Sitemap.xml Help Please

Discussion in 'Google Sitemaps' started by smithy2000, Mar 28, 2010.

  1. #1
    Hi

    Which is the best place for the sitemap.xml file

    mysite.com/folder/sitemap.xml or
    mysite.com/sitemap.xml

    is there any difference in the eyes of google?


    also how good these sitemaps and how to use them for better SEO
    sitemap-code.xml, sitemap-mobile.xml and sitemap-news.xml


    thanks
     
    smithy2000, Mar 28, 2010 IP
  2. samac92

    samac92 Peon

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    #2
    The usual place is mysite.com/sitemap.xml
    and usually they're just called sitemap.xml, not anything else
     
    samac92, Mar 28, 2010 IP
  3. smithy2000

    smithy2000 Peon

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    #3
    Thanks for that samac, but does it make any different from Google & SEO point of view??? thats my question????:confused:

     
    smithy2000, Mar 28, 2010 IP
  4. affilorama

    affilorama Active Member

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    #4
    Search engines expect xml sitemaps to be at the root folder of your domain so if you are not submitting the sitemap in webmaster tools it is best for yours to be in mysite.com/sitemap.xml. But if you are submitting to webmaster tools then it does not matter much where you put your xml sitemap because you have already told the search engines where to find it.
     
    affilorama, Mar 28, 2010 IP
  5. lkraj

    lkraj Greenhorn

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    #5
    It is recommended by Google to place the sitemap at the highest-level directory. For sitemap.xml, mysite.com/sitemap.xml is better. For news sitemap, place it at the highest-level directory that contains news articles.

    With regard to how good these sitemaps are, here's what Google says: "Google doesn't guarantee that we'll crawl or index all of your URLs. For example, we won't crawl or index image URLs contained in your Sitemap. However, we use the data in your Sitemap to learn about your site's structure, which will allow us to improve our crawler schedule and do a better job crawling your site in the future. In most cases, webmasters will benefit from Sitemap submission, and in no case will you be penalized for it."

    For google news FAQs, this video is a good source .http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2009/09/tips-for-news-search.html
     
    lkraj, Mar 29, 2010 IP
  6. bordergadge

    bordergadge Greenhorn

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    #6
    mysite.com/sitemap.xml

    Without a doubt!!
     
    bordergadge, Mar 29, 2010 IP
  7. katarina

    katarina Peon

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    #7
    There is no doubt that you place sitemap.xml file in root level means domain/sitemap.xml
    But I have no idea about sitemap-code.xml, sitemap-mobile.xml and sitemap-news.xml I also eager to know about which one is best.
     
    katarina, Mar 29, 2010 IP
  8. fanofchopin

    fanofchopin Well-Known Member

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    #8
    Totally agreed. Use Google Webmaster Tools to submit your sitemap.
     
    fanofchopin, Apr 2, 2010 IP
  9. smithy2000

    smithy2000 Peon

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    #9
    Sitemap-mobile will display your website results for mobile phones. Google accept all type of sitemaps.. so if you think your website can add value to mobile phone users its worth to have.. I will be posting sitemap-mobile.xml generator very soon..

    I used to have my sitemaps in a folder which like this mysite/google/sitemap.xml and it was fine, google was crawling it as normal however, I have change it and the number of indexed pages has dropped but it seems it increasing again...so my advice is do not change your sitemap place as this will affect your indexed pages.

    sitemap-news.xml is for news so if you have news website or maybe article website use the sitemap-news.xml to get your website news listed on Google...Do not try to use it for spam

    Thanks

     
    smithy2000, Apr 3, 2010 IP
  10. tata_capl

    tata_capl Peon

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    #10
    I do always prefer mysite.com/sitemap.xml unless having huge site with thousands of pages.
     
    tata_capl, Apr 4, 2010 IP