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using XML Google Sitemaps
We use the Sitemap Protocol allowing you to inform search engines about URLs on your websites that are available for crawling. In its simplest form, a Sitemap that uses the Sitemap Protocol is an XML file that lists URLs for a site. The protocol was written to be highly scalable so it can accommodate sites of any size. It also enables webmasters to include additional information about each URL (when it was last updated; how often it changes; how important it is in relation to other URLs in the site) so that search engines can more intelligently crawl the site.
Sitemaps are particularly beneficial when users can't reach all areas of a website through a browseable interface. (Generally, this is when users are unable to reach certain pages or regions of a site by following links). For example, any site where certain pages are only accessible via a search form would benefit from creating a Sitemap and submitting it to search engines.
This document describes the formats for Sitemap files and also explains where you should post your Sitemap files so that search engines can retrieve them.
Please note that the Sitemap Protocol supplements, but does not replace, the crawl-based mechanisms that search engines already use to discover URLs. By submitting a Sitemap (or Sitemaps) to a search engine, you will help that engine's crawlers to do a better job of crawling your site.
Using this protocol does not guarantee that your webpages will be included in search indexes. (Note that using this protocol will not influence the way your pages are ranked by Google.)
Google adheres to Sitemap Protocol 0.9 as dictated by sitemaps.org. Sitemaps created for Google using Sitemap Protocol 0.9 are therefore compatible with other search engines that adopt the standards of sitemaps.org.
Often simple things really matter. And the use of keywords in linking text is one of those simple things that turn out to be hugely important. Linking text, sometimes called anchor text, is the clickable text that takes people to another page or resource. You need to choose that text carefully.
If I was refer people to this article I could use the linking text, ‘Latest article’: the text is meaningful, clear and wouldn't need to change every time I published a new article. However, I'd be missing out on some important opportunities. Using the actual title of the article, ‘Keyword phrases in linking text’, is a much better option.
Benefits of Links and link building
Links ARE Usability
Foremost, links provide simple navigation between documents on a website. But in addition to regular site navigation, links dramatically increase the usability of site information since words within an article can be linked - or extended out in a tree-like manner - to many other documents of importance, like definitions, resources and items of interest, on-going, without interrupting the flow of the originating concept. Links make your site - and the internet - more usable, and useful.
Links Create Direct Traffic
Clicking a link from a trusted source is one of the most popular ways for people to find a new website. If a user is on a website they trust, they are likely to follow links that it recommends - or at the least, users will follow links that make the destination site appear to provide some valuable information. More links = more traffic.
Links Build User Trust in You
If users see a link to you on a popular or respected site, their level of trust in what you say or what you offer is likely to be higher. MySpace generates more traffic to eBay and Amazon than MSN search does - because navigating through MySpace is about trusting what 'friends' recommend. Blogs create this same link-trust factor. Blog readers have a certain 'trust' in the author. Word-of-mouth is the best advertising there is.
Links Build Search Engine Trust in Your Site
There is no doubt that link score is one of the most important factors the major search engines consider when determining where websites are ranked. The reasoning is simple: if you have many links pointing to your site from other sites, your content must contain quality, important information. A link is like a vote. Although links from important 'authority' sites carry more 'vote weight', ultimately, total 'link/vote score' is one of the heaviest algorithmic factors considered in rankings. Sites with links from trusted sites are 'trust-worthy'.
Links Tell Search Engines and Users What Your Pages Are About
To determine what a web page is about search engines look at a few critical elements on a web page, but just as important (if not more) is the text used in links that point to your page - from within your site and from outside sites. E.G.: If a page has 10 links from outside sites, and each link uses the word 'pizza' as the link text, it stands to reason that the page is about pizza. You could probably determine the page topic without even looking at the page. And, most likely, the link text is why users clicked the link in the first place. If you could describe yourself in two words, what would they be?
Links Establish Your Site in 'Communities'
Typically, the types of sites that easily offer and create links to your site are community type sites that are updated on a regular basis, either by a main administrator, or by users themselves. Examples are; blogs, forums, wikis, MySpace, and other social networking sites. See MySpace example in point #3. Communities are based in trust. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
Links Are Free Advertising
Unless you've paid for your link - it is free advertising for you. That was simple, eh?
Links Are Trackable and Provide Market Intelligence
There are a few methods of determining who links to you, and this information can be very valuable in providing market intelligence such as;
- competitor strengths/weaknesses (find out who links to them, request a link)
- consumer/user opinion (what are people saying about you/competitors on blogs/forums)
- potential suppliers (industry insiders who liked/linked to your site)
- source of testimonials
- reveals potential PR hazards (negative posts/links)
- reveals strategic partnerships (next point)
To determine who links to you, you can first check your traffic logs for 'referrers'. Once seeing who has generated some traffic for you, you can find out who the search engines have listed that link to you. Here's how you can check:
- at Goolge, search: link:www.yoursite.com
- at Yahoo and MSN, search: linkdomain:www.yoursite.com Find out who, what, where, when, why, how - and use it.
Links Reveal Strategic Partnerships
Upon reviewing your traffic logs or doing a simple link check on any of the major search engines (as mentioned above) you may encounter some sites that link to you that can reveal sources of mutual benefit, such as;
- marketing partnerships (develop reciprocal ad campaign)
- service or product suppliers
- potential employees
- potential contractors
- or for support/education/help "There's GOLD in them there hills..."
Links Are Assets - They Add Value to Your Property
Your website is your internet property, and it has value. What gives your website saleable value (typically) is the amount of traffic the site can generate. As we've shown, links are one of the most important factors in generating substantial website traffic, search engine rankings, trust, publicity, market intelligence and more. A substantial link network offers significant value to the overall package when determining a website's value.
The marketplace creates the asset, and its value
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It's important to place keyword phrases into linking text for two reasons:
Keyword rich text is more attractive to humans. A casual reader may see ‘Latest article’ and say so what? By using the title ‘Keyword phrases in linking text’ I've told the visitor what the article is about and offered two hooks that they might be interested in - ‘keyword phrases’ and ‘linking text’. As a result the click through rate will be higher.
The text that links to a particular page gives Google and other search engines clues as to what the page is about. ‘Latest article’ provides little information while the actual title of the newsletter contains at least two important keyword phrases.
In highly competitive situations the extra ‘points’ that Google gives can mean the difference from appearing on the first page of results and appearing nowhere.
To embark on an effective link building campaign you must be aware of your important keyword phrases and incorporate them into your titles and linking text. You also need to influence the words external webmasters use to link to you.
Each one uses a different criteria for what web site gets the highest rankings. What may get you a #1 position in MSN may get you a #50 position in HotBot.