The Importance of Sitemaps
Written by Nile | Posted in SEO | Posted on 
10-03-2012 | 
47 Comments
Tags: blog tools, seo, sitemaps, web design
Sitemaps are important because they allow the search engines like Google and Yahoo! to index your entire site and leave it available for other internet users to find. A sitemap is defined:
A site map (or sitemap) is a representation of the architecture of a web site. It can be either a document in any form used as a planning tool for web design, or a web page that lists the pages on a web site, typically organized in hierarchical fashion.
From Wikipedia. Original definition by Peter Morville, Information Architecture on the World Wide Web, Feb 1998, pp:58
A sitemap allows search engines to crawl your site more efficiently and index fresh material from any website. If a webmaster has move or deleted material, the search engine would recognize and change the search engine results to reflect the website change. Although having a sitemap eliminates most of the work that a webmasters takes in submitting a website to search, it does not totally eradicate the effort.
Sitemaps accepted by search engines are general coded in XML format, not HTML. However, a webmaster may create a sitemap structure with HTML for their visitors. For WordPress users, this can be easily done with the installation of Dagon Design Sitemap Generator. (Of course there are plenty of other sitemap plugins too.) Currently, the Dagon Design Sitemap Generator plugin is not an accepted sitemap, however, there is a great plugin that Google recognizes, which is the Google XML Sitemaps plug-in. Once one or both of the plug-ins mentioned have been installed, it is best to go to Google Webmaster Tools to inform them where to find the sitemap.
Sitemaps are not another new fad as they have been around for years. It was not until 2006, that search engine moguls like Google, Yahoo!, and MSN got together to create the guidelines behind a proper sitemap. Since then, sitemaps have been used as a vital technique for search engine optimization. Why? Well, as said earlier in the article, a sitemap would tell the search engine how fresh the content of a page is on any website and post it so internet users can find information they need. Sitemaps would recognize new material and direct crawlers to the information for indexing.
Outside Related Links:
- Sitemaps XML format – Sitemaps.org
- Major Search Engines Unite to Support a Common Mechanism for Website Submission
Do you have a sitemap for your site? Any other benefits you can think of when having a sitemap for your site?
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Hi, think it’s a little more complicated. Just using a sitemap file isn’t the solution or guarantee to get indexed. See what Matt Cutts has to say on sitemaps: http://followmattcutts.com/2010/03/23/matt-cutts-on-sitemap-indexing/
Hi Bas! I read that article a long time ago. This is not for just newbie sites. This is for sites that are established, but are not indexing effectively as they should.
Twitter: alifeoflight
says:
The sitemap plugins make things so simple now to create these for WP that I am not sure why everybody does not use them. There are so many benefits to them, especially when you add the XML sitemap and the video sitemap to your Google webmaster account, that it is well worth taking a couple of minutes to do this.
Thanks Nile for an excellent and crystal clear explanation of these very cool little digital assistants.
Michael recently posted..A Trip To The Deli
I have never given much importance to site map. Your post opened my eyes. Thanks,
Twitter: Revoices
says:
Yes sitemap plugins make things so simple now to create these for WP.
Revoices recently posted..Download Skater boy for Android
Nile,
I did install a sitemap plugin but I have never checked it out to see how it is working or not working. Not even sure how to check it.
Warmly,
Dr. Erica
Dr. Erica Goodstone recently posted..Are You Dating Your Clients?
In the Google XML Sitemaps plugin, when you install it and go to the General Settings> XML-Sitemap in your WordPress backend, you should see for the first time for it to tell you to have the plugin build the sitemap for you manually. If not… then it has already done so.
Twitter: quauthor01
says:
I use Dagon Design for my html sitemap on my blog and it works perfectly. I do think the xml sitemap is the most important one as this is what the search engines use to crawl your site, so as long as your site is structured well it will improve your search engine placement.
Both your sitemap recommendations in your post I think are a must have if you are running a blog.
Chris recently posted..Choose the Holiday Park Breaks in West Sussex for a Fun Holiday Getaway
The problem with the Dagon Design is that it has not been update in some time and it is not a valid sitemap according to Sitemaps.org
Sitemaps make it easier for search engine robots to crawl your site so I really agree that sitemaps should be prioritized by all bloggers and webmasters.
Twitter: ajacwebdesign
says:
Thumbs up. I like to use two sitemaps, one for the main portion of the site and another specifically for the blog. It’s gotten me better results in the past.
Charles Daniels recently posted..The first 3 local SEO steps for your Michigan business after publishing your new website
You really only need one sitemap unless you have one that is for videos as well.
hi nile….
i am a new blogger and always hear about keyword research, backlinks and all this stuff
but this term ”sitemap” is new for me..i never heard about this term..
but as you mentioned in your comment that is is not for newbies..so i ‘ll firstly try to Establish my blog and then i’ll go for it..
thanks for this nice info
prabhat recently posted..How to transfer files via Bluetooth on iDevice
Twitter: Usa_Job
says:
There are so many benefits to them, especially when you add the XML sitemap and the video sitemap to your Google webmaster account, that it is well worth taking a couple of minutes to do this.
Nice post.Its a very interesting article on Interesting topic.Now a days everyone wants to know about importance of sitemap.Thanks for giving a answer to them.
Very nice and informative post on sitemaps. And I agree with you it play very important role while search engine crawl the website. I know only Google sitemap generators. Thanks for sharing different sitemaps tools. Great work Keep it up
Twitter: sahaali1
says:
Sitemap is very important because it shows the structure of your site, its sections, the links between them. Sitemap make navigating your site easier. It’s really true that with the help of plugins it is very easy to create sitemap.
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Ya I do think the xml sitemap is the most important one as this is what the search engines use to crawl your site…Thank you for a post..
Twitter: Surminga
says:
I’ve installed Sitemaps XML for WordPress to the majority of my Blogs, but more work needs to be done in order to get your site indexed higher on search engines – nice article
Surminga recently posted..Top 5 April Film Releases 2012
After owning a few websites and not creating a sitemap whilst creating the website is a drastic mistake as I’m not willing to pay $50 or so just for a website to create a sitemap for me! Its lucky for you bloggers that you get it free
You can always manually create a sitemap. However, with content management systems, it is automatically created for you. Less money and time.
Twitter: techblowup
says:
Hi Nile thanks for giving the whole idea of sitemaps….It’s very useful for me…I have never read such a nice article about sitemaps……
Prakash recently posted..Simsimi: Online Simsimi, Get Simsimi for Android Download
Twitter: michaelcollinsusa2012
says:
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How right you are, sitemaps are very helpful towards SEO, this site is free and simple to use to build an xml sitemap, http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/ I use it all of the time and also use the WordPress plug in that you suggest.
And as you say it always is helpful to use the Google Webmaster Tools to register your site and sitemap.
now I know… Good thing I have created a sitemap on my website using a plugin. Thanks for reminding me!
Anonymous recently posted..CSS Transparency
I have no idea how to do the site map, Excellent tips indeed! I really love to learn from the well experience one.. I will always keep that in mind..
Yes having a sitemap for our blogs is important. That way we can get our content indexed. Another good strategy is to go to google webmasters and manually submit our sitemap once a week.
Jacob recently posted..eCosway Company Unbiased Review
Hi Jacob! You really should not have to submit your sitemap 1 time per week. You should set your sitemap to automatically update and set the importance of posts or pages to how you wish them to index. Submitting them constantly to Google does nothing. Google updates 1 time a month for major page rank updates.
Twitter: technewsonly
says:
Whilst it surely is important to add a site map, and good practice.. I have several sites I don’t have sitemaps for and they rank well..
I think if you plan your site structure well, and make it easy for spiders to find your important content from your homepage (without nofollowing everything) usually there is no issue..
Kiyan|tech news recently posted..Nokia Tablet on Windows 8 By June 2012
Twitter: MorganBarnhart
says:
Hi Nile,
I totally agree about sitemaps. They’ve been used for a long time and plugins on WordPress have just made it easier for us to utilize them.
I use the Google XML Sitemaps on my blog and it does really help. I do notice a different between having it and not having it. Great post!
Morgan recently posted..Friends Are Our Highest Influencer
Twitter: natashanassar
says:
Hmmmmm I’m going to have to have my techy guy (aka my husband, Rich) look into whether I have a site map or not.
Glad to know there are some good plug-ins available,,,although to be honest, this is such a basic thing, I better have one installed already! ; )
Thanks for another great post, Nile!
Natasha Nassar recently posted..The Scoop on Pinterest
Twitter: JupiterJimFLA
says:
Nile,
Thanks for the great information again. I love sitemaps. I like the “BWP GXS” (or something like that) sitemap generator plugin a little better than the one you listed, although the one you listed is a known standard and a good one. The one I’m referring to is something like Better WordPress Google XML Sitemap generator. I like it because it generates several sitemaps based on posts and categories then generates an index of those sitemaps to submit to Google Webmaster Tools. And it’s supposed to not slow your site down as much. So important that you shared that with your readers as well.
I’ve heard that the Dagon sitemap generator is great for visitors and still can help your SEO.
Thanks,
– Jupiter Jim
Jupiter Jim recently posted..Free “Online Backup for WordPress” Plugin Video Tutorial
A sitemap is definitely essential if you want google and other engines to spider regularly. I also agree that using webmaster tools and asking google to visit when you make changes speeds up the whole process. The webmaster tools will identify any problems with your sitemap too.
John Gaydon recently posted..Optimized Blog Content So Easy Your 15 Year Old Daughter Can Do It!
Great article. The moment i added a sitemap to my pages, it defenetly help my SEO, this article really outlines it in the proper way.
Thanks a lot!
Twitter: ForteProperties
says:
I was also told that it’s important to have the “S” in /Sitemaps.xml capitalized. Not sure why or what effect it has, but I guess it can’t hurt. Great post!
Chris recently posted..What To Know About Austin Owner Financed Homes
No, you really do not have to have the S in sitemaps in your URL uppercased at all.
Hi Nile,
Agree, Nice post/blog, I’m on learn SEO/IM, thanks for sharing.Thanks ya, Erni
Erni recently posted..Diet Programs
thank for the post
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I’m just new on SEO and I learned the benefits that I could get from sitemap. Thank you for sharing.
Informative post indeed! I find sitemap very helpful in generating traffic to a certain website.
Nile, I just want to ask is it possible to install 2 different sitemap generator. Does it have advantage / disadvantages. Currently I am using the google xml sitemap plug-ins.
matt recently posted..New IPAD (Ipad 3) 2012, Specs, Price Philippines
Hi Matt! From what I know, there are people that have an XML sitemap for their posts and then there is one available for videos. I do not see having two as a problem in that case, but you really only need one valid. Some people to have an archives page that is set up more like a sitemap, and it is not a valid sitemap, but can be useful as an extra way for visitors to search your site.
Hi. That’s really interesting info. I did’t know that much about sitemaps before. Still trying to make something with my web. Regards
Twitter: sunnythesis
says:
Yes I agree with you. Sitemaps allows faster indexing of new topics on Google. I also have sitemap on my site and I must say that Google Sitemap XML is the best.
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Twitter: itechcode
says:
Thanks Nile for this superb Article.
I am using Google Xml Site map but i thinking to create a page for Sitemap as a menu on my site.
Thanks.
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