Site maps and search engine optimization (SEO) go hand in hand in the quest to increase web traffic. In order to be successful at search engine marketing, you must employ some basic search engine optimization tips. The creation of a site map for your web site is one step in ensuring you are being indexed by search engines and visited by customers. The most common questions regarding site maps are answered here to help you understand site maps and get you going in the right direction.

FAQ 1: What is a site map exactly? A site map is basically what its name denotes. A site map is a guide to your web site for a visitor. Just as you would not want to visit every single store in a mall just to find your favorite shoe store, a site map helps visitors find the information they are looking for without visiting every page. Additionally, without a site map, visitors may not even know other pages exist at all.

• Definition. A site map (or sitemap) provides search engines links for all the pages related to one site. The site map helps to get your indexing maximized with the search engines.
• Subdivision. A site map is a listing of all of the separate pages of your web site. Each page has its own content, thus its own URL. Some common pages found in a site map include:

• Home
• Contact
• FAQs

• Creation. Site maps are created using specific .xml coding. The .xml code extensions of the site map contain all of the web addresses (URLs) of your site for easy navigation. For help in designing and creating your own site map, there are tutorials and free site map software available on the internet, such as:

• http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/
• https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/docs/en/sitemap-generator.html
• http://www.freesitemapgenerator.com/

Some of the free online site map tools require an account setup; but to increase web traffic, it is a fairly painless trade off.

FAQ 2: Why do you need a site map? A better question might be, Why DON’T you need a site map? A site map is a search engine optimization technique that will essentially guide visitors to your site. The integrity of the site map will then help visitors stay at your site.

• Truth. Site maps are especially important for larger sites that have several pages of information. Navigation by visitors would be virtually impossible without a functional site map. The truth is, no site map = no web traffic.
• Consequences. The result of omitting a simple step like site mapping in your search engine marketing plan is basically an invitation to failure. Site maps are the bread crumbs you leave for your customers to find their way through the virtual forest and back home again.

FAQ 3: What does a site map do? The site map has certain characteristics that work to enhance search engine optimization for your particular site. Including not only your relative pages but also the keywords that apply to your site can contribute to an increase in web traffic.

• Laundry list. Each and every page of your site needs to be included in the site map with a complete description to ensure that you increase web traffic as much as possible. (Alphabetizing is recommended for sites with a larger-than-average number of pages.) When your visitor clicks on the ‘Site Map’ link, each and every page is listed for quick access to the information they are searching for.
• Spread the word. Incorporating keywords into your site descriptions will enhance your chances of being indexed by search engines the way you wish.
• Text appeal. Text within site maps guide search engines spiders to crawl about the web and index your site and its content. Not enough text or the wrong site map format may leave you high and dry in the indexing department.

One limitation of site maps is that they cannot measure web traffic. However, by creating a complete site map, utilizing these search engine optimization tips to its fullest capacity will all but guarantee visitors who not only get to your site but stay at your site.

image credits to ClavonClavito