[TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap

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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.

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#mobile marketing #create #mobile #sitemap #tutorial #website
  • 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
    • [3] replies
    • 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.
    • 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.
      • [1] reply
    • 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




      • [1] reply
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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!
    • [1] reply
  • 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
    • [1] reply
    • 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.
  • thank you so much for the tutorial...
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  • 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

  • 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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  • 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.
  • 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.
    • [1] reply
    • 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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  • You submit mobile sitemaps the same way you submit standard XML sitemaps, i.e. in Google Webmaster Tools
  • 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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    [TUTORIAL] How To Create a Mobile Website Sitemap

    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: