A sitemap is a special file containing systematized information about an Internet resource in a programming language. There are two types of maps- HTML and XML format. The optimal solution is to create two maps - XML for robots and .HTML for users. So, let’s discuss both in detail.
Sitemap.html
The most understandable for the average user is the HTML map, with the help of which we find the thematic page is sections. In this case, the map plays the role of a regular menu, or directory. Can a website function without an HTML file? Yes, it can, if the structure contains a small number of pages, or there are no hierarchical sections that can be reached after several transitions. Web developers recommend making maps if there are 25-30 site pages.
To create an html map, links are placed on a separate page leading to all structural sections and pages of the resource, saving them as sitemap.html, after which all links to the site map.
Sitemap.xml
XML map is designed for computer testing and analytics Search robots are of great importance for every site or portal created for mass visits. It is a robotic computer program that promotes sites on the network and makes them visible in the request list.
Using the Sitemap file, website owners notify the Google search engine about which pages of the site need to be updated and indexed. Users do not need to learn the languages of programmers at all, since today there are many options for transferring data without knowing how to encode information.
A few years ago, the average size was a simple structure consisting of several HTML pages, so there was no urgent need to create maps. The robot viewed the resource files, then indexed the pages and transmitted the content data to the server.
Nowadays, when CMS (Content Manager System) systems have become widespread, robots have ceased to cope with file testing. Universal content management systems, the so-called "engines" WordPress and Joomla create pages based on materials stored in databases in a dynamic mode, that is, exactly at the moment when the user sends a request for information.
Many pages of the site that are rarely accessed by visitors and resource owners for example, a monthly data archive do not need to be indexed. The presence of robots.txt and sitemap.xml files will prevent the indexing of unwanted sections. As for robots, they do not recognize "working" and passive files and thus harm the site.
In robots.txt, the user marks pages that are not subject to indexing, and the site map tells the robot the algorithm by which the remaining pages are indexed. Automated instruction for the robot makes it possible to carry out the work quickly and correctly. The sitemap helps level the existing shortcomings of dynamic pages. It is logical to conclude that a site map is one of the main components in promoting a site on the web, so it is advisable to devote time to its development. As you can see, the success of the site largely depends on the resource management system.
Create a sitemap
In the event that a popular content management system such as Wordpress is used when developing a site, then the procedure will be simple. First, a special plugin is installed, which is necessary to create the logical structure of the sitemap. Plugins are accompanied by detailed instructions for their use, so most users do not have any questions at this stage.
If, for some reason, this option is not suitable, try using online services. The user enters the requested data on the structure of the site, the frequency of updates, and some other information. After filling in the fields, the service will create a sitemap.xml file, which must be transferred to the server.
The third method involves creating a sitemap manually. In this case, you will have to get basic knowledge of using the XML language, which is quite understandable and simple. Information about the site such as an address, date of the last page update, frequency of indexing etc. is written in special tags. All these actions do not require special training and practical experience.
Wrapping up
Practice shows that many web specialists do not use such a simple method of optimizing a resource for search engines as creating a sitemap. The result of such ignoring or "forgetfulness" is the overspending of the customer's funds for promoting the site on the network, and a minimum of useful returns. As you understand, search robots do not know how to recognize pages that need to be indexed. An excellent result is guaranteed if you take into account the above recommendations and remember the sequence of simple steps!
