Search engine optimization is a complicated process, but you’re confident that your keyword-based articles full of hyperlinks are the key to higher ratings. While high-quality content is key for SEO, there are other ways to increase your site’s visibility. One way to optimize your site for SEO is to create a document that includes the link for each page on your website. This document allows search engines and visitors to see how your site is organized and learn your purpose. Here’s what you need to know about creating sitemaps for your company.
You Don’t Have To Make It Yourself
Don’t do more work than is necessary; use a plugin on your WordPress account to generate a map for your site. If you don’t use WordPress or you’re not sure if your automated map is accurate, use xml-sitemaps.com to create a new one. Your other option is to copy and paste all the links yourself, but it’s easy to forget a page or link that way.
Your Content Matters
Not all maps look the same. Depending on what content your website has, your map becomes more involved. For example, if you have videos and images embedded into your content, your website’s HTML is more complicated than if you just have blocks of text. Experiment with different plugins until you find the one that transcribes your links the best.
You Have Coding Options
While you can make HTML-based sitemaps, most people today use XML instead. Google has used XML for its maps since 2005, so you should use this language to ensure that yours is properly read. If you only know how to code in HTML, don’t worry; that’s where your blog platform plugins come in.
You Need To Send It Out
Once you have a map for your website, it doesn’t do you any good until you send it out. Use Google and Bing’s Webmasters to submit your map under your site’s URL. After the search engines have time to process your information, revisit their Webmasters to see lots of data based on your map. Don’t forget to put the link to your map on your own website by adding it to the robots.txt file.
If you’re investing in SEO for your website, make sure you get the highest possible return on your investment by creating sitemaps. Although this process seems complicated, the data you receive makes your efforts worth it.