An example using one of our most successful sites for SEO. See https://jbrcapital.com/sitemap/ and https://jbrcapital.com/sitemap_index.xml. We explain why they are useful for both humans and Google.
2. What is a sitemap & why it is important
โข In the most layman terms Sitemap is quite literally a MAP (or a blueprint if you
wish) of all the pages on your WEBSITE
โข There are a number of different types of sitemaps you will encounter in web
development, and we will go through each type in detail.
โข As a general overview, sitemaps aremade up of all the individual URLs (pages)
that live under your siteโs domain and helps visitors, but more importantly Google,
understand and navigate your website quickly.
โข Through a well constructed sitemap you can make sure none of your key pages
get missed out. If Google has a clear guide to all your individual pages it will crawl
your site more effectively.
3. Learn by exampleโฆ case study
โข To help you better understand the
concept and application of
sitemaps we will use example from
one of our most successful SEO
projects.
โข JBR Capital is a luxury car finance
provider
โข Behind the site is 1000s+ unique
pages from targeted PPC to
keyword rich marque and model
pages
โข See jbrcapital.com
5. Build a sitemap before you build a website
โข The first instance you will probably come across sitemaps in web development is
in the very initial stages of website design and development.
โข Letโs call this type the flowchart sitemap โ this will become clear on the next page.
โข Drawing a well thought-out site map before you begin designing or building your
new website allows you to clearly structure it, get a solid overall idea of the
websiteโs scope and the pages you will need to build.
โข It is much less complex than the sitemap you will create once the website is build,
it does not need to be as detailed, and serves as a guide for your web designer
and web developer.
โข On the next page we will look at an example of this type of sitemap.
6. Letโs learn by exampleโฆ flowchart sitemaps
โข Here is our first example โ a
basic flow chart sitemap created
to help in the website
development process.
โข While later you will see how
complex and large the XML and
HTML sitemap of this website is,
for now take a look at how the
flowchart sitemap might have
looked before the website was
even build.
8. Build a sitemap for the human user
โข The second type of sitemap comes into play once your website, and all your pages
are build and live.
โข We are talking about a HTML sitemap.
โข It is a lists and links directly to of all the pages which a on that website, logically
ordered and clearly displayed for a human user to read, use as reference for your
site or to help them navigate it.
โข This is especially useful for large or complex website as it can significantly improve
the user experience, which is in turn rewarded by google.
โข But of course you do not need to manually write and link all your pages, there is
many tools and plug ins available to automatically generate and keep your html
sitemap up to date.
9. Letโs learn by exampleโฆ HTML sitemaps
โข Letโs have a look at JBR
Capitalโs HTML sitemap.
โข As you can see it has now
become much more complex
than the flowchart one, as it
represents all of the actual
indexed pages, instead of just
structure concept
โข See full sitemap at
jbrcapital.com/sitemap/
10. HTML sitemaps doโs and donโt
โข Do use a dynamic sitemap if
you can, either through plug in
or custom script, to keep your
sitemap up to date
โข Do link to your sitemap in the
footer, it will make it easy for the
user to find.
โข Donโt generate a static sitemap
for large/often updated website,
it will become outdated very
quickly.
โข Donโt include noindex and
hidden pages
12. Build a sitemap for Google
โข The third and final type of sitemap we will talk about is the one you submit to
google.
โข The XML sitemap
โข It is similar to a HTML sitemap, but instead for human user it is created for
google/robots to read and understand your website.
โข It often includes further details (meta data) such as frequency of updates, date of
last update, page importance.
โข Through submitting this sitemap to google you can help in the process of indexing
your site, as well as clearly show which pages on your site are the most important.
13. Letโs learn by exampleโฆ XML sitemaps
โข Letโs have a look at JBR
Capitalโs XML sitemap.
โข Building upon complexity yet
again you can clearly see the
level of detail required for an
XML sitemap
โข In JBRโs example we are even
using multiple XML sitemaps
โข See full sitemap at
jbrcapital.com/sitemap_index.xml
14. XML sitemaps doโs and donโt
โข Do use a good 3rd party XML
sitemap generator such as
Yoast SEO for Wordpress
โข Do check and validate your
sitemap through google search
console
โข Do submit your validated XML
sitemap to Google
โข Donโt use a static sitemap
generator
โข Donโt include noindex, hidden,
utility, canonicalised, paginated
or duplicate pages
โข Do use the sitemap to see how
the site is structured
15. Key site structure
Top Level Pages
Classic Car Finance - https://jbrcapital.com/classic-car-finance/
Prestige Car Finance - https://jbrcapital.com/prestige-car-finance/
Supercar - https://jbrcapital.com/supercar-finance/
Sports Car - https://jbrcapital.com/sports-car-finance/
Top Marques
McLaren - https://jbrcapital.com/mclaren-finance/
Lamborghini - https://jbrcapital.com/lamborghini-finance/
Farrari - https://jbrcapital.com/ferrari-finance/
Aston Martin - https://jbrcapital.com/aston-martin-finance/
Bugatti - https://jbrcapital.com/bugatti-finance/
Jaguar - https://jbrcapital.com/jaguar-finance/
Koenigsegg - https://jbrcapital.com/koenigsegg-finance/
Lotus - https://jbrcapital.com/lotus-finance/
Mercedes Benz - https://jbrcapital.com/mercedes-benz-finance/
Pagani - https://jbrcapital.com/pagani-finance/
Porsche - https://jbrcapital.com/porsche-finance/
Alfa Romeo - https://jbrcapital.com/alfa-romeo-finance/
Audi - https://jbrcapital.com/audi-finance/
Bentley - https://jbrcapital.com/bentley-finance/
BMW - https://jbrcapital.com/bmw-finance/
Ford - https://jbrcapital.com/ford-finance/
Range Rover - https://jbrcapital.com/range-rover-finance/
Maserati - https://jbrcapital.com/maserati-finance/
Nissan - https://jbrcapital.com/nissan-finance/
Rolls Royce - https://jbrcapital.com/rolls-royce-finance/
Tesla - https://jbrcapital.com/tesla-finance/
16. Letโs get practical?
Pop in or give us a call
01242 571 060
Winchcombe House,
Winchcombe St,
Cheltenham, GL52 2NA
Practically.io
