Maximizing SiteMap Value

[greeneagle]

Maximizing SiteMap Value

It’s hard to believe, but we are going to use our own Site as an example of a poorly designed SiteMap. Before we go there, let’s review SiteMap Fundamentals:

1) A quick Google search reveals the correct spelling between “Site Map” and “SiteMap”:
“Site Map” yields 14,600,000 returns, while “SiteMap” yields 34,200,000 returns, even though Google queries for a correct spelling!

2) The primary goal of a SiteMap is to make it easier for a visitor to go anywhere in a Site, shortcutting any and all other navigational tools provided on the site.

3) The primary users of SiteMaps are:
1. More savvy Internet users
2. Return visitors familiar with the Site including established Customers
3. Surfers with an “Overview” mentality
4. Search Engines

SiteMaps are particularly important for larger Sites where some channeling has to be built into navigation, even when multiple navigational tools are provided.

A well designed and written SiteMap also offers SEO advantages because the search engines appear to give them priority indexing consideration, second only to the Index Page. This affords the Webmaster an opportunity to utilize alternate targeted keywords and phrases not utilized on product or other primary pages, resulting in more and reinforced search results.

In the past, before search engines started indexing every word on a page it was an acceptable practice to have a graphical SiteMap. A webmaster/developer/designer could show off graphical acumen or other posh or trick elements. Many remnants of that era remain including our own. It is no longer used on our Site, but remains a good example of a poorly designed SiteMap by toay's standards;
http://www.mountaineagleweb.com/Site...Site%20Map.htm

A better example of a SIteMap that we designed for a customer with a 100 page Site can be found at:
http://www.vortexventures.com/SiteMap/SiteMap.htm

SiteMap Advantages
1) Enhances Navigation
2) Adds an extra “Visitor Friendly” element to the Site.
3) Can help promote increased Page Views per visitor.
4) Can enhance quantity, quality and number of indexed search terms in the Search Engines.
5) Provides an opportunity to utilize alternate search term expressions

The material in this posting is the Property of Mountain Eagle Marketing and can only be used in articles for redistribution with permission and credits or co-authorship.

Ken Webster
Mountain Eagle Marketing

[shazzyb]

Our company uses a screen reader to test the accessibility of the sites we develop. (Recently, I’ve been using Window-Eyes).

Just a quick note that may be of interest: Window-Eyes pronounces SiteMap as “Sit-ee-map” (sort of sounds like “city map”). For this reason, we use “Site Map” as the correct spelling.

[hawkwind dave]

Hi Greeneagle,
Thanks for the insight into good & not so good site maps.
Just wondering if all sites need a site map. If the site only has say 10 pages, and each page is accessable from the nav bar on every page.

Does such a small site need a site map?

Or would the search bot find the pages via the nav?

[TrafficProducer]

Map your site: sitemap or site map

Why not set up a new website which links to all other pages and acts as a site map

This may give you the basic idea:-
http://www.greatportal.ukhome.net

[drjean]

We have thought about adding a site map. I think it's a good idea. Our site is getting big enough to justify it.

I would not use a home page as a portal though. According to the web marketing gurus, every extra click that a visitor has to make, increases the chances that their next move will be "back" and out of your site. Entry pages are a bad idea for the same reason, especially flash entry pages. I know I almost never stay on the site long enough for all that junk to load. If you want visitors to stick around (and buy!), cut to the chase on your first page!

Cheers,
Jean

[WebDesignDatabase]

I usually feel that a site map is needed for any site that you create. It is a way to dumb down any navigation that you have and get straight to the point. When ever I am on a site I usually head straight for the site map. Just my thoughts

[greeneagle]

Lot's of good questions and comments - And believe me we don't have all the answers, so let's work them together.

1) shazzyb - you were kind enough not to mention that we had used "nested tables" in the example. Did this not present a usability problem with "window-eyes", or did you not view it from that perspective?

2) hawkwinddave - We really hadn't given much consideration to just what size Site needs a SiteMap. As others have noted that is the first place they like to go. Some viewers are more comfortable with a "bottom-up" approach , and others are more comfortable with a "top-down" approach, which is the view that a SiteMap caters to. My thoughts are that a Site below 10 pages does not really need a SiteMap, because it is pretty easy to build the sufficient navigation in. Once you start approaching 10-20 pages or more then a sitemap becomes more important. We would guess that a sitemap would be more essential at 30 pages or better. BUT, other features such as additional keyword or phrase usability and the obvious SEO advantages may kick in sooner, depending on complexity of subject matter. Let's see what everyone else thinks; WHEN IS A SITEMAP REQUIRED?

3) TrafficProducer - That method can be useful, particularly if they find that Site first. In fact we are going to expand our "Webmaster Resources to 100 pgs" and completely split up "Web Design" and "Small Business Marketing", and were wondering just what the best method might be to cross-link. I am not sure that someone would be willing to "dump-out" to another site for navigation in the site they are in, though.

4) drjean - You raise a very good point! - You want your visitors to get where they are going within 2-3 clicks max if possible. But, that is the purpose of a SiteMap in a complex Site!

Thanks - This post was in response to many questions over the past about SiteMaps. I hope everyone will add their 2 cents and make it a valuable thread!

Ken

[pburton]

We took the easy route and used the code from FusionBot.com
Does this not work for search engine spiders, crawlers, 'bots ?

As for human visitors, our policy is to get them to the right page first click, i.e. the page most closely related to the search phrase. The site map is for the minority that want to see other things we do. The stats from HitBox reinforce the view that most visitors are only interested in one of our products.

[TrafficProducer]

Yes, but each link is an independent website. A site map would be usually links to just one site.

Don't just think about users; Think more links to you for search engines to find, and give a higher ranking.

More info:- http://www.solutions.ukdots.com/cont...rway_pages.htm

TrafficProducer - That method can be useful, particularly if they find that Site first. In fact we are going to expand our "Webmaster Resources to 100 pgs" and completely split up "Web Design" and "Small Business Marketing", and were wondering just what the best method might be to cross-link. I am not sure that someone would be willing to "dump-out" to another site for navigation in the site they are in, though.

Thanks.

[inevitable1]

I plan on implementing many of the suggestions in this thread. I made this site map (sitemap) look like a table of contents kinda map:

http://www.inevitableresources.com/sitemap.htm

I thought this was a good idea in case any of my visitors printed out my web pages -- they could sorta create a webbook, and my site map would kinda be the table of contents.

Question:
Is a site map like this one too simple or should a sitemap's hyperlinks be a little more descriptive of the page you're about to click to? Or does it really matter?