Using sitemaps to improve ranking.

Google is the most popular search resource, so it seemed a good idea to check out the companies providing sitemap creation software or automatic services. These results were done on www.google.co.uk on 4th June 2011. Company names have not been shown for legal reasons. The search term used was "Website Sitemaps"

Site map check on Sitemap Providers

One advantage of my custom site map creation service, is you don't have to purchase software, learn to use it, and then spend time creating and up loading. I take care of that for you. My service is quick, personal and reliable.

Company XML Sitemap HTML sitemap
Company 1 No No
Company 2 No Yes, but old version
Company 3 No No
Company 4 Yes Yes new version
Company 5 * Yes No
Company 6 No Yes, more than 1 year old
Company 7 No No
Company 8 No Yes, old type, more than 1 year old
Company 9 No Yes new version
Company 10 No Yes old version
     

 

As can be seen by these results, only one company ( * )has both html and xml sitemap and takes the trouble to keep it up to date. This survey also confirms another survey I carried out, that more than 50% of business websites don't have or use a sitemap or index on their website.

Google, Bing and Yahoo all confirm the need to have a correctly formatted and up to date site map. Let me take care of your Website sitemaps.

Profession grade sitemaps

Analysing the results

Why have the websites been listed high in the search results, with poor or no sitemaps? It is a good question. Firstly it would seem the majority of these companies have the word site map as part of the url, and second is they are only focused on site maps. So if you have web url which contains your keyword, you can be placed a lot higher automatically. Other companies have to work harder to get listed.

This review excludes results where companies use Google Adwords. That is to be covered in a new article shortly. The main reasons companies are listed higher is because of external links, produced by affiliate programs, blogs, videos, Forums, and press releases, sometimes by having the url listed in the sitemap configuration in the website. When you install their solution, you become another link. I don't add hidden links on your site.

My professional grade XML sitemaps do include a link to sitemaps.org which is used as a reference source for xml style sitemaps.