This SOP is a work in progress. If you notice anything that is out of date, could be more clear or could be more efficient please update the SOP or add a comment to start a conversation.
Purpose
Purpose details…
Procedure
Inputs:
Provide instructions on creating and submitting a sitemap based on URLs affected by a client’s SEO package.
Procedure
Inputs:
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title | Step 1: Copy the Sitemap Generator Template tab. |
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Navigate to the Sitemap Generator Template sheet from Ryan Kelner and copy the only tab there to the client sheet of the dealer you want to create an SEO sitemap for (Click on Existing spreadsheet). Image AddedImage AddedWhen you copy a new tab to a client sheet the new tab goes all the way to the right of all existing tabs so make sure you move it near the Work Done Import and SEO Work Done tabs. Make sure to also remove the “Copy of ”in the name of the tab. Image Added
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title | Step 2: Setup the sitemap generator tab |
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title | Step 3: Creating the XML sitemap file |
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Once you’ve got all your links in the Work Done Import tab Copy the B2 cell of the Sitemap Generator Image AddedPaste into a blank notepad file, it should look something like this: Image AddedCreate a folder for each of your clients' sitemaps in your documents. Image AddedSave your file type as “All Files” and name your file “seo-sitemap.xml” Image AddedThis should leave you with an XML file Image Added
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title | Step 4: Uploading the XML sitemap file |
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Info |
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Make sure that for this step you’re connected to a VPN. |
Now that our sitemap is ready we can upload it to the client’s FTP folder. Open your NppFTP plugin in Notepad++ and navigate to the client’s FTP folder Image AddedThere should be a folder named content, here upload your new XML file by right-clicking it and selecting Upload other file here… option. Image Added- Image Added
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title | Step #: Do something... |
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Details… |
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5: Updating the sitemap index |
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After uploading the new sitemap we also need to update the main sitemap index. In the FTP folder, there should be a sitemap.xml file near the bottom of the list of files for that folder Image AddedOpen that file, it should look something like any of these two options. Sometimes it may have multiple sitemaps or just 1 or none. Image AddedImage AddedCopy and paste the following snippet of code replacing the [dealer domain] with the site URL for the dealer you’re working on and the last modification date with the format YYYY-MM-DD. Code Block |
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<sitemap>
<loc>[dealer domain]/content/seo-sitemap.xml</loc>
<lastmod>2023-08-31</lastmod>
</sitemap> |
It should look like this: Image AddedSave your changes.
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title | Step 6: Submitting sitemap updates to Google Search Console |
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Navigate to the Google account where you’re GSC property is stored (most of them are in the seo@dealerspike.com or sem@dealerspike.com Google accounts). Image AddedIn the left-hand menu under the Indexing section click on Sitemaps Image AddedIn the Sitemaps indexing write the file location for the uploaded sitemap and click submit Image AddedSearch Console will give the next message, click on got it. Image AddedNow submit the sitemap index we also updated Image AddedYou should have a list of submitted sitemaps looking like this: Image Added
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Outputs:
With this, we’ve uploaded and updated our SEO sitemap for a Dealer Spike client.
FAQs