The Other Search Engines

**cliffhanger** · 08-03-2007, 05:00 AM

Hi guys,

Google has a very specified structure for sitemaps. But i am not that sure about Yahoo, MSN or other engines. Is it a good idea to host an HTML sitemap along with a XML sitemap on the server to serve all search engines?
Or is there a format for sitemap that is universally accepted?

Thanks. Sam.

**chrishirst** · 08-03-2007, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Or is there a format for sitemap that is universally accepted

Yes!

a HTML sitemap will serve ALL visitors including all bots

**cliffhanger** · 08-03-2007, 09:23 AM

but what about the extra functionalities of the xml file (like changefreq and priority). i miss out on them dont i?

**chrishirst** · 08-03-2007, 11:22 AM

Which do exactly what? other than not much at all of course.

the ONLY time you should have any use for them is IF you are having issues with getting a site crawled other than that it's just something else to waste time on.

**Thomas Schulz** · 08-15-2007, 06:50 PM

Well, Google, Ask, Yahoo and somewhat MSN all support XML sitemaps, just see www.sitemaps.org

However, HTML sitemaps are still a good idea.

**babychicken4u2** · 08-22-2007, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Is it a good idea to host an HTML sitemap along with a XML sitemap on the server to serve all search engines?

I think it is a great idea to have a html sitemap....but maybe not like you are thinking. Make a sitemap page and link it in the footer of all your site's pages...it will help misdirected users out, and help increase the depth of your crawl if you have a complicated structure.
--Melanie

**x3mario** · 08-27-2007, 04:11 PM

If you want sitemap then you can use google sitemap creator.

**beamup** · 09-04-2007, 07:22 AM

Is sitemap absolutely necessary for Google to get indexed btw??

**chrishirst** · 09-04-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Is sitemap absolutely necessary for Google to get indexed btw

absolutely NOT

**colbyt** · 09-04-2007, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Yes!

a HTML sitemap will serve ALL visitors including all bots

Yes. I like this answer.

Now is there a free or inexpensive script that can produce this page?

I found a really nice GPL product that produces an XML version. I am not sure I have enough experience to convert that to php/html via a script.

**chrishirst** · 09-04-2007, 07:33 PM

Xenu's Link Sleuth

Create the site link report. Edit & style it to fit in with your site.

**colbyt** · 09-04-2007, 10:00 PM

I will post my opinion after I see it.