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Importance of HTML and XML sitemaps

Like many others you also want to increase your online presence, developing an HTML sitemap and a XML sitemap for your website are some of the right steps in this direction. Besides, it will also add value in SEO, which in turn will help bring your website onto the first page of leading search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN. Submitting sitemap to various search engines confirms that you also exist in World Wide Web.

Sitemaps are basically of two types-HTML and XML. An HTML sitemap is one that offers a directory sort of thing comprising all the pages present in your website. On the other hand your XML sitemaps helps search engine in crawling diverse pages of your site. In the below given content we are discussing the various advantages of developing HTML and XML sitemap, and how to create them using sitemap generator.

HTML Sitemaps

It is a single page comprising links to all the pages related to your website. Generally, it is shown on every page and accessed through link in your site footer. A well developed sitemap helps visitors visiting your site access the right page they are looking for, while if your HTML sitemap lacks quality, visitors will face problems searching right page and content. In such a situation, they may be forced to look for other options.

Even from an SEO perspective HTML sitemap is of immense importance, using sitemap search engine’s robot crawls your website’s pages easily and brings them in the search result. Thus your website gets exposed regularly to millions of visitors. For more clear picture on the HTML sitemap you can also have a glance at the IT companies offering sitemap development through search engines , there you will notice that each page on the website comprises a link to this page in the footer.

XML Sitemaps

HTML sitemaps are tailor made for human visitors visiting your website, while XML sitemaps are created keeping in view the technical requirements of search engines. It has been found that popular search engines like Google and Yahoo use XML sitemaps in their search process for indexing the pages of websites. A well designed XML sitemap will easily converse search engine-what kinds of pages are there in your website, when and how often those pages are updated and when they were last modified? This will help search engine in doing indexing job more accurately and deciding which page to revisit regularly.

Given below is an example of the XML you would like to integrate in your XML sitemap:

<url>

<loc>yoursitedomain/index.htm</loc>

<lastmod>2009-03-05</lastmod>

<changefreq>weekly</changefreq>

<priority>1.0</priority>

</url>

If you analyse above example, you will notice, we have provided details concerning the last modified date (<lastmod), the frequency regarding updating (<changefreq>) and the priority of this page with respect to the other pages of the website (<priority>).

Tip: Don’t indulge in unethical practice in giving information in your website’s sitemap. Enter accurate information in your website’s sitemap, otherwise your website will be shown less often in the search results of diverse search engines.

Creating both HTML and XML Sitemaps

Creating HTML sitemaps is similar to creating a basic HTML page containing links to all the pages of your website. Remember whenever you are creating a new page for your website, you must add those links on the sitemap of your website without fail. Although creating XML sitemaps is not only challenging and time consuming manually but you can also collect information on this key subject browsing leading search engines like Google, you can select paid or free information on the subject as per your convenience.

Frequency of submitting sitemap

In case if you are updating information regularly on your website’s web pages then you should update your sitemap more frequently. Keep on updating and submitting your sitemap regularly on search engines, this will increase your exposure on world wide web.

Conclusion

If you are interested in increasing your online presence then give due importance to both HTML as well as XML sitemaps. It will improve your search engine ranking that in turn will offer you more exposure on World Wide Web and business. But apart from HTML and XML sitemaps, there are many more things involved in the search engine optimization.

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Content and Its importance

While developing your website focus on quality of content as it is one of the essential components of website. Give equal importance to each and every web page of your website, think it may lose or capture audience. Writing paragraph after paragraph will not inspire visitors to read the web page, it is the quality of content and manner in which you have written the content that matters. In this article we are covering some of the key guidelines to help in writing web content for your website, these are:

Communicative Headings

It has been found that visitors decide to read your web page generally after having a quick look at a heading or two. Before deciding on headline, consider which headline will be more attentive:

• PHP solutions for the web

• Three eCommerce PHP Solutions for the Web

Although both could be headings for the same content but the second heading has a better chance to attract attention as it points what will follow next. Besides, it also specifies a level of expertise. Keeping headings short helps visitors scan and infer content in advance. You can also add subheading in the content if required, it will make reading more interesting, and moreover visitors can read content of their application and leave the rest.

Conclude and expand

Remember your website is not only for unwearied visitors but also for impatient readers, clearly state what your content has primarily in the  first few lines. This will give clear picture about the web page and force visitors to read further.

Effective bullets lists

Content in bullets form looks concise and easy to understand but don’t forget if you add too many bullets, it will lose the interest of the visitors. In case if you think you want to add more than 10 bullets, add subheadings. Visitors can jump from one bullet to another in accordance to their interest.

Be clear in your concept and give concise

Remember time is precious, whether your visitors are looking for business, sports or information but they don’t have plenty of time to visit your website. Be very clear in your concept and give concise and to the point information about your business in your website.  Unnecessary content may force your visitors to jump to your competitors’ website, for instance in place of “pink in color”-you can just say pink.  Also avoid repeating content, whatever content/issue you have discussed earlier should be avoided in the future content. When writing content use present indefinite and continuous tense but passive voice.

Audience specific content

In order to judge the quality of your content and targeted audience-you can also ask people from your social circle to read and tell their opinion. This is one of the key exercises you can carry out to know and understand your audience. Whether you want to sell a product or disseminate Information on education-speak with your audience first before coming to any conclusion. If you are targeting students use student centric language, avoid using literary or philosophical terms, this is one of the ways to attract audience and repeat visitors. Don’t use content or links that may distract your visitors or targeted audience.

Be specific about links

While adding link to your website, make sure that these are different from the text of your website, it will assist visitors in properly scanning your web pages.  Use short heading or sentence for “click here” option, for example instead of saying click here to read more just say read more.  For content that has two or above pages, use click for part 2 or web development tips. This will compel readers to read further.

Proofread and make content error free

you may think it is ok to have 5% to 10% grammar error in the content but it will create bad impression on many visitors. There are people who are fond of prudence, for them quality matters, you may lose such visitors.  To attract and retain such visitors you should read your web content two to three times before integrating it on the website.  Check your content for spelling and grammar, also for flow and connectivity.

Conclude leaving curiosity

You may think it unwanted but it is nice to close the content of the web page summarizing key points. And if you think you want your visitors to read some more related or remaining content, leave some hint for them.

Once you know what you want to offer to your readers, and the requirements of your readers, you are in a better position to make your website and business successful.

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