[TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap

WillR · 20th Sep 2011, 09:06 PM

It is important that you create a separate sitemap for all your mobile website content. This way Google is able to distinguish between the two versions of your website (standard AND mobile) and you won't run the risk of being penalized for having duplicate content on the same domain.

Here are the simple steps to creating a Google Mobile Sitemap:

1. Download the attached sitemap.txt file.

2. Open the file in a standard text editor and insert all the urls of your mobile site.

3. Save the file as sitemap.xml instead of sitemap.txt

4. Upload the sitemap.xml file into your mobile website folder.

5. Add a link to your mobile sitemap on the homepage of your mobile site.

The link code would look something like this:
<a href="http://m.website.com/sitemap.xml">Sitemap</a>

* If you have Google Webmaster tools it is also a good idea to submit your new mobile sitemap there also.

Now when Google crawl the site they will find the mobile sitemap and know that this content has been designed specifically for mobile devices.

.

512 Designs · 20th Sep 2011, 09:49 PM

Hi Will,

Thanks for the info.

Is this necessary if you're not hosting the mobile site on the same domain? So far I'm selling my service as a monthly fee and I'm hosting their sites as a sub-domain on my domain.

Mike

cottonking2000 · 20th Sep 2011, 10:01 PM

Best practices is to host a mobile site on same domain. Bit make the mobile site m.yoururl.com

When google hits it make the mobile google bot run the m.yoururl.com and the normal google bot run your normal site.

There is a video from google on this. If you do it this way split the bots no penalty will take place.

known · 20th Sep 2011, 10:04 PM

Will,

This is great. You are truly providing valuable information here.

Many are just beginning their journey here and it's great they've got you as a guide.

Cheryl

WillR · 20th Sep 2011, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by mrcouchpotato

Hi Will,

Thanks for the info.

Is this necessary if you're not hosting the mobile site on the same domain? So far I'm selling my service as a monthly fee and I'm hosting their sites as a sub-domain on my domain.

Mike

Mike,

If you are going to be hosting a number of different mobile sites on the one domain then I would probably just leave it.

markjob · 21st Sep 2011, 04:11 AM

Thank you WillR. This has come at a perfect time. Im just about finished with my daytime jobs mobile site and i was just going to google this very subject, time saver !!

Cheers

Neil B · 21st Sep 2011, 04:24 AM

Great Will...If anyone is using Wordpress I've posted a link to a free WP mobile sitemap plugin on Quentins Free Mobile Resources thread...hope it's ok to mention that here?

Neil B

512 Designs · 21st Sep 2011, 04:37 AM

Originally Posted by WillR

Mike,

If you are going to be hosting a number of different mobile sites on the one domain then I would probably just leave it.

Yeah, that's the plan.

I want to create a mobile directory on my domain with the sites I sell. Plus since I'm charging monthly, if they don't pay I can "turn off the switch" to their site if necessary.

Jay Moreno · 21st Sep 2011, 07:51 AM

what you have to remember though unless your site validates to XHTML MP google will completely ignore the contents of your mobile site map and will list your pages in with the rest of regular desktop websites and have it competing in the regular serps....

the only difference adding a mobile site map makes if your site does validate - is that it will include a nice little green mobile phone icon next to your listing on google search for non smart phone devices... it will not be "highlighted" in google search for smartphones...

even listed in google search for mobile non smartphones it will not necessarily rank any higher than the other "regular desktop" sites that come up in the serps...

i really wish google would identify mobile websites to both smartphone users and not just non smartphone users!

WillR · 21st Sep 2011, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by Jay Moreno

what you have to remember though unless your site validates to XHTML MP google will completely ignore the contents of your mobile site map and will list your pages in with the rest of regular desktop websites and have it competing in the regular serps....

Jay,

What mobile markup languages do you support? - Google Webmaster Tools Help

What mobile markup languages do you support?

We support XHTML basic, XHTML Mobile Profile, WML, and cHTML.

and...

Adding Mobile URL Information to a Sitemap - Google Webmaster Tools Help

Sitemaps currently supports and automatically detects the following markup languages:

non-mobile (this includes most content)
XHTML mobile profile (WAP 2.0)
WML (WAP 1.2)
cHTML (iMode)

TheCG · 21st Sep 2011, 05:20 PM

Mike,

You think it is better to host all client's mobile sites on one of your own dedicated domains instead of putting them in a subdomain on the client's own site?

Or do you do it this way purely to generate the monthly hosting fee?

Just trying to look at all the different angles.

Thanks,

CG

Originally Posted by mrcouchpotato

Hi Will,

Thanks for the info.

Is this necessary if you're not hosting the mobile site on the same domain? So far I'm selling my service as a monthly fee and I'm hosting their sites as a sub-domain on my domain.

Mike

WillR · 21st Sep 2011, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by TheCG

Mike,

You think it is better to host all client's mobile sites on one of your own dedicated domains instead of putting them in a subdomain on the client's own site?

Or do you do it this way purely to generate the monthly hosting fee?

Just trying to look at all the different angles.

Thanks,

CG

You set things up this way in order to have control over the site and charge your customers a monthly hosting fee. Obviously you can't charge them hosting if they install the site on their own hosting. If they wish to install the site on their own/current hosting then they can purchase the site at a higher one-time payment.

This type of setup allows you to offer the mobile sites for free or at a much cheaper price with the view of receiving ongoing monthly hosting payments.

TheCG · 21st Sep 2011, 06:12 PM

Got 'cha.

Assuming you did an entire package for this client and would be hosting his primary site, would you still host the mobile on your own dedicated domain or would you throw it in on a subdomain of his main site?

Originally Posted by WillR

You set things up this way in order to have control over the site and charge your customers a monthly hosting fee. Obviously you can't charge them hosting if they install the site on their own hosting. If they wish to install the site on their own/current hosting then they can purchase the site at a higher one-time payment.

This type of setup allows you to offer the mobile sites for free or at a much cheaper price with the view of receiving ongoing monthly hosting payments.

Jay Moreno · 21st Sep 2011, 08:18 PM

Originally Posted by WillR

Jay,

and...

Adding Mobile URL Information to a Sitemap - Google Webmaster Tools Help

Hi Will,

On that same page look at where it says please note and the four pointers...

One of them reads the following:

A Mobile Sitemap can contain only URLs that serve mobile web content. Any URLs that serve only non-mobile web content will be ignored by the Google crawling mechanisms.

To me that says unless the URL validates to mobile standards it will be ignored?

We have discussed this in detail here...
http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...ml#post4451351

The only benefit i have been able to see with this is the addition of a green handset icon in the serps listings on non smartphone google search... but perhaps google will start including this for smartphone google search i hope they do!

cheers

jay

Michael Travis · 21st Sep 2011, 09:38 PM

Will,

Is it required to have a sitemap link on your mobile site? I most definately agree you need a sitemap.xml file in your mobile directory, but do you need the link on the site itself?

Thanks,

Michael

WillR · 21st Sep 2011, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Michael Travis

Will,

Is it required to have a sitemap link on your mobile site? I most definately agree you need a sitemap.xml file in your mobile directory, but do you need the link on the site itself?

Thanks,

Michael

Michael,

The link is simply to help Google find the sitemap. You can submit the link through Google Webaster tools if you use it but if you don't, then I would suggest having a link to the sitemap somewhere on the mobile site so search spiders can easily find it.

acethegunnerzzz · 21st Sep 2011, 11:15 PM

thank you so much for the tutorial...

Scitknot9 · 29th Sep 2011, 03:05 PM

Will,

You are a legend, always providing great, useful info on this forum - along with many others!

I for one truly appreciate all the help you guys give!

Scott

Originally Posted by WillR

It is important that you create a separate sitemap for all your mobile website content. This way Google is able to distinguish between the two versions of your website (standard AND mobile) and you won't run the risk of being penalized for having duplicate content on the same domain.

Here are the simple steps to creating a Google Mobile Sitemap:

1. Download the attached sitemap.txt file.

2. Open the file in a standard text editor and insert all the urls of your mobile site.

3. Save the file as sitemap.xml instead of sitemap.txt

4. Upload the sitemap.xml file into your mobile website folder.

5. Add a link to your mobile sitemap on the homepage of your mobile site.

The link code would look something like this:
<a href="http://m.website.com/sitemap.xml">Sitemap</a>

* If you have Google Webmaster tools it is also a good idea to submit your new mobile sitemap there also.

Now when Google crawl the site they will find the mobile sitemap and know that this content has been designed specifically for mobile devices.

.

Michisor · 29th Sep 2011, 06:08 PM

Thank you,
I didn't know that we can have a site Map for mobile, so this info is priceless for me
Michaela

Youturn · 14th Oct 2011, 08:02 AM

Question on step 5. How do you upload the mobile site map to your homepage? I'm currently using your templates. I'm a newbie trying to implement this with your program. Could you tell me exactly where to place the site map link on the homepage file? Thanks, sorry for the stupid questions.

bhuff85 · 14th Oct 2011, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by WillR

You set things up this way in order to have control over the site and charge your customers a monthly hosting fee. Obviously you can't charge them hosting if they install the site on their own hosting. If they wish to install the site on their own/current hosting then they can purchase the site at a higher one-time payment.

This type of setup allows you to offer the mobile sites for free or at a much cheaper price with the view of receiving ongoing monthly hosting payments.

Thanks for the info Will. I have one quick question in regards to hosting mobile sites on your own host. Do you use reseller hosting and have each site hosted separately, or do you use one domain and use subdomains for each mobile site?

If you use the subdomain approach, have any businesses you've run into been concerned about branding? Let's say you have "Georgia Carpet Cleaners" as a biz name and their domain is georgiacarpetcleaners.com. Wouldn't it look odd if the mobile web address was georgiacarpetcleaners.xyzmarketing.com? I don't know if that's how you set them up or not, but I'm just wondering how that works.

I like the idea of charging a smaller fee upfront with a residual hosting fee each month. Like you said, you get more control and a guaranteed payment each month. Heck, you could even toss in the agreement that the business has the right to buy control outright for "x amount of dollars" if they want to do things themselves down the road. Would be a nice way to make a little extra money, rather than have them cancel altogether (if they did for any reason down the road).

WillR · 14th Oct 2011, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by bhuff85

Thanks for the info Will. I have one quick question in regards to hosting mobile sites on your own host. Do you use reseller hosting and have each site hosted separately, or do you use one domain and use subdomains for each mobile site?

If you use the subdomain approach, have any businesses you've run into been concerned about branding? Let's say you have "Georgia Carpet Cleaners" as a biz name and their domain is georgiacarpetcleaners.com. Wouldn't it look odd if the mobile web address was georgiacarpetcleaners.xyzmarketing.com? I don't know if that's how you set them up or not, but I'm just wondering how that works.

I like the idea of charging a smaller fee upfront with a residual hosting fee each month. Like you said, you get more control and a guaranteed payment each month. Heck, you could even toss in the agreement that the business has the right to buy control outright for "x amount of dollars" if they want to do things themselves down the road. Would be a nice way to make a little extra money, rather than have them cancel altogether (if they did for any reason down the road).

I've always just charged lump sum for the mobile site. I would only ever offer that hosting option if they did not want to pay the whole fee upfront. The businesses you are approaching already have hosting and a domain so there is no logical reason for them to pay you money to host their mobile site when they have their own hosting already available.

The only time it makes sense is if they would rather pay off the site over time in the form of hosting charges. In this instance you don't give them control of the site. If you are concerned about branding then host the site on your server but purchase them an exclusive .mobi domain for their business. It only costs 8 or 9 bucks. This will also help retain that customer for longer since you are in control of their mobile domain.

MatthewGreen · 29th Dec 2011, 10:13 AM

I added a mobile sitemap to my clients mobile website and it seems to be indexing my mobile website for desktop users.

For example the main listing is as follows:

Website Name
page1 page2
page3 page 4
Page 5 Page 6

Page 2 and 4 are mobile website pages. How would i get rid of those if i don't want desktop computer users navigating to them?

Thanks.

oildrops · 13th Jun 2012, 07:31 AM

Very timely info on sitemaps. Thanks Will!

I am at a loss as to how mobile sites are indexed.

Google will probably find the sitemap first and index in google.com/m

Are there ways to manually submit to search engines, directories, etc? and where?

MikeR

Microsys · 15th Jun 2012, 07:58 AM

You submit mobile sitemaps the same way you submit standard XML sitemaps, i.e. in Google Webmaster Tools

Robert X · 16th Jun 2012, 01:53 AM

Hey Will,

G'day mate! How'a the weather down unda? June gloom for us here in So Cal.

Just one question here,, (i think),, 1. Is this stuff in your "My Mobile Business"?

Oops,, also,, about the hosting and all that,, 2. Do you ONLY go after businesses that already have a site and hosting?

Or, 3. Do you think it would be a good idea to supply the business with a NEW .mobi domain, keep control over it and charge a monthly fee?

Sorry,, one more,, 4. And this would ONLY apply if there is a secondary site, correct?

Oh,, and one more small question,, will you ever give some details as to how you RUN your business? I'm talkin' the inside story. for instance,, website? outsourcing? getting all that stuff set up. I think a lot of these wso's seem to forget that you gotta have a few things in order BEFORE you jam on it.

Rock On , Will

Thanks,
Robert X

20th Sep 2011, 09:49 PM	#2
512 Designs Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: USA Posts: 720 Thanks: 65 Thanked 162 Times in 97 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Hi Will, Thanks for the info. Is this necessary if you're not hosting the mobile site on the same domain? So far I'm selling my service as a monthly fee and I'm hosting their sites as a sub-domain on my domain. Mike
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20th Sep 2011, 10:01 PM	#3
cottonking2000 Active Warrior Join Date: 2010 Posts: 97 Thanks: 4 Thanked 15 Times in 13 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Best practices is to host a mobile site on same domain. Bit make the mobile site m.yoururl.com When google hits it make the mobile google bot run the m.yoururl.com and the normal google bot run your normal site. There is a video from google on this. If you do it this way split the bots no penalty will take place.
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20th Sep 2011, 10:04 PM	#4
known Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: Suttons Bay, Michigan Posts: 67 Thanks: 12 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Will, This is great. You are truly providing valuable information here. Many are just beginning their journey here and it's great they've got you as a guide. Cheryl
	Cheryl C. Cigan www.known.com

21st Sep 2011, 04:11 AM	#6
markjob Active Warrior Join Date: 2010 Location: UK, Hampshire Posts: 91 Thanks: 28 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Thank you WillR. This has come at a perfect time. Im just about finished with my daytime jobs mobile site and i was just going to google this very subject, time saver !! Cheers

21st Sep 2011, 04:24 AM	#7
Neil B Mobile Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: UK Posts: 190 Thanks: 616 Thanked 205 Times in 134 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Great Will...If anyone is using Wordpress I've posted a link to a free WP mobile sitemap plugin on Quentins Free Mobile Resources thread...hope it's ok to mention that here? Neil B
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21st Sep 2011, 07:51 AM	#9
Jay Moreno Mobile+WP = JumpMobi.com War Room Member Join Date: 2009 Location: San Antonio, Tx Posts: 1,270 Thanks: 301 Thanked 449 Times in 309 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: what you have to remember though unless your site validates to XHTML MP google will completely ignore the contents of your mobile site map and will list your pages in with the rest of regular desktop websites and have it competing in the regular serps.... the only difference adding a mobile site map makes if your site does validate - is that it will include a nice little green mobile phone icon next to your listing on google search for non smart phone devices... it will not be "highlighted" in google search for smartphones... even listed in google search for mobile non smartphones it will not necessarily rank any higher than the other "regular desktop" sites that come up in the serps... i really wish google would identify mobile websites to both smartphone users and not just non smartphone users!

21st Sep 2011, 09:38 PM	#15
Michael Travis HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: , , USA. Posts: 254 Thanks: 26 Thanked 150 Times in 41 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Will, Is it required to have a sitemap link on your mobile site? I most definately agree you need a sitemap.xml file in your mobile directory, but do you need the link on the site itself? Thanks, Michael

21st Sep 2011, 11:15 PM	#17
acethegunnerzzz Struggling Newbie Join Date: 2010 Posts: 53 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: thank you so much for the tutorial...

29th Sep 2011, 06:08 PM	#19
Michisor New Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: 2008 Location: NJ USA Posts: 10 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Thank you, I didn't know that we can have a site Map for mobile, so this info is priceless for me Michaela
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14th Oct 2011, 08:02 AM	#20
Youturn Warrior Member Join Date: 2011 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Question on step 5. How do you upload the mobile site map to your homepage? I'm currently using your templates. I'm a newbie trying to implement this with your program. Could you tell me exactly where to place the site map link on the homepage file? Thanks, sorry for the stupid questions.

29th Dec 2011, 10:13 AM	#23
MatthewGreen Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: New York Posts: 74 Thanks: 4 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: I added a mobile sitemap to my clients mobile website and it seems to be indexing my mobile website for desktop users. For example the main listing is as follows: Website Name page1 page2 page3 page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 2 and 4 are mobile website pages. How would i get rid of those if i don't want desktop computer users navigating to them? Thanks.
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13th Jun 2012, 07:31 AM	#24
oildrops HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: 2005 Location: , , . Posts: 199 Thanks: 7 Thanked 62 Times in 55 Posts Blog Entries: 19	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Very timely info on sitemaps. Thanks Will! I am at a loss as to how mobile sites are indexed. Google will probably find the sitemap first and index in google.com/m Are there ways to manually submit to search engines, directories, etc? and where? MikeR
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15th Jun 2012, 07:58 AM	#25
Microsys SEO and webmaster tools War Room Member Join Date: 2007 Posts: 276 Thanks: 1 Thanked 28 Times in 27 Posts	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: You submit mobile sitemaps the same way you submit standard XML sitemaps, i.e. in Google Webmaster Tools
	XML-Sitemaps-Generator.com \| HREFLang-Sitemaps.com \| HTML-Sitemap.com \| TechSEO360.com

16th Jun 2012, 01:53 AM	#26
Robert X The Warrior Syndicate War Room Member Join Date: 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 566 Thanks: 377 Thanked 191 Times in 102 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Re: [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap Share on: Hey Will, G'day mate! How'a the weather down unda? June gloom for us here in So Cal. Just one question here,, (i think),, 1. Is this stuff in your "My Mobile Business"? Oops,, also,, about the hosting and all that,, 2. Do you ONLY go after businesses that already have a site and hosting? Or, 3. Do you think it would be a good idea to supply the business with a NEW .mobi domain, keep control over it and charge a monthly fee? Sorry,, one more,, 4. And this would ONLY apply if there is a secondary site, correct? Oh,, and one more small question,, will you ever give some details as to how you RUN your business? I'm talkin' the inside story. for instance,, website? outsourcing? getting all that stuff set up. I think a lot of these wso's seem to forget that you gotta have a few things in order BEFORE you jam on it. Rock On , Will Thanks, Robert X
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