Another important component of search engine optimization is the
use of site maps. If you want visitors -- and search engine
spiders -- to find every page on your Web site, a site map can
be your biggest ally especially if you have a lot of content on
your site (and if you’ve been reading all the advice on our
site, you should know by now that the more content you have the
better your chances are for top ranking).
So, what is a site map? Basically, it is a navigation tool. It
lets visitors know what information you have, how it is
organized, where it is located with respect to other
information, and how to get to that information with the least
amount of clicks possible. A good site map is more than a
hyperlinked index, which only provides the user with a list of
alphabetically arranged terms.
Site maps also provide lots of nutritious spider food for search
engine robots that crawl your site and eventually index it. Once
the robot gets to the site map, it can visit every page on your
entire site because all the information is clearly indicated on
that one page. However, in order for your site map to work most
effectively, you must include a link to your site map in the
navigation on every page of your site.
To make your site map most appealing to both the search engine
robots and human visitors, be sure to include descriptive text
along with the page URLs and links. Be sure to use your targeted
keywords in that text. Remember not to be too repetitive with
your keyword phrases, though, or you may be penalized.
When you make it easy for people to navigate your site, they
will find what they are looking for and will most likely be a
repeat visitor. Likewise, when your site is easily navigable by
search engine spiders, you increase your chances of being
favorably listed in their search results.
So, if creating a site map isn’t part of your current search
engine optimization strategy, maybe it’s time you thought about
adding this beneficial -- and fairly simple -- tool to your
repertoire.
For an example of Submit Today’s site map, go to:
http://www.submittoday.com/site_map.htm.
About the author:
As Submit Today’s copywriter and editor, Kristy Meghreblian has
written online content for many successful companies, including
Monster.com. She has successfully combined her excellence in
journalism with the delicate art of keyword density as it
relates to search engine optimization. As a result, she has
helped many Submit Today clients achieve top ranking. Submit
Today is a leading search engine optimization, submission and
ranking company located in Naples, Florida.
