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Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

Last post 06-05-2009, 6:46 PM by GLTF. 11 replies.
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  •  07-28-2008, 10:21 PM 8959

    Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    We would greatly appreciate a way to verify that we own our website with Google through their standard Google Webmaster Tools arrangement.

    See details from Google at www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps

    We'd also like to have an XML sitemap for our site automatically created as we edit pages.

    To illustrate the need for this, my Wild Apricot site has been up for several weeks and Google is still sending traffic to the old urls from the previous site.  All that traffic is being lost as they only get an error page.

    If I could verify my site and submt a sitemap, Google would know immediately of the adjustment and likely send traffic to my new pages.

    For anyone that already has a site being indexed with Google, this feature would simply let Google know of new pages (or page changes) more quickly.  

    Google Webmaster tools is a standard tool for all website owners.   We do this constantly for our other sites and our clients and would be happy to discuss it with anyone.

    Corey

    PS:  There are a bunch of other SEO topics that I would love to discuss with anyone at Wild Apricot if you are interested.   We LOVE our WA site, but there are some things that keep it from being more SEO friendly.

    Interested in learning how to market your website? SEO, Google AdWords, Blogging classes all available at www.HippoIMT.com Now a Wild Apricot site!

  •  07-29-2008, 7:55 AM 8967 in reply to 8959

    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    You can verify your WA site now - using Meta-tags option. See http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35659

    So it sounds like the reall request is generating Google sitemap, correct?

    We are defintely interested in  your SEO comments - probably the best way to start the discussion is post your thoughts into our general forum http://www.wildapricot.com/forums/7/ShowForum.aspx

    Dmitry Buterin, Chief Apricot

  •  07-29-2008, 11:57 AM 8973 in reply to 8967

    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    Can you please elaborate on this?

    I know what Google wants.  But how do I create a custom Meta Tag in WA?  

    Do I simply create the exact HTML line of code and put it in "Raw Headers" within "Edit Meta Tags" for my home page?

    Will that do that?

     Corey

    Interested in learning how to market your website? SEO, Google AdWords, Blogging classes all available at www.HippoIMT.com Now a Wild Apricot site!

  •  07-29-2008, 12:02 PM 8975 in reply to 8973

    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    Cancel that.  I did it.  It worked.

    Very interesting.  Thank you for sharing. 

    (I wonder if it would be a good idea to create a blog post on exactly how to do that for everyone that uses WA.  It's a wise thing to do.)

    So now we are just down to gettting a regularly updated XML sitemap.

    More info on exactly how to do that can be found at...

    http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=40318&hl=en

    Note that this is now a standard for almost all search engines. See http://www.sitemaps.org/

    Can we add it to the list?

    Corey

    Interested in learning how to market your website? SEO, Google AdWords, Blogging classes all available at www.HippoIMT.com Now a Wild Apricot site!

  •  07-29-2008, 12:06 PM 8976 in reply to 8967

    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    By the way, I have good news.  After I wrote the above post last night, Google finally came around.  They visited all my pages, cached them, and indexed them.  I'm now STARTING to rank again.

    Life is good again.  Time to fine tune my Title and Description tags, etc.

    Interested in learning how to market your website? SEO, Google AdWords, Blogging classes all available at www.HippoIMT.com Now a Wild Apricot site!

  •  07-29-2008, 2:08 PM 8980 in reply to 8975

    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    Corey,

    Good point, we will add it to our list to write about verification in more detail on our online help.

    Re automatic sitemap  - OK, let's now wait for some feedback from others on this thread.

    Dmitry Buterin, Chief Apricot

  •  08-01-2008, 11:03 PM 9082 in reply to 8980

    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    This presents an interesting dilemma.  Most users probably don't know what an XML site-map is, let alone the value.  So it's doubtful they will comment on their desire for it.

    Do you sometimes create new features because of the unknown value as opposed to the pure outcry of requests?

    Or would it be better for me to try to explain to the masses why they should want it and drum up enthusiasm?

     Let me know.  I'm happy to help.  We love our WA site and want to make it better not just for ourselves but for all other users.

    Corey

    Interested in learning how to market your website? SEO, Google AdWords, Blogging classes all available at www.HippoIMT.com Now a Wild Apricot site!

  •  08-04-2008, 2:38 PM 9096 in reply to 9082

    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    Corey  - we try to balance our priorities based on client input, our own innovation - plus what we can infer from indirect client input - such as support requests.

    In our experience XML sitemaps are really of much smaller importance than many other SEO aspects. (see my post http://www.wildapricot.com/forums/post/6493.aspx ) so for now we assign it a relatively low priority.

    Dmitry Buterin, Chief Apricot

  •  08-09-2008, 3:55 PM 9222 in reply to 9096

    • gypse is not online. Last active: 03-10-2009, 6:00 PM gypse
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    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    I'm not sure about this one . . .

    I definitely think sites should have sitemaps and it is definitely a more complete product if it is done automatically.

    But, if most of the site is in the members areas, do you want the site map shown to the world?

    If nothing else, being able to access an auto site map from the admin area would be a great tool to go through and qc the site periodically.

  •  08-14-2008, 9:35 PM 9283 in reply to 9222

    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    I think it's safe to say that only the public areas of the website should be in the sitemap.
    Interested in learning how to market your website? SEO, Google AdWords, Blogging classes all available at www.HippoIMT.com Now a Wild Apricot site!

  •  03-12-2009, 5:16 AM 11613 in reply to 9283

    • Rocket is not online. Last active: 03-25-2009, 1:41 AM Rocket
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    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    I think site maps would be helpful as well.

     

    Can we buy our own sitemap tool and upload it?  Normally they want FTP access to a root location.

  •  06-05-2009, 6:46 PM 12955 in reply to 11613

    • GLTF is not online. Last active: 05-14-2010, 11:40 AM GLTF
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    Re: Google Webmaster Tools: Verification & Sitemap

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    We created a txt file for our sitemap, uploaded it to a page using the document upload function, got the exact URL or the document and submitted it to google webmaster tools that way. Worked just fine.

     We verified our site using Meta Tags and MX records on two different occassions.

     

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