Site Maps

Name and Meta Tags

[pixelpusher256]

Hello!

I am a newbie so please bear with me.

I am working on a e-commerce site that requires a site map.
I have never implemented a site map before.
I have done primarily small sites up to now.

I have gone thru the forums and found some great info on site map layout. However I still have some questions.

1) Does the name of the site map have any relevance to the search engines?

EX: http://www.example.com/sitemap

or http://www.example.com/site_map

or http://www.example.com/site-map

Which is better, if any?

2) What do I use in the site map page's keyword meta tags? I understand to still use relevant keywords that pertain to page content, but do you include the word site map or sitemap in the keyword meta tags? And should I use the word site map or sitemap in the meta description at all?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

Best Regards.
pixelpusher256

[edited by: encyclo at 7:34 pm (utc) on July 7, 2007]
[edit reason] switched to example.com [/edit]

[piatkow]

"Sitemap" can mean two different things.

1. A page of html links showing the structure of your site. This makes it easy for spiders, visitors without javascript etc to find their way around your site.

2. An xml file explicitly designed for search engines.

The former the name doesn't matter at all, for the latter sitemap.xml is what Google expect but you have to explicity sign up and register it.

[tomcatuk]

The meta keywords tag won't help you with Google. Some less important engines do pick up on it though.
Having said that, unless you are incredibly dedicated, I doubt you will EVER get a page one result on any search engine for the keyword "sitemap" so I really wouldn't bother. On top of that it's (I would imagine) not likely to bring you a customer in any case.

As mentioned, you're not being clear about what the sitemap is for - your visitors, or the search engine spiders.

I would say the need for a visitor sitemap would indicate the navigation on the site isn't doing it's job. An XML sitemap for the search engines, however, is definitely something you should implement.

[jbinbpt]

I would say the need for a visitor sitemap would indicate the navigation on the site isn't doing it's job.

I think this is too broad a statement. Never overestimate the ability of the user. Somebody will not follow your navigation.

A html site map linked in the footer is a valuable resource. Not only does it offer easy access for the user to all the pages on the site, it brings access to all pages up to the second level of the site for the search engines.

[raedthakur]

I agree with jbinbpt, "Never overestimate the ability of the user"