What is a sitemap for? The fact is that if a resource is constantly growing, and its structure is expanding, a quick search for the necessary information is necessary. If you need to optimize your site for search engines, creating a sitemap is an important link in the promotion chain and, as a result, the portal traffic.
Visualize the site map. Monitoring site structure by search and software
1. The easiest way is to make a list of internal resources of the web portal using the Google search robot, since the latter crawls sites very carefully, without missing even the smallest details. Using a special request in the format site: name, you can display information regarding only a specific resource, that is, its page list.
2. However, there are more specialized tools when you need to detail the features of the structure. The site map is displayed with their help in the form of detailed data structured about each page. How to make a site map more clearly? You can use the service defec.ru/scaner.
3. In a special form we enter a specific URL and at the output we get a complete "dossier" about the selected resource. To visualize some specific details, the service can be configured by checking the additional output parameters with “checkboxes”.
4. Good site monitoring can be designed using another comprehensive utility - Semonitor. True, there is one caveat. This software has its own demo restrictions, and you will have to pay for the purchase of the full version. This monitor includes a site analyzer that allows you to explore the structure of a given domain. You just need to enter the full URL and click on "Analyze". The site map in details will be generated automatically by the application.
5. For those who want something simpler, there are programs with a lightweight interface, like Sitescanner. The rules for working with this software are described in the readme text instruction. Sometimes your antivirus or firewall may block some features of the scanner, taking it for a potentially dangerous executable code. In this case, it is better to temporarily suspend functioning security systems.
How a site map is generated for visitors and search robots. What should she be
- First of all, create an ordinary empty page with an html framework. Decide for yourself for whom the map is mainly created: for people or search engines. The creation of the sitemap structure will depend on this.
- If the map should mostly be viewed by visitors, refine the home page. It should have a pointer to a sitemap, that is, a map. In addition, it is recommended that such pointers be placed on the internal pages of the resource whenever possible.
- In the map itself, identify and mark those sections of the site that you would like to include in its structure. Format chapter chapters so that their reading is easy and enjoyable. Remember to add brief descriptions to your navigation so that the visitor understands where he is going.
- Update your sitemap content in a timely manner if your site is under construction or some changes are planned.
- If preferences for the resource map are given to search bots, you need to format it in the xml standard. Naturally, for this purpose there are enough automated generator applications or scripts online. One vivid example is the web service xml-sitemaps.com, which is perfect for a small Internet portal. The received data must be placed in the root (according to the server settings) site folder.
- You can do the same with Google. To do this, create a webmaster account and specify the URL path to the page on which the xml markup will be created in the Sitemap category. Almost similar actions should be performed on the Yandex service.