Introduction
Any book containing a large number of topics or information will have what we call an index page. This index page assists in helping the reader find the information that they are looking for quickly. Websites, especially large ones, benefit from having such a function. However instead of calling this function an index, you would call it a Sitemap.
1. What is a Sitemap
A Sitemap is a group of URLs usually listed in an xml file. They can also be placed in the footer of a website. This group of URLs is a series of links to various parts of your website, such as your client support area, contact information, or the services you offer. Sitemaps are particularly helpful if your website has pages that aren’t particularly obvious to a viewer. Viewers can find these pages by quickly scrolling down to your Sitemap and looking for what they need.
2. Why you should have a Sitemap
A Sitemap is very useful for attracting people that like to briefly skim over websites. They can go to your Sitemap, quickly scan it, and see something that interests them. This could turn them into customers. Sitemaps group all your content into an easily readable format so that potential consumers can view all the information that your site offers with ease.
3. Sitemaps are great for SEO
Sitemaps are great for Search Engine Optimization because they provide links to every page in your website that search engines, such as Google, might have missed. Search engines are able to scan your content quickly through the use of a Sitemap and then display your content. The more pages that search engines find, the more likely your website is to come up in a search engine.
4. Submitting Sitemaps and Sitemap Generators
Sitemap generators essentially scan your website to find the pages that make up your sight, and then put them together into a Sitemap. Using a Sitemap generator is mostly a straightforward procedure and allows you to generate a sitemap without having to code it by hand. There are many Sitemap generators available, such as Google’s sitemap generator which can be found at http://code.google.com/p/sitemap-generators/. Once you have created a Sitemap you can submit it to one of the search engines, using their respective tools i.e. Google’s webmaster tools.
Conclusion
Sitemaps are a really useful technology to have. They provide an easy way for users and search engines to search your website. If you don’t want to create a Sitemap by hand, you can use one of the Sitemap generators available to you. If you have questions or would like to learn more about Sitemaps, contact us at EMWD.com.