Sitemaps are also very useful
for search engines, particularly if parts of the site are dynamically
generated. By providing a static link to individual pages some of the
issues of using dynamic pages are overcome. Care needs to be taken in
particular that the keyword density does not become too high and the size
of the document does not become itself an issue with the Search Engines.
Google a leading search engine for example does not approve of pages with
more than 100 links, or where the keyword density is too high.
Very large sites should also consider a site index, in the same way as
a book contains an index of content by pages, so can a website index.
We recommend using the format of a book, as user are already familiar
with this format and its is a logical step.
A very good example of a site index is that used by the World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C). Its visual design is easy to review, the use of alphabet
letters at the top lets the user skip down to entries beginning with that
letter, since the index is all on one page. This is superior to dividing
the index into separate pages as it allows the user to easily scan the
entries quickly.
Sitemaps and site indexes are forms of supplemental navigation. They give
users a way to navigate a site without having to use the global navigation.
By providing a way to visualize and understand the layout and structure
of the site, a sitemap can help a lost or confused user find their way.
The format can be either graphical or text only. A graphical format has
the advantage of being easy for human use, a text format is more search
engine friendly, getting the balance right is an important consideration.
A sitemap should be placed in a consistent place on a website, for example
the footer of every page.
Sitemaps are useful!
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