Create a Google Sitemap - page 2

by Robin Eldred, 2/15/2006

It is possible that by telling Google where all of your web pages are you can improve your web page saturation in their index. This may indirectly improve your rankings by getting an unlinked or deeply linked page into the index that wasn't previously there. But as I mentioned earlier, it's difficult to know if Google is even using Sitemap information in their live index.

So now that you've decided that you want to create and submit a Sitemap of your own, here's how:

Firstly, you need to create your XML file. Don't bother doing it yourself. There is an excellent free online utility at http://www.sitemapbuilder.net/.
You must now submit the Sitemap to Google. Visit https://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/login and login with your Google account. Don't have one? Don't worry - that's free, too. Once you've logged in you can add as many Sitemaps as you like.
Don't forget - whenever you update your website (by adding, removing or relocating web pages) be sure to repeat this process. You won't need to resubmit your sitemap to Google, though.

Google is also touting their Mobile Sitemap program. This one, I believe, may be of greater significance. I believe that Google is building an index of mobile-phone friendly websites (Mobile Web Search Beta) and they are using these new Mobile Sitemaps as a way to get the public to help them seed the initial directory. The mobile web is in its infancy right now, so it wouldn't surprise me if creating a Mobile Sitemap gave mobile sites a significant leg up. But again; no guarantees here - just opinion.

Happy Sitemapping everyone!

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Please note: the following 'About the author' box is written by the article author and its inclusion is a condition of putting the article on this website. It does not represent the views of Homepages Online.

About the author

Robin Eldred is the president of Apis Design, a Web Design and Promotion company located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Apis specializes in building and promoting eye-catching, user-focused websites that work.

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