Is it worth creating an Image Sitemap?

[ChrisHolgate]

We've just installed the server side script 'XML Sitemaps' on our eCommerce site.

The script gives us the option of (easily) creating an image sitemap but I'm debating whether there is any reason for us to do so. We sell printer cartridges and so all the images will be pretty dry (brand name printer cartridge in front of a box being a favourite). I can't see any potential customers to search for an image as a route in to the site and Google appears to be picking up our images on it's own accord so wonder if we'll just be crawling the site and submitting this information for no real reason.

From a quality perspective would Google give us any kind of kudos for providing an Image Sitemap? Would it potentially increase their crawl frequency or, indeed, reduce the load on our servers as they wouldn't have to crawl for all the images themselves?
I can't stress how little of a hardship it will be to create one of these automatically daily but am wondering if, like Meta Keywords, there is any benefit to doing so?

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

I would do it, especially if it's easy like you said. People are visual and you don't know how much it could potentially help users who need the visual validation that they are about to buy the right cartridge. With a sitemap, you're also able to add your own titles, descriptions, and it also helps Google find images that may potentially be reached through Javascript.

Again, if it's easy enough, do it - you covered another base and helped your chances of increased visibility. Here's more information for you.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[RyanPurkey]

I'm also in the camp of do it if it's so easy. Sitemaps are far superior to meta keywords because they're an actual technical specification of a quantifiable thing (image, page, etc.) versus a subjective listing like meta keywords.

Haivng easily and readily indexed images can also help with your backlink profile. XKCD has a great example of allowing for such promotion here: https://xkcd.com/license.html  Obviously his content is more likely to be shared, but even in your case if it's a little help it's still help and is unlikely to hurt. Cheers!

[Martijn_Scheijbeler]

I agree with the guys above, just do it because it usually can't harm anything. It's more a sign to Google that these images are out there then it's really a signal that they're of high quality. So in the end they'll still decide if they think it's worth indexing them or not.

[ChrisHolgate]

Many thanks all. The crawler is currently in the process of creating an image sitemap as we speak. We tweaked the website a little to ensure the ALT text is spot on for the product in question before starting this process.

As mentioned my only reason for asking was to ensure that we weren't providing what would essentially have been redundant information for no reason whatsoever (ie Meta Keywords) but you've convinced me that it is a good idea.

Speak soon and thanks again.