Google Sitemaps Rundown

What Google Sitemaps is all about: Aimed crawling makes Google's search results fresh, and Webmasters happy.

Google Sitemaps FAQ · Index · Expand · Web Feed

Can a Google Sitemap destroy my search engine placements?

Smart Webmasters use Google Sitemaps to submit fresh content as well as updates to Google's Web crawlers. With Google Sitemaps the submission process can run on autopilot, that is each update of the Web site's content database can trigger an immediate crawl of new and changed Web pages. This fully automated procedure can reduce the time to index dramatically, even for small and static Web sites, or blogs, forums, shops ...

Here is how you can make use of Google SiteMaps to get your Web site fully indexed in no time, 24/7/365.

1. Study the Google Sitemaps Tutorial

Now you should know what Google Sitemaps is all about, and you should have a pretty good idea how you can get the most out of it.

2. Download and install a free Google Sitemap Generator

Google's open source tool requires Python 2.2. If that's no option, then look for a suitable 3rd party tool. Selfish recommendation: Simple Sitemaps creates you a Google XML sitemap, a HTML sitemap, a RSS site feed and a Yahoo! URL submission list.

3. Create and validate your XML sitemap

Once you've created your Google Sitemap(s), you should validate the XML structure before you submit it: here is a free online sitemap validator.

4. Submit and verify your Google Sitemap

First sign up for a Google Account (or sign in to your existing acct.), then submit your Google Sitemap. For resubmits of your sitemap(s) on content changes you've many options, but the initial submission must be done in your Google Account. Once your sitemap is accepted, verify it to get daily crawler problem reports.

Done. Sounds easy, but there are pitfalls, and options. Depending on the type of Web site you're operating and its size, the optimal sitemap strategy will vary. Possibly your Google Sitemap implementation becomes a complex task. It may be a good idea to ask for advice or a second opinion.

If you have questions or answers not covered in this FAQ and the tutorial, feel free to contribute.

Surf a few useful Web links for more information on Google Sitemaps. And keep your knowledge current: bookmark the Google News Feed on Google Sitemaps, and subscribe to the Google Sitemap FAQ's RSS Feed to get alerted on updates and Google Sitemap news.