To ensure that Google can find every page on your website, it might be a good idea to submit a Google sitemap to Google. A sitemap is an XML file that contains links to the pages on your website. You upload this file to your public_html folder on your site's server and then submit it to Google.
Here are the steps you need to take to get your sitemap to Google:
- Generate a Google sitemap here by following the instructions on that page. Generate the sitemap, download it to your local site, and then upload it to your remote server's public_html folder.
- Log in to your Google webmaster account here. If you don't already have a webmaster account, then start one here.
- Once you've logged onto your account, click on the My Account link at the top of the page.
- On your Account page, click on Webmaster Tools.
- On the Webmaster Tools page, you should see a list of your sites under Sites. Click on the link to the website you'd like to create a sitemap for.
- A page opens that should include a link to the page that you can use to upload your sitemap. Look for this link on the right side of the page under “Sitemaps.”
- The “Sitemaps” page should open. Click on the “Submit a Sitemap” button.
- Enter the name of your sitemap XML file in the box that opens and click on the “Submit Sitemap” button.
And you're good to go! Don't expect any miracles from your sitemap. It's not likely to generate a huge increase in traffic to your website, but it's always a good idea to make sure that your website is optimized for Google search.
Joe Jagella—FreeforAll Designs