. A second kind of google sitemap, the Google Sitemap Index File, indexes the sitemaps. The index file may index up to one thousand sitemaps.
Third, there is the ROR sitemap which is similar to the XML format which is used for describing any element on your website such as products, services, images, reviews, etc. It can be used for all search engines including google.
Wordpress provides blogs with a sitemap plugin. When you update your site, you do not have to worry about updating your sitemap. The plugin updates your sitemap instantly and alerts Google to the change in your site. What if you want a Google sitemap for your blog on Blogger? Unlike Wordpress, Blogger does not offer a way to get a sitemap. Although, Google provides a Sitemap Generator that creates sitemaps from URL lists, web server directories, or from access logs. Google only allows you to submit your blog site, but does not allow you to generate a sitemap for your Blogger account. However, there is a way to get around that. First, log into Google Webmaster Tools with your google account. Paste the URL of your blog in the add site option. When you click on the "Ok" button, your site will be added to your account.
Second, you will need to verify your blog. With Blogger, you need to choose "Add a META tag" from the drop down menu. Code will be generated for you. Highlight the code and copy it.
Third, go to your blogger account and click on template. Paste the META tag code under the first "head" and save the template changes. Next, click on the "Republish" button.
Fourth, go to the Google webmaster tools account and go back to the "Verify site ownership" and check the"I've added the META tag in the home page of..." Then, click the "verify" button.
Now you have added your site to the sitemap account and have verified it. Next, you need to add the sitemap url. Since Google will not allow you to add a text file or anything else, you will need to add your site feed (ATOM) as a site map.
Fifth, clink on "submit a sitemap" which will take you to "add sitemap". Next select the type saying "Add General Web Sitemap"
Although, I have the newer beta version of Blogger, only atom.xml worked for me. It may be different for you.
Last, you will get a confirmation and your blog will now be indexed.
Once you set up your sitemap, it is all set until you make updates to your site. Then you will have to make updates to your sitemap. Google makes this it easy to do. Everytime you make a change, log into your Google account and click on the resubmit button.
Both Cliff Posey & Mistyrose are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Cliff Posey has sinced written about articles on various topics from Site Promotion, Web Development and Email Advertising. Cliff Posey, owner of CRP Marketing, owns and operates . Cliff Posey has also operated several other successful web businesses including. Cliff Posey's top article generates over 49500 views. to your Favourites.
Mistyrose has sinced written about articles on various topics from Site Promotion, Cars. To learn more about this topic, check out my websites at http://blogging-fundamentals.blogspot.com and http://reviewinfo.thebestbizreview.com. Mistyrose's top article generates over 1600 views. to your Favourites.
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