What is a Site Map?

A logical question is “What is a Site Map?”, but more importantly perhaps, “Why do you need one?”

A sitemap is a page on a website that provides information regarding the contents of the site. The site map is generally accessible from the index page and other pages of the site through a link or button generally at the top, left or bottom of each webpage.

Sitemaps are useful resources that provide tips for users regarding the navigation of a website and the tools contained in the site content. For instance, a site map may outline the contents of the website including media or public relations publications, products, services, current events, company history, information on the management of the company, and legal information such as the privacy policy or terms of use policy.

Use of a sitemap is advantageous because it quickly informs site visitors about the website and the company and it can give them easy access to the information they are seeking because topics in a site map generally have a HTML code link to the information itself.

There are few, if any disadvantages to having a sitemap. One may be that it would simplify the process for competitors to clone your website and launch their own internet operations. Other issues might arise in maintaining the sitemap file and keeping it up-to-date as a website evolves. Maintaining a website costs money, but with some training, most website owners can successful maintain their own website and a sitemap can actually simplify the process.

// posted by BasicMichelle on 11/11/2005 06:30:00 AM / Permanent Link