A site map may imply the provision of an illustration to help website visitors with navigation, but in truth a site map is simpler than that. A site map is just a page listing all the links or pages making up your website. These links are not outbound links but rather the links that represent a part of your website. Sitemaps also offer benefits in search engine optimization. Creating a sitemap for your website can definitely drive more traffic to your page so if you don't have one yet, it's best to start learning how to make one right now.
The Benefits Of Having A Sitemap In Your Website
A good starting point for creating sitemaps is to understand the many benefits it offers. Knowing what those benefits are will help you identify if there are any potential flaws in your sitemap and rectify them immediately.
Easy Navigation Help
Some people just have the talent or misfortune of getting lost in websites no matter how excellent their designs. But these people are still potential consumers and you don't want to risk losing them, do you? With a sitemap, these people won't experience trouble looking for the right link because all of the links are already listed in your sitemap. One click and they've got their destination!
Accessibility
There are of course other alternatives than sitemaps, alternatives that may appear more attractive and sophisticated. Such qualities however are not always favorable and sometimes even end up as an impediment. It's alright to offer your visitors screen readers, Flash animation maps, and other assistive technologies, but offer them right alongside your good old sitemap. Sometimes, simplest works best!
Search Engine Optimization
Earlier on, we mentioned how sitemaps are good for SEO benefits, too. This is because sitemaps spell out links the way search engine spiders best understand them. This is especially true if your website has dynamic content, a huge archive, and pages that may not be easily located by search engine spiders.
A sitemap is the best way to introduce a new website to search engine spiders. Sitemaps also let search engine spiders know how often and recent your websites content has been modified as well as the relative importance of the various pages in your website.
The Basics Of Creating A Sitemap
Step 1: Start with making a draft. Write on paper or use your word processor to formulate a list of links making up your website. You should know all these by heart, but if you don't then try visiting your website yourself and check each and every link in it. If you have your list prepared, validate all items in your list for the second time around. This is very important because you don't want any malfunctioning or repeated link in your sitemap later on.
Step 2: Open a new document or file in your preferred text-editing program. Copy the list you've created with your word processor then paste it on the document in your text-editing program. Start encoding it in the appropriate language, save your document, then preview it with your Internet browser.
Step 3: Click on each link to make sure that everything on the page is in working order. If so, you can then upload it to your website and you've got yourself a sitemap!
Tips On Making Your Sitemap A Traffic-Driving Feature Of Your Website
Creating a sitemap, based on the instructions provided earlier on, is easy. But making it a traffic-driving feature of your website requires a bit more effort on your part. Consider the following suggestions:
Let People You Know Have A Sitemap.
Your sitemap won't be much help if people aren't aware it exists in the first place. Let them know about your sitemap by posting a strategically positioned and highly visible link on every page in your website.
Don't Make Your Sitemap Too Fancy.
People don't need you to be fancy when you're offering help. What they need from you is effectiveness and efficiency. Use basic text links instead of making your sitemap unnecessarily dynamic.
Update Your Websites Table Of Contents.
If you have one, remember to include a link to your sitemap!
Always Double-Check Links.
Last but not least, remember to regularly check the links in your sitemap if they're active.
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