subject: Using A Sitemap To Get Your Website Listed On Search Engines [print this page] For those who are not familiar with sitemaps, a sitemap is quite simply a map or a guide that lists all the sections and pages of your website.
Most medium to large websites have this feature, particularly in HTML format, for the benefit of users or visitors who have specific needs that may be answered by content in your site that is not readily located by clicking on section links or using search engines. It is a practical way of ensuring that users of your site are able to maximise the site to suit their needs.
Aside from the HTML map, other types include Text and XML sitemaps. A text sitemap is a simple text file containing your website's list of URLs, thay may then be submitted to a search engine, such as Google or Yahoo, to inform them that the pages listed are online for public viewing. This then allows their search engine spiders to visit the site and index the pages for future searches from there customers.
An XML map, is in a formatted file recognised by Google Sitemaps that helps the search engine index your site's URLs and keep track of changes made in the site. Those who do business online recognise the reality that their site needs to be constantly updated with offerings and content that are interesting and in high demand, so the search engines will keep listing the website in searches and also to keep the business running profitably.
As your site grows with more and more pages, and with the increase of similar websites, your competition threatens to reduce your visibility, which makes an updated map more vital in the survival of your venture. Using all three types of maps will help boost exposure for your website, through multiple search engines.
For this job, owners of big websites or a multitude of small online businesses can make use of free sitemap generators available online. Purchasing an unlimited version of the generator is also a good idea for the most updated maps. You can think of using sitemaps as free or low cost advertising for your business.
Online businesses with a constantly updated sitemap of their website can make sure Internet users who are voluntarily seeking out specific information, will find their way to the website's content that matches their needs. For instance, when a user does a search for a specific product, an updated map can help the user find a wide array of product offerings that are listed in the search engine results, and provide the user with a direct URL to your website page.
Consequently, both the website and the user benefit from it with the help of the websites map, the search engine takes the user directly from the results page to the relevant web page, and with more people easily finding your site, business profits are not that far behind.
The easy way to build a map for your website is to find a website generator that creates all three types of sitemaps. If you are operating any internet business, it is essential for you to make these maps and tell the search engines about them, you will then recieve a lot of free targeted visitors to your website via the engines, and that is something we all strive for.
