Multiple sitemaps for various media?

[lfrazer]

Hello,

We have always included videos, pages, and images in the same sitemap.xml file, and after reading through the Google sitemap info page, I am wondering if we should break those up into respective types of sitemaps (i.e one for video, one for images, etc)? If this is so, how to name the files and submit them? And then, should I submit a sitemap.xml directory sitemap? Note: we have the normal amount of images, videos, pages..not an ecommerce site.

Thanks in advance

[eyepaq]

Hi,

The sitemaps helps to speed up the index process and also to "manage" the files - get some feedback as far as when those files were processed etc.

It's a good idea to split the xml sitemaps in image sitemaps, content and videos. It's easier to manage and get feedback out of it. Also there are different tags for each.

As far as names - it doesn’t matter. Just use something that makes sense for you – in order to be able to manage them. For example I use sitemap-images-v2.xml, sitemap-images-v3.xml, same with video and content. I also split and use multiple files for content as for me, it helps to add a new smaller xml sitemap then replace the old one - again, mainly to get feedback and see how google is processing those.

Hope it helps.

[lfrazer]

Thank you so much! Is there a special tool or sitemap generator specifically for culling the images, videos, and content respectively that you use or could recommend? Or do I need to build it manually?

Thanks so so much again.

[eyepaq]

For web I use ScreamingFrog or http://www.web-site-map.com/ (if I need it quick and dirty and under 3k or so pages). For Images I don't know any tools - I usually craft that by hand as there is also some attention to detail needed (geo location etc).

It should be fast if you can export it with a script and then edit it when and where needed.

But again - you need to see the ROI for this. If you don't have that many images and you need to spend a lot of time doing the xml image site map - it's not really worth it. If you can deploy one fast - in under 30-60 min of work - then it might worth having it there.

Just my 2c.

[Martijn_Scheijbeler]

Are you running WordPress as your CMS? If that's the case give WordPress SEO by Yoast a try with the additional Video Plugin. It's the best out there and takes care of everything related to sitemaps for both videos, images and normal URLs.

[lfrazer]

Hello- No, we actually use DW. I have used Yoast in the past; however, didn't know about the video plugin. Thanks! Any thoughts for what to use with DW?

Thanks,

L

[Everett]

By DW do you mean DreamWeaver or DemandWare?

I wouldn't build an XML sitemap in Dreamweaver, and I'm sure DemandWare would have a built-in tool for this.

You can go to Google and search for "Free XML Sitemap Generator" or something similar and find a few good options. I use the one from Audit My PC from time to time still, but there are many others. The one below does include images and video, but I don't know if they segment them. Worth a try: http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/ .