By :
Jan Michaels
A site map of a website is similar to the table of contents of a book. Site maps are important because it guides web surfers to the particular part of the website they have a point of interest in. With it they would save time following links and get right to the point instead.
Site maps are also what search engines look at if somebody is looking for a particular keyword or phrase. If you have a site map, you can most likely be searched. this isn't to imply that you can't be searched with out a site map, but instead a site map adds more fodder to search.
Creating a site map now, with all the improvements to software technology, is relatively easier than before. You need not be a programming guru to create one. All need is a notepad, a program editor, and some patience. Also, knowing a little HTML helps. Here’s how you do it:
Create the listing on a notepad.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be MS notepad. Any word processing program will do. First off, make sure to type in all the parts and pieces of your website. Include all pages and all links you have. Create it as if you listing the contents of your book. Make a draft first. You’re more likely not to accidentally leave something out doing it this way.
Create a new page for your site map.
You can insert the site map on your website on one of its pages or you can create an entirely different page for it. Using your notepad, incorporate all tags necessary to it to make another web page. Open up your website creator program and tag your site map using it. If you have created your website on your own, this will be easy for you.
Create a link for the site map.
You won’t be able to view the site map if you won’t put a link for it, of course. Create the link on the front page (usually the bottom) of your website so that visitors can view it right away and be directed appropriately.
Check your work.
It is important to validate the functionality of the links you created on the site map. Test each and every one in there and if you get an error, be sure to fix it. Run through every single page to make sure that all are accounted for.
Upload your work.
navigate to the site map now on your Internet browser and double check it. It should function as smoothly as the dry run. Errors should be minimal at this stage since you already have verified it locally.
The steps provided herewith is the manual way of creating a site map. These days, if you search on the web, you will find online programs that will do all the work for you. All you have to do it type in the URL or the address of your website and they will create the site map with click of a button.
Of course that method is generic. All of you who have created their site map that way will have an end product that is the same, plus there’s that possibility that something else will be inserted in there by the on line site map creation software, such as a link to their site. Then again, the process is less taxing and way, way simpler.
But if you want a more personalized output, and you are pretty good with computers and HTML yourself, it's always better to make one of your own. And if you made your website anyway, creating a site map is just like creating any other page on the website. Other than you’ll know for sure the links are accurate, and you can organize the links the way you prefer it to be. Major parts of the site are emphasized compared to being less emphasized. This is important especially if you are selling products or offering services online.
Author Resource:-
Jan Michaels is the creator of Article Friendly Article Publishing Script for php & mysql, and can be found at: Article FriendlyGigs of Software Downloads
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