Perhaps one of the best tips I read, which totally makes sense, to get your site listed in Google and then the other search engines which use Google's database, is to first, get a Google Site Map created and posted for your site, and second, create an xml feed of your website. You can do these two things under an hour, providing your site is not humongous. First, let's tackle creating a Google Site Map. Well, why Google Site Map? Because Google totally supports it as a way to get your site included in their search engine - https://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/docs/en/about.html. This isn't your typical site map; this is an xml site map created for Google's spider bots. I've received e-mail from vendors touting Google Site Map software which they'll gladly charge you $29.95 to $147.00. But don't worry. You won't have to shell out a thing. One of the wonderful things about search engines is that you can use them to save money. In this case, I looked for Google Site Maps and found the third listing is for a free generator. It's at http://www.auditmypc.com/free-sitemap-generator.asp . Not only is this a cool tool, but it is fully configurable and fast. It works using a Java engine and spiders the site. You save the output, if you're happy with it (i.e. it didn't spider your stats index, etc.), and upload it to your site. We're not done. The next part requires that you have an account with Google. If you read any of my articles about AdSense, I assume you do - but if you don't - feel free to create one - https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount. Use your login to go to https://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/. You'll be able to add your sitemap there. Once your Google Site Map has been submitted, Google will send out it's bot and check out your site. Okay, so the lesson here is what? Well, get your site map installed ASAP - so you can benefit from correct page display in the Google search engine. If you're creating a new site, try getting the Google Site Map installed before you tinker with your AdSense. Once AdSense is up and has been accessed, Google starts coming to the site. What's next? Yes, two tips today! The next thing you want to do, even if your site is not a Blog is to create an XML feed. Why? XML feeds means that people can link to your site by way of subscribing to the feed. Now the feed doesn't have to be a continuously updated feed. It can be a simple explanation of what you offer on the site and why it may benefit the reader. There are many pages on the web on how to create an XML feed, but my favorite is from CityDesk - http://www.fogcreek.com/CityDesk/kb/howto/CreatingRSSFeeds.html. But want to know what I do? I simply take a current XML feed, say http://monetizethis.blogspot.com/atom.xml and edit it. It works! Don't forget to do two things: upload the edited version to your website, and create a link to your XML feed. A Visit to Aruba - http://www.worldwidemart.com/aruba/ - has a great example at the bottom of the page. Cool! There you go! Get those two things done and you'll be that much closer to Google Nirvana, or search watch heaven - (don't worry, one does not exist). |
