|
||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||
Depends. Before you look for a tool, work out a sitemap strategy suitable for your Web site. Choosing a tool sets the procedure to create and maintain the sitemaps in stone, thus make a good decision in the first place. Google Sitemaps FAQ · Index · Expand · Web Feed
What is the time table of a Google Sitemap submission? Google Sitemaps is a URL submission tool, currently feeding only one search engine. Despite the label, it has not so much to do with a classic site map at first sight. Google's sitemap protocol lacks attributes like title, abstract, topic/category or parent node (hierarchy level and position of a node in the tree structure), which are necessary to create a site map which helps human users to navigate a site. A flat Google Sitemap file becomes a structured site map in Google's search index, which is build and maintained by regular crawling on the Web, and completed by sitemap based crawls as an additional method of inclusion and 'novation'. Regardless of the method used to create a Google Sitemap, it must be double checked before the submission. If for some reason duplicated pages, unprotected printer friendly versions, or even questionable stuff like outdated link swap pages find their way into the sitemap, the Google Sitemaps submission will function as an index wiper and tank the site in Google's search results. Also, after the submission you should monitor the downloads and --at least the very first-- crawler problem reports. One pager and tiny, static Web sitesIf such a site needs a Google Sitemap at all, the tool of your choice is a text editor. Just grab an XML syntax example, edit the URLs in <loc>, except of <lastmod> delete all other tags within <url>, save as UTF-8 text, upload and submit the file, done. However, ensure all pages are linked from the root index page. Small static Web sites, never updatedIf the only page ever updated is the guestbook, you need a simple one time sitemap generation, that is an online tool like SitemapsPal. Enter your root URL in the form, disable all other sitemap attributes, and press submit. Copy the results and paste them into your favorite text editor, save the file as UTF-8 text, remove the usual duplicate entry http://www.yourdomain.com/index.html but leave http://www.yourdomain.com/ intact, upload and submit the file, done. On the Google Sitemap Tools Page you'll find a style sheet to display the XML sitemap in a Web browser, and a Google Sitemap editor you can use for minor updates. Small static Web sites, frequently updatedYou can use any tool for editing or regenerating the XML sitemap on content changes, but there is a smart way to do it. Download Simple Sitemaps from this site, if you're able to do minor edits in well documented scripts. Simple Sitemaps uses a plain text file containing a list of URLs to create XML, HTML, TXT, and RSS sitemaps. The tool itself is free, for a low fee you you can purchase the initial URL list spidered from your site. On page updates just change the date of last modification, or add a new line for a new page, upload the text file, and Googlebot updates all four types of sitemaps. Medium sized and large static Web sitesFor this type of Web site there are basically three different approaches: BlogsWeb log software and similar content management systems like Drupal usually come with a build-in sitemap generator. If not, there are good plug-ins for WordPress, Movable Type, and others available. Some of them didn't make it on the sitemap related links lists, so simply search Google for [google sitemap generator "your blog software or CMS here"]. A blog's XML sitemap should be updated in the background, for example when the blog software pings Pingomatic, Weblogs, etc., announcing new posts to the blogosphere. Even with trusted software it's a good idea to check the XML sitemap for duplicates, that is different URLs pointing to the same post, or archive index page. URLs with IDs in the query string are suspect, mostly they have an equivalent address (permanent link). If there is no filter to suppress useless URLs, dump the software. ForumsSome forum software vendors offer build-in functionality to create Google Sitemaps, for others like vBulletin you need plug-ins. The crux with forums is, that they make use of multiple URLs pointing to the same or similar content. The XML sitemap should contain only URLs to sub-forums and threads. Perhaps even pages per thread, but here it starts to become tricky, because the number of displayed posts per page is --usually-- user dependent, and search engine crawlers like Googlebot don't behave like real users, they don't accept cookies, they don't log in, and they start a new session per 'page view'. Dynamic sites of any sizeWith a dynamic Web site do not use a 3rd party tool to create and update your Google Sitemap. Provide a dynamic database driven XML sitemap instead. If you don't use a content management system with build-in creation of XML sitemap files, write the script yourself, or hire a programmer (see dynamic Google Sitemaps design patterns). It's worth the efforts, because with 3rd party sitemap tools you put your search engine placements at risk, and most 3rd party tools handle dynamic content very costly. There are countless good reasons not to use external sitemap generators --not even Google's own script!-- with dynamic sites. I'd have to write a book to list them all, so just trust me and do not use external tools to create a Google Sitemap for your dynamic Web site! Free hosted stuffWell, my usual advice is go get a domain and a host, but for mom and pop sites and hobby bloggers as well reputable free hosting makes sense, and their content often deserves nice search engine placements. Unfortunately, in some situations free hosting and Google Sitemaps are not compatible, that is you'll have to live without a Google Sitemap. Jump station:
Thursday, November 10, 2005 What is the time table of a Google Sitemap submission?
Google Sitemaps - The How-To What-Is FAQ · Index · Part 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · Expand · Web Feed
|
||||||
|
neat CMS: Banners don't work anymore. Buy and sell targeted traffic via text links: [Editor's notes on |
|||||
Digg this · Add to del.icio.us · Add to Furl · We Can Help You! |
||||||
|
||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Home · Categories · Articles & Tutorials · Syndicated News, Blogs & Knowledge Bases · Web Log Archives Copyright © 2004, 2005 by Smart IT Consulting · Reprinting except quotes along with a link to this site is prohibited · Contact · Privacy
|