There are several SEO tactics which can help you optimize your site. One of the tactics that is at times overlooked is sitemaps. As the name suggests, this is a map of your website which shows things such as the sections of your website as well as its structure. Sitemaps make site navigation easier. Therefore, having an up-to-date sitemap is beneficial for search engines as well as your users.
Why is a sitemap necessary?
Besides better visibility by search engines and easier navigation, sitemaps offer many other benefits. They immediately notify search engines of any alterations in your site. You will be able to get any alterations on your site indexed much faster with a sitemap than without one.
When you submit a sitemap to search engines, you will depend less on external links to draw search engines to your blog or site. In addition, sitemaps can come in handy in dealing with messy internal links, such as when you have orphaned pages or broken links that can’t be accessed in any other way.
If your website is relatively new, then sitemaps can play a key role in your success. A sitemap will enable you to submit your website to search engines. Sitemaps can also be very helpful when it comes to classifying your website content.
How to create and submit sitemaps
Creating a sitemap for your website can be done in the following simple steps.
- Generate the sitemap
- Upload it to the website
- Inform Google about it
A site map may be generated in two ways. You could download a free sitemap generator or make use of online generation tools. Though the first method is more complicated, it enables you to have more control. After downloading the package, simply follow the configuration and installation instructions in it. The second method of generating a sitemap is relatively easier. You will find numerous free online generation tools which can be helpful for you.
After generating the sitemap, you should then upload it to your website and inform Google about it. If you don’t have one already, you will need to open a Google Webmaster Tools account where you can add your site.
Guest article written by: Charles Mburugu often writes about social media, technology and blogging tips. Currently, he is writing for Flash templates.
Brilliant blog. A sitemap is vital especially to bigger sites with lots of pages to index, especially inner pages.
I like this article. I had no sitemap on one of my sites. But after reading how useful this can be I changed it…Thanks!
One thing is for sure, Sitemaps are important because it makes it easier for the Search Engines to crawl your website. It also assists web crawlers in finding and accessing the pages.
Sitemap helps search engines to accurately navigate a complex site better, resulting in more pages indexed more quickly. For a simple site with good navigation, it isn’t really needed.
Nice article!
On my blog, I generate the sitemap with a wordpress plugin, called XML sitemap generator, and then submit it to Google Webmaster Tools
Nice points about importance of sitemap and hope people would have understand it and won’t ignore it.
Excellent points. As long as I submit a sitemap to Google I also submit to Yahoo and Bing. Bing also has webmaster tools that allow sitemaps to be submitted.
I have a question. I know that wordpress has a sitemap creator but does it really enough? Do I still need to create a new sitemap?
Even site map has been introduced in before 2 to 3 years, it has same important as before. With introduction to video and image site map, indexing of videos and images become easier and quick.
Having a sitemap for your site or blog has been a best practice for years. A blog’s sitemap is far more useful though and anyone owning a blog should have a sitemap generating plugin and not forget to add their sitemap in their Google Webmasters account.
Generally search engine optimization has been necessary implement when web site promotes on web. The new requirement of site map tool that will probably accurate web site optimizing. New site map tool act as efficient and It will be maintain easily to web site owner.
I really enjoyed reading your article about sitemaps. I do not know much about sitemaps. Thanks for the information and friendship greetings from Indonesia.
Sitemaps should be a no brainer I am surprised this is something people need to be reminded of.
Adding a good sitemap creation plugin is must for all self hosted WordPress blogs. I prefer to use WordPress SEO plugin which comes with built in sitemap creation functionality.
till now i thought that crawlers crawl our site once we updated our conent without sitemap.
Now i should have to create sitemap.
How can we create sitemap in blogger?
I don’t use sitemap to my site. Its now am thinking to implement on my site as i come to know the importance of it.
I am lucky that the niche software that i use creates the site map automatically. It is a big help to not have to think about it.
I never knew that site map is so much important for Search Engine Optimization and thanks for give information, a very good article to increase the knowledge.
Yes i agree with you site maps are very crucial for a website as they have lot of inner pages,with site map it is useful to index.
The most important reason a site map is indispensable is because it helps the visitors to understand the site structure and layout and thus, quickly gain access to what your site has to offer.
Nice article. you are right sitemaps are really very important for a blog or a website because now without having sitemap search engines will not crawl you.
i have submitted my sitemap.xml, but still, my articles still not indexd properly by Google.
I have to wait 1 or 2 days, after post my articles..
poor me.. 🙁