Backlinks in Sitemap.xml and line breaks in robots.txt?

Bulldozer · 09-06-2011, 11:24 AM

I am using a WordPress plugin that automatically generates a sitemap for my site.
The plugin creates two fles: sitemap.xml and sitemap.xml.gz and stores them in the root directory of the server.

I have several questions:
The plugin generates a sitemap xml document that has a backlink to the web site of the plugn's creator in it.
Is this a problem? I mean, I don't mind back linking to the guy's site because I am using his sitemap plugin for free, so it's all fine with me, but what about SEO?
Sometimes backlinks to sites that Google considers spammy or "bad"can harm your site's ranking...
Does Google care about backlinks in the sitemap.xml or does it ingnore them?
Should I remove the backlink to the plugin creator's site from my sitemap?

My robots.txt file used to be petty simple, it used to look like this:

Code:

User-agent: *
Disallow:

I just noticed that there is a new entry line in the robots.txt file (probably done by the Sitemap plugin??)
Now my robots.txt contains this new line:

Code:

User-agent: *
Disallow:

Sitemap: http://site.com/sitemap.xml.gz

Apparently, the new entry line is there to show search engines where the archived Sitemap is on the sirver. I suspect that this new entry line in robots.txt was created by the same sitemap plugin.

Now, can Google read archived sitemaps in a .gz fromat?

Also, how true it is that empty/blank lines should not be used in robots.txt? Should I manually remove the empty line break in my robots.txt?

Bulldozer · 09-06-2011, 05:14 PM

I'm bumping this.

Bulldozer · 09-07-2011, 04:54 PM

And again...

nospamming · 09-07-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

The plugin generates a sitemap xml document that has a backlink to the web site of the plugn's creator in it.
Is this a problem?

its not a problem to give a backlink to him. you are using his idea. so its good if you give backlink to him.

Bulldozer · 09-08-2011, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nospamming

its not a problem to give a backlink to him. you are using his idea. so its good if you give backlink to him.

Yes, this is what I explained in my post too. I don't mind backlinking to the guy.
My question was about the possible negative effects of this backlink on my rankings (for exaple if it links to a spammy site, etc).
I also want to know if a link in the xml sitemap is considered a backlink by Google in the first place.

09-06-2011, 11:24 AM	#1
Bulldozer HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 305 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Backlinks in Sitemap.xml and line breaks in robots.txt? I am using a WordPress plugin that automatically generates a sitemap for my site. The plugin creates two fles: sitemap.xml and sitemap.xml.gz and stores them in the root directory of the server. I have several questions: The plugin generates a sitemap xml document that has a backlink to the web site of the plugn's creator in it. Is this a problem? I mean, I don't mind back linking to the guy's site because I am using his sitemap plugin for free, so it's all fine with me, but what about SEO? Sometimes backlinks to sites that Google considers spammy or "bad"can harm your site's ranking... Does Google care about backlinks in the sitemap.xml or does it ingnore them? Should I remove the backlink to the plugin creator's site from my sitemap? My robots.txt file used to be petty simple, it used to look like this: Code: User-agent: * Disallow: I just noticed that there is a new entry line in the robots.txt file (probably done by the Sitemap plugin??) Now my robots.txt contains this new line: Code: User-agent: * Disallow: Sitemap: http://site.com/sitemap.xml.gz Apparently, the new entry line is there to show search engines where the archived Sitemap is on the sirver. I suspect that this new entry line in robots.txt was created by the same sitemap plugin. Now, can Google read archived sitemaps in a .gz fromat? Also, how true it is that empty/blank lines should not be used in robots.txt? Should I manually remove the empty line break in my robots.txt?

09-06-2011, 05:14 PM	#2
Bulldozer HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 305 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Backlinks in Sitemap.xml and line breaks in robots.txt? I'm bumping this.

09-07-2011, 04:54 PM	#3
Bulldozer HyperActive Warrior Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 305 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Backlinks in Sitemap.xml and line breaks in robots.txt? And again...