Where to place link to sitemap?

Only homepage, or in footer of every page?

[spina45]

I very recently installed SEO URLs in my OsCommerce shop in an attempt to get Google to like me again -- as they did for several years previously.

I've read enough on WW to be afraid to install Google Sitemaps. Instead, I list 100 SEO URLs per page (with customizable anchor text) and have 10 sitemap pages. I currently have a link to Sitemap Page 1 in the footer of all my site's pages. Each sitemap page has links to the Next/Previous sitemap page.

Am I over-doing it by linking to SM on every page? Any advice base on real experience will be most appreciated.

[Quadrille]

It's probably very sensible to have links from each page to a visitor-oriented site map.

If it's a Google site map, then you need no links at all (and having them may lead to errors).

[futureX]

If its for google sitemaps you submit it directly... I wouldnt link it on every page though... Its not good for your PR distribution imo.

[edited by: futureX at 11:20 pm (utc) on Mar. 24, 2007]

[spina45]

It is not a "Google Sitemap." It's a series of pages containing 100 urls each with anchor text. The purpose is to assist SE bots. Site visitors would find it more useful to browse product categories or use site search.

Q: Is it better to have only one link from my home page to the sitemap? Or, is it better to include a sitemap link in the footer of every page?

[Quadrille]

For your kind of site map, a link from every page will assist your visitors wherever they are - and it will help spiders, too.

But don't worry about the spiders too much - if you ensure your site is well laid out with logical internal links, the spiders will find their way around. And a well designed site has other benefits too. I think what I'm saying is 'Don't use a sitemap as a band-aid for poor navigation'

Not that I'm suggesting you're doing that! :)

[spina45]

Thanks for the replies!