Google Sitemaps Series Part 1 - Creating the Account

I’ve decided to go ahead and do a whole series of posts this week focused on Google Sitemaps: how to set it up, and how to use the information. I’ll also show you a few “more advanced” tricks that I use to get some additional information later in the week. But first, let’s just cover the basics.

If you’re going to use Google Sitemaps, we first need to sign up for an account with them. The easiest way to get to the Google Sitemaps area of Google is to type www.google.com/sitemaps into your address bar. That will take you to the Sitemaps page of the Webmaster Tools. If you ever forget this link, the other way to get to this area is to go to the Google home page (www.google.com) and follow these steps (I’d give some screen shots, but these should be pretty easy to find):

- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “Business Solutions”.
- Then look for the section titled “Put your information on Google”, and look for the link to “Web pages” and click on it.
- On the next page look for “Webmaster tools (including Sitemaps)” and click on that
- Now you’re on the right page,

To sign up for a new account, just click on Create a Google Account on the right and go through the steps. This part should be pretty self explanatory.

Side Note: for those of you that are using some type of a website builder, you may or may not be able to set up Google Sitemaps for your website. The best thing to do would be to contact Support for your builder and see what they can tell you. If you’re using a Website Dynamics Builder (CityMax, GoldPhoria, SiteCreatorPlus, etc.) you can do it all within the builder. I only mention that one because a lot of the people that I work with are using that builder program.

Tomorrow we’ll cover more about how to actually set up the account so you can start to effectively use Google Sitemaps.

This post is part of a 5 Part Series. Below are links to the other parts of the series:
Google Sitemaps Series Part 2 - Creating the Sitemap
Google Sitemaps Series Part 3 - Adding Your Sitemap to Google
Google Sitemaps Series Part 4 - What You Can Learn From Google Sitemaps Data
Google Sitemaps Series Part 5 - Getting More Information

Save for Later: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • Technorati
  • Furl
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon

Related Posts

Google Sitemaps Series Part 2 - Creating the Sitemap
Google Sitemaps Series Part 3 - Adding Your Sitemap to Google
Google Sitemaps Series Part 5 - Getting More Information
Google Sitemaps Series Part 4 - What You Can Learn From Google Sitemaps Data
SEO Link Analysis FireFox Plugin - AWESOME!



6 Comments

website copywriterJune 14th, 2007 at 10:47 am

This is really helpful; glad I came across your post. I haven’t had the chance to read your latest post on sitemap, but I’ll definitely have it done by the end of the day.

[Reply]

DanJune 14th, 2007 at 11:45 am

website copywriter,
I’m glad you’re finding this information helpful. It’s looking like I’m going to turn this into a 5 part series, so stay tuned!

[Reply]

website copywriterJune 15th, 2007 at 1:56 pm

That’s a great idea. Looking forward to it, thanks so much!

[Reply]

DanJune 15th, 2007 at 2:05 pm

You’re welcome! I hope you find the whole series to be helpful!

[Reply]

SEO CopywriterJune 13th, 2008 at 5:44 pm

I’m not sure it’s necessary these days for a sitemap. I know they help but with blogs and the number of other sites that pick them up, I wonder if sitemaps are really needed.

I enjoyed your write up though. Thanks for the insite.

[Reply]

ferragamo shoesAugust 13th, 2010 at 12:34 am

Thanks for putting in the time and providing all the information.

[Reply]

Leave a comment

Your comment

*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture. Click on the picture to hear an audio file of the word.
Click to hear an audio file of the anti-spam word

NOTE: I reserve the right to edit your comment if I feel it necessary.