How to create and send a site card on Google for your site

To maintain order on your site and ensure its correct indexing in search engines, you need to create and send a site map. This process will help your site be seen by search engines such as Google. If you are a beginner in the issue of site maps, we recommend starting with our introduction.

Google supports various formats of the site cards, which are described in the site card protocol. Each format has its advantages and disadvantages, and you should choose the one that is suitable for your site. It is important to note that Google has no preferences to a specific format. The next table compares various formats of site maps.

Comparison of site card formats for your site in Google

XML Site map

XML Site cards is the most universal format. They are expanded and can be used to add information about images, video and news content, as well as to indicate localized versions of the pages.

Advantages:

Expansion and versatility.
It can provide more information about your URL addresses.
Most CMS automatically generate site cards or provide plugins to create them.

Flaws:

It may be inconvenient to work with a large number of URL addresses.
The difficulty in servicing site maps on large sites where URLs often change.

RSS, MRSS and Atom 1.0 Site maps

RSS, MRSS and Atom 1.0 of the site maps are similar to XML cards, but they are often easier to use, since CMS automatically generate these cards.

Advantages:

Most CMS automatically generate RSS and atom tapes.
They can be used to provide information about video content in your site.

Flaws:

They can only provide information about video, not about images or news.
Can be inconvenient in work.

Site text card

This is the simplest format that can only contain URLs -page -pages and other indexed pages.

Advantages:

The simplicity of creating and maintenance, especially on large sites.

Flaws:

Limited in capabilities is suitable only for other indexed text pages.

Recommendations for creating a site card for your site in Google

When creating a site card for your site in Google, it is important to consider several key points so that all the map elements are correctly interpreted by the system.

Limitations on the size of the card: All site card formats have a 50 MB limit (an unborn file) or 50,000 URL addresses. If you have larger files or a larger number of URL addresses, you will need to divide the card into several files. In this case, you can create a card index and send it to Google.

The location of the site card file and encoding: the card file should be encoded in the UTF-8 format. You can place the site card in any part of your site, but if you do not send the card via Search Console, it will only affect the descendants of the parent catalog. It is recommended to place the site cards in the root catalog.

Properties of URL addresses: Use fully qualified absolute URLs. Google will try to scan url exactly as they are indicated. For example, if your site is located at https://www.example.com/, do not indicate a relative URL address, such as/mypage .. instead use the full URL: https://www.example.com/mypage ..

Do not forget to include in the site card only those URLs that you want to appear in the results of the Google search. It is also important to consider the canonical versions of the pages if you have various versions for mobile and desktop versions. It is recommended to indicate only one version in the site map, if you do not want to show both.

How to create a XML site card for your site in Google

XML format is the most universal for creating a site card. Include additional data on the content of your site, such as images, video and localized pages. Here is an example of a simple map of the XML site:



 
 https://www.example.com/foo.
 2022-06-04

More complex examples and complete documentation can be found on the website sitemaps.org.

Additional notes on XML Site cards for your site in Google

All tag values should be shielded.
Google ignores tags And .
Google uses a tag Only if the value of this tag is accurately and checked (for example, by comparison with the last page update).

How to send a site card to Google

Sending a site card in Google is just a recommendation that does not guarantee that Google will use a card to scan url on your site. There are several ways to make a card available for Google:

Send a site card via Google Search Console.
Use the API Search Console to send a site card in a programmatic way.
Insert the line into the Robots.txt file, indicating the path to your site card. Google will find it at the next bypass of the Robots.txt file:

 Sitemap: https://example.com/my_sitemap.xml

How to send a site card of several sites on Google

If you have several sites, you can simplify the process of sending cards by creating one or more cards, including URLs of all your sites, and placing them in one place. You can use one card file that will turn on the URL for several sites.

How to use Search Console to send maps of several sites in Google

Убедитесь, что вы подтвердили владение всеми сайтами.
Create a site card that will turn on the URL of all your sites, or use the card index, if you are more convenient.
Send the card via Google Search Console.

How to use Robots.txt to send maps of several sites in Google

Create a site map for each site on which only the corresponding URLs of this site.
Download the site cards to one of the sites that you control.
Update the Robots.txt file to specify the path to the site map for each individual site.

Technical problems with the site maps for your site in Google

If you have problems with the site card, you can use the Google Search Console to diagnose and eliminate errors. To do this, read the guide to eliminate problems with the site maps.

You can contact the SEO company "SEO.computer" by e-mail: info@seo.computer or by WhatsApp: +79202044461

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