SEO Questions

[stormpool]

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I'm about to do some research, but I thought I'd lay down some questions in case I don't find what I'm looking for.

I've heard a rumour that Google don't index multiple pages if they only differ in URL variables, I was under the impression that wasn't true, if I use site:www.xxxxx.com for various dynamic sites I can see that the dynamic pages are split as you'd hope.

The same rumour-monger would like SEO friendly URLs, it's been discussed changing the id=123 for either /123/ or /%doctitle%/. I'm going to be reading up about it, but if anyone is able to summarise the logical process of implementing SEO friend URLs, I'd appreciate it.

They would also like me to look into an XML sitemap for google, or whatever else we can do to make google spider our website better.

Any suggestions of what I should be looking at?

Thanks, Dan

[stormpool]

Google sitemap, I've researched and decided

"For now we can use Google Sitemap Generator for Windows :: GSiteCrawler to create a google compatible sitemap-file

a long term choice might be Google's own beta product
googlesitemapgenerator - Project Hosting on Google Code

"Google Sitemap Generator is a tool installed on your web server to generate the Sitemaps automatically. Unlike many other third party Sitemap generation tools, Google Sitemap Generator takes a different approach: it will monitor your web server traffic, and detect updates to your website automatically."

I need to register with
https://www.google.com/accounts/Serv...rvice=sitemaps
So I can tell Google where to find the sitemap

If I've missed anything please correct me. thanks

[trooperbill]

I dont really understand the first pooint but it sounds like your saying if i have the same content on different pages google wont rank it - this is true as google hates duplicate content

regarding the second point theyre only partially correct - google can index ?id=123 theres no problem with that however its betrter to optimise your querystrings so that the first 2 patrameters are keyword rich i.e. ?cat=blue-widgets&prod=bright-green-widgets

[Brendon]

>> I've heard a rumour that Google don't index multiple pages if they only differ in URL variables

Was kind of true in like 2001. There is a separate spider that handles URLs containing ?, different rules to catch infinite loops etc, but G have a lot more cycles these days, its not such an issue.

It would still be better to rewite such URLs to a pseudo-static structure though, since you're not then reliant on G's good graces just for a basic indexing, and their sometimes odd canonical URL selections.

Unless you've got a huge and / or fast turnover of data on your site, don't worry about a SiteMap. It is the opiate of the Cuttlets