Building a Better Ranking Website: Site Maps
Learn How To Submit Easy-to-Create Maps, to better Promote Websites.
Oct 12, 2009
Site maps are an often overlooked way of marketing websites and increasing traffic. Site maps can be used to help visitors navigate a site as well as be submitted to search engines so they can better index a site pages. In fact it is often better to use a site map when submitting to search engines instead of the actual homepage because the site map includes all the important pages of a site - even those not easily accessible to search engines.
Site maps are also another means to introduce keywords to search engines. They can include key phrases and words in the description text of the links that point to a sites pages. And because of the keyword usage many search engines rank these pages higher.
Steps to Creating a Site Map.
Below are outlined the steps to be followed in order to create a spectacular site map; one that will help increase site traffic.
- There will often be an option to include a paragraph explaining the site. Good structure is here is important. A paragraph describing the company in clear concise language is important. This paragraph can be pulled from anywhere on the site, though most likely the homepage.
- A formatted list of links along with a short description of each link should be created. Begin by creating a homepage link then start working through the site.
- For pages that link from main pages, indent these or make them less prominent than the main links. This way it is easier for visitors to figure out that these are sub-menus gotten to by clicking a main page.
- A link of the site map can then be placed on every page of the website. The footer is a good location.
- Create a site map geared for search engines. Use http://www.xml-sitemaps.com
Up to 500 site maps can be created here for free. Submit the site map to search engines. Try to submit to the big four (Google, Yahoo, AltaVista, MSN) to begin with.
Detailed above is a simple, easy way for site owners to increase the odds that their pages will show up in search results. Site maps are also useful to help visitors navigate a site, especially if it a large one. Learn more about how to better attract visitors to your site by viewing these other articles: Title Tags, Site Copy & Alt Tags.
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