Site Map

[americana]

Okay. So I know there have been past posts on site map, but I couldn't really find what I was looking for - not even with search function...


We do not have a site map on our newly re-launched website, www.endlesstechnologies.com. When I asked the appropriate individual why, this is what she responded...

"Various reasons, but mainly because we were not sure what each page would contain and if the content would remain the same. I agree that they are very useful and great for spiders, but the home page and right menu (on every page) I believe can act as the map since all pages are linked from there, the shopping departments and all tabs remain on the page no matter what you click... can that work as well?"

Anyone have any insight into this? Obviously, this is not an actual site map. We are not indexed in any search engines as of yet. Would adding a map increase our chances of being indexed by google and yahoo?

Aside from getting as many backlinks/reciprocal links as possible, anyone have any other ideas how I can get this site listed?

Also, do you know how I can personally check to make sure we have a 301 redirect? I have asked this question too, but nobody seems to know. Thanks!

[achronister]

<script language="javascript">
<!--
location.replace("http://store.endlesstechnologies.com/index.html");
//-->
</script>

You're not using a 301 redirect. That is a javascript redirect that most SE's can not follow, which is why you're not indexed yet.

Go here to view your header info, it's returning a 200 status:

http://www.delorie.com/web/headers.html

The site map question...The current setup will work, but a full site map would benefit more. With a full map, you could get links to your individual products, which doesn't exist with the current navigation system. This would make indexing faster and individual product pages easier for the bots to find.

[braknews]

IMHO every site should include a site map.

As your site grows you might find that the menu on the left hand side of the screen gets too long to be practicable. Once you start creating sub-menus the case for a site map gets stronger.

If you create a site map using plain old HTML you can then include wonderful spider-friendly anchor text to all of your pages that you cannot do with the space constraint of your menu.

When you do make a site map don't forget to put a plain old HTML link to it on your main/home page so that the spiders can find it.

I have the following tag in mine:

<meta NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOINDEX, FOLLOW">

as I do not see the value of having my site map in Search Engines lists.

[greeneagle]

americana,
I had to drudge this one up from the deep!:
http://webproworld.com/viewtopic.php...ghlight=#88536

Google expressly states, they like Site Maps in their second Guideline statement for Webmasters!:

Design and Content Guidelines:

"Make a site with a clear hierarchy and text links. Every page should be reachable from at least one static text link.

Offer a site map to your users with links that point to the important parts of your site. If the site map is larger than 100 or so links, you may want to break the site map into separate pages."
_____
I can definitely testify that they rank Site Maps well!, as long as you follow the guidelines, less than 100 links and provide a brief content description for each page!

One client SiteMap, by the way, checking "Site Map" vs. "SiteMap" you will find the correct spelling is "SiteMap" as a compound word!
_____
Here's the meat:
If you go to http://www.cartech.com you will find that they have a PR6 home page, but all secondary pages fall flat. OMG - they are one of the largest steel suppliers in the US, what is happening there for all those secondary pages with a PR0?

On further investigation, you find that even with 100s of pages they don't have a structured SiteMap texturally linked from their Home Page!

Ohhhhh - What a shame! Their primary and only navigation scheme is js, and GOOGLE just can't blow thru with all the PR5s they deserve. Quite a shame not to list above competitors in the SERPS for 100s of keyphrases, for a multi-million dollar company, when the fix is that easy!

Let me tell you - the SEO Industry is "WIDE OPEN AND LOOKING AT YOU!"

Don't worry yourself, I have already contacted them!

Hope this helps!

Ken

[americana]

achronister - thanks, should have known it was that easy to figure out it was a javascript redirect.

Go here to view your header info, it's returning a 200 status:

http://www.delorie.com/web/headers.html

I'm not really sure what this means - please be patient with my ignorance as I am actually a marketing/public relations professional and this stuff is a bit out of my realm.

braknews - Thanks for the comments... I agree with you that every site should have a site map... not sure the others at my company agree though.

greeneagle- Thank you as well for the information and digging up that earlier post. I did see that in the Google Guidelines, which I have tried to use as support in convincing the others here that we need one. It did help!

THANKS EVERYONE - MUCH APPRECIATED!

[achronister]

That will show you the header code the site returns. Yours is a 200 meaning okay (no redirect) If you put in my other URL (www.ticketsolutions.com), you will see it says "301 moved permanently to tickets4u.com.

If you're using windows system on your host, ask them to change the setting in IIS for a 301 permanent redirect from www.xxx to store.xxx. That should solve the problem and the SE will be able to index you.

[americana]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge with me :)

[Mel]

Originally Posted by braknews

IMHO every site should include a site map...
I have the following tag in mine:

<meta NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOINDEX, FOLLOW">

as I do not see the value of having my site map in Search Engines lists.

Have you considered that by not indexing the site you are losing the advantage of the links to those pages?

[braknews]

Originally Posted by Mel

Have you considered that by not indexing the site you are losing the advantage of the links to those pages?

I thought that by not indexing the page and following the links I would still get the values of those links. If I am wrong then I stand corrected.

I have noticed that my sitemap page does have a PR (4) does that mean it is still listed in Google despite me saying not to?

[Mel]

IMO if the page is not indexed then the links are not recorded.

Your sitemap has a PR because it has links pointing to it, probably from within your site.

[braknews]

Taken from Robots.txt:
The INDEX directive specifies if an indexing robot should index the page. The FOLLOW directive specifies if a robot is to follow links on the page.

Taken from Search Engine World:
The INDEX directive tells the robot it is ok to index the page. The FOLLOW directive tells the robot it is ok to follow the links found on this page.

[Mel]

Thats what I am saying Braknews, your sitemap is not indexed, but the links are followed and the pages they point to are probably indexed.

But if the page is not indexed then the links pointing from that page to the other pages are not recorded as links for PR or anchor text purposes.

[braknews]

Ah, now I understand what you mean.

Thank you.