Sitemaps

[Drew_NetSol]

Are sitemaps a must when trying to get indexed quickly into the search engines?

[encyclo]

If you have good internal navigation and strong backlinks for the site, then a sitemap won't have much of a positive effect. A sitemap can help if you have an awkward URL structure, but it is not a panacea.

[Drew_NetSol]

great thanks

[kneoteric_V]

Also, for heavy static sites (sites having tons of static pages), site maps heps the users to locate their search. However, it does make a difference for SE crawlers.

Having a site map is a better idea.

[domni]

I am pro-sitemaps as I feel it's just another way to "do it right" when it comes to usability and SEO. Some people feel that it's redundant.

Be sure to optimize the links of your sitemap! :)

[mdean]

Domni-

What do you mean by optimizing your links in the sitemap?

[domni]

Include the keyterms for which your pages are optimized in the anchor text of the links on the sitemap.

For instance, if Page B is optimized for the keyterm "quick brown fox," those same words should appear in the anchor text of the link to that page on the sitemap.

[mdean]

I think I understand - but should the keyword "quick brown fox" be in the link in the sitemap or in an anchor on the page that is optimized for the keyword "quick brown fox"?

[domni]

For instance, let's say you've a three page website with the following keyword "plan": Index Page - Optimized for Quick Brown Fox, Page 2 - Optimized for Furry Pink Elephants, and Page 3 - Optimized for Purple People Eater. The anchor text on the sitemap for the links to those pages should be as follows:

The Ultimate Quick Brown Fox Website
Furry Pink Elephants - Our Vision of the Future
Purple People Eater - Our Fears for the Future

Does that make sense?