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B2B Content Marketing, B2B Digital Marketing, Business, Content Marketing, Search Engine Optimization

When it comes to Digital Marketing and User Experience, sitemaps hold an important role in shaping a website’s structure and its relationship with the search engines. If you’re here looking for examples of sitemaps or what a sitemap is then you are likely trying to find insights into what makes a good sitemap, how to create one or what the difference is between different sitemap types. Sitemaps have a rich history, transitioning from simple website planning tools to sophisticated XML files that communicate with search engines. Let’s dive into what sitemaps are, their evolution, and their significance when it comes to user experience (UX), user interface (UI), and search engine optimization (SEO).

What is a Sitemap?

To keep things simple, a sitemap is essentially a blueprint or an organizational chart of a website’s content. It can come in various forms:

  1. Visual Sitemaps: Used during the planning phase of a website, providing a bird’s-eye view of the site’s structure.
  2. HTML Sitemaps: A webpage that lists all important pages of a website, often used for navigation purposes.
  3. XML Sitemaps: Designed for search engines, detailing all URLs within a site along with additional metadata.

History of Sitemaps

Originally, sitemaps served as a planning tool for website layout, focusing on the UX/UI aspects. The idea was to create a site that was both aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate for users. However, with the evolution of search engines, sitemaps evolved. The XML sitemap, in particular, became instrumental in aiding search engines to crawl and index websites more efficiently.

Think of sitemap originally being the roadmap, blueprint or architecture of a website. Forecasting how visitors would interact with your website and creating pathways or journeys to make it easier for users to get where they want to go, need to go and where you would like to get them to. Not so ironically, that is why the search engines started using this to crawl websites. It was efficient and those who were creating sitemaps did so with intention. As that became more apparent, SEO experts realized how the search engines were using the sitemap files and pages which allowed them to optimize them and deliver more visibility for their clients.

Sitemap Examples

While you could create an infinite number of examples here we are going to share just a few to give you a good understanding of what a typical sitemap would consist of.

Generic Business Website Sitemap:

    • Home
    • About Us
    • Services
      • Service A
      • Service B
      • Service C
    • Products
      • Product A
      • Product B
      • Product C
    • Contact Us

 

Print Website Sitemap Example:

    • Home
    • Print Services
      • Bindery
      • Finishing
    • Print Products
      • Banners
      • Booklets
      • Brochures
      • Business Cards
      • Catalogs
      • Direct Mail
      • Flags
      • Postcards
      • Posters
      • Wall Graphics
    • Portfolio / Gallery
    • Blog
    • Contact

 

Private Equity Firm Website Sitemap:

      • Home
      • About Us
      • Investment Strategies
      • Portfolio Companies
      • Investor Relations
      • Careers
      • News & Insights
      • Contact

 

Anatomy of an XML Sitemap

An XML Sitemap typically includes:

  • The URL of each page
  • The date of last update
  • The frequency of changes
  • The priority of different URLs

Each of these bullets has a specific purpose for the search engine crawlers. For example the crawler knowing when something was updated last can tell it if the page is still the same as last time and if it is then the crawler may ignore it since it already has that page indexed, the priority can also tell the crawler which pages are most important and to “really” pay attention to the ones with the highest priority level.

You’ll also find some XML sitemaps linking to other XML sitemaps. Yoast does this for example by having individual sitemaps for different post types such as pages and blog posts.

 

How to Find a Sitemap on a Website

Most websites have their sitemap located at domain.com/sitemap.xml. Tools like Yoast SEO for WordPress (or All in One SEO, or RankMatch) generate and maintain this XML sitemap automatically. These can also be created manually.

 

How to Create a Sitemap

Creating a sitemap can be done manually, through a hybrid approach, or using automated tools:

  1. Manually Create a Sitemap: Ideal for small websites, this involves mapping out all pages and their relationships.
  2. Hybrid Sitemap Creation: Combines manual planning with automated tools for larger, more complex sites.
  3. Use a WordPress Plugin to Create a Sitemap: Plugins like Yoast SEO, All in One SEO, and Rank Math can automate the process.

If you are using WordPress we highly recommend using one of the 3 named plugins instead of doing it on your own manually. If you do need to create one manually remember to name it sitemap.xml and place it in the “root” of your websites folder structure.

 

Submit Your Sitemap to Google

Once your sitemap is ready, submit it to Google via the Search Console. This step is crucial for ensuring your site is indexed correctly by the search engine. There is the chance that Google (or another search engine) will end up on your site and crawl the sitemap file, but it’s a gaurantee that Google will make its way to you if you submit the sitemap.

Just go to google.com/webmastertools and there you can go through the steps to claim your website and then submit the sitemap.

 

Sitemaps are a fundamental aspect of website design, user experience and search engine optimization. Whether it’s a simple blog or a complex e-commerce site, a well-structured sitemap can significantly enhance a website’s usability and search engine visibility. As the internet continues to grow, the importance of effective sitemap creation and management cannot be overstated.

 

Sitemap Examples Video Summary

 

If You Are Looking to Focus on Getting More Visibility, Traffic, Leads, Sales or Have Questions, Call Us at 866-357-7422

Or Submit your information below

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    Content Marketing

    The real estate industry has always been about prime locations, impressive skyscrapers, and sprawling properties. However, as the world hurtles into a digital age, it’s no longer enough for commercial real estate funds to solely rely on traditional methods of marketing. Embracing the digital world through online marketing is not only essential but, in many ways, it’s the most strategic move a fund can make.

     

    1. The Digital Landscape is Where Your Audience Is

    The modern investor, stakeholder, or potential partner is online. They’re scrolling through LinkedIn, researching on Google, or watching videos on YouTube. By maintaining a strong online presence, real estate funds can directly interact with these audiences, making the process of reaching out and securing capital more efficient.

    2. Showcase Assets in Real-Time

    One of the biggest advantages of online marketing is the ability to showcase properties and developments in real-time. Virtual tours, drone footage, and 3D models can be uploaded and shared, giving potential investors a comprehensive view of the property without having to visit the site. This is especially useful in today’s globalized world, where an investor from another continent might be interested in your property.

    3. Cost-Effective Strategy

    Traditional marketing campaigns – billboards, print ads, and brochures – can be costly. Conversely, online marketing strategies, such as pay-per-click advertising or social media campaigns, can be tailored to fit various budgets. Funds can set limits on ad spend and get detailed analytics about which campaigns offer the best return on investment.

    4. Build Trust and Authority

    By maintaining an active blog or publishing regular content about the state of the commercial real estate market, funds can position themselves as thought leaders in the industry. Sharing insights, forecasts, and expert analyses helps build

    trust among potential investors. When they see a fund that consistently provides valuable information, they’re more likely to see it as a credible and trustworthy entity.

    5. Engage and Retain

    Digital platforms provide multiple avenues to engage with both potential and current investors. Whether it’s through email newsletters, interactive webinars, or social media updates, funds can keep their audience informed and engaged. Regular updates ensure that your investors feel involved and are aware of the latest developments, fostering a sense of loyalty and community.

    6. Geo-Targeting Capabilities

    Online marketing platforms, especially advertising ones like Google Ads or Facebook Ads, allow funds to target specific locations. If there’s a particular region or city where a fund wants to attract investors or highlight a property, geo-targeting ensures that marketing efforts are focused on that exact demographic.

    7. Trackable and Measurable Results

    One of the most compelling reasons for adopting online marketing is the ability to track and measure results. Using analytics tools, funds can see which campaigns were most effective, which posts garnered the most engagement, and which strategies yielded the highest ROI. This data-driven approach allows for the continuous refinement of marketing efforts.

    8. Expand Investor Base

    The online space has no boundaries. While traditional marketing might cater to a local or regional audience, online marketing opens doors globally. A commercial real estate fund can attract investors from anywhere in the world, exponentially expanding its potential investor base.

    9. Seamless Integration with Modern Tools

    Today’s investors expect seamless digital experiences. From online portals for document signing to digital dashboards for tracking investments, marketing efforts can be seamlessly integrated with other tech tools that the modern investor uses, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience.

    10. Stay Ahead of the Competition

    Last but certainly not least, as more and more industries embrace digital transformation, those who don’t risk being left behind. Establishing a strong online presence ensures that a fund stays relevant, modern, and competitive in an increasingly digital market landscape.

    The shift from traditional to digital is more than just a trend; it’s a strategic necessity. For commercial real estate funds, the potential of online marketing is vast, from expanding reach and reducing costs to driving engagement and building trust. By embracing online marketing, funds not only position themselves for current success but also lay a foundation for future growth in an ever-evolving digital world.

     

    If You Are Looking to Focus on Getting More Visibility, Traffic, Leads, Sales or Have Questions, Call Us at 866-357-7422

    Or Submit your information below

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      Content Marketing

      Every year trends either emerge or mature within the digital marketing industry and to know these is power (as long as you act on them). So we want to ensure that the readers of our content and our customers stay up to date on the topics & trends that matter when it comes to digital marketing.

      In this article we’ve compiled the top digital marketing trends for 2023 and categorized them by channel to make it easy to see how you can capitalize on these opportunities, increase market share, gain more leads, customers, clients and investors.

       

      SEO Trends for 2023

      Search engine optimization (SEO) is an essential component of digital marketing, as it helps businesses and firms get their websites ranked higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) for the keywords, phrases and questions that their customers, clients and investors are searching for. 

      Here are a handful of SEO trends that you’ll see in 2023:

      1. With the increasing popularity of smart speakers and voice assistants, voice search is becoming more prevalent. As such, businesses will need to optimize their websites for voice search queries to ensure they appear in the results. This means you’ll need to write answers to more questions that people would possibly ask.
      2. AI and Machine Learning are becoming more prevalent in SEO, with search engines using these technologies to better understand the intent behind search queries. Businesses can use AI and Machine Learning to analyze user data and identify patterns, which can inform their SEO strategies. To gain access to this you’ll need to subscribe to tools that help do this for you. Or work with agencies that use these tools.
      3. Local search has always been at the top of the list for importance (even for national companies that don’t think they rely on local search), but it is becoming even more important, as buyers and investors are increasingly using their mobile devices to search for businesses and firms. Businesses will need to optimize their websites for local search queries to ensure they appear in the results.
      4. Featured snippets are becoming more prevalent in search results, as they provide users with quick answers to their queries. Businesses can optimize their content for featured snippets by providing clear and concise answers to common questions related to their industry.

       

      Google Ads Trends for 2023

      Google Ads is one of the most popular advertising platforms and one of the most effective, allowing businesses and firms to place ads on Google search results pages and other websites. It’s powerful because these ads only show to customers, clients or investors looking for the product or service you offer.

      Listed below are the primary Google Ads trends you’ll encounter this year

      1. Google Ads is becoming more automated, with businesses able to use machine learning algorithms to optimize their ad campaigns. This includes automating bid management, ad creation, and targeting.
      2. Video ads are becoming more prevalent and more impactful across the Google Ad Network, with businesses and firms able to place video ads on YouTube and other websites. Video ads can be a highly effective way to engage with users and promote products or services.
      3. As with SEO, local advertising is becoming more important on Google Ads. Businesses can use location targeting to ensure their ads are shown to users in their area.
      4. Interactive ads are becoming more prevalent on Google, with businesses able to create ads that allow users to engage with their brand in a more meaningful way. This can include quizzes, games, and other interactive elements. Unfortunately for most businesses these can take up a lot of time and may not present the level of ROI you are looking for.

       

      LinkedIn Ads Trends for 2023

      In 2023 LinkedIn is Hot! For B2B, Finance and Service based industries, we’re seeing the most success related to advertising come out of this channel. The great thing about LinkedIn Ads is the ability to target buyers and investors using job titles, companies, seniority, location and more. This gives you a high level of targeting accuracy. 

      These are the main LinkedIn Ad trends you will find this year in 2023

      1. Video ads are becoming more prevalent on LinkedIn, with businesses able to place video ads on LinkedIn feeds and other pages. While they can take more time, work and budget to get created they are more engaging and will help get you more attention on the platform.
      2. Personalization is becoming more important on LinkedIn. It generates better results. By using ad types such as Message Ads or Conversational Ads you can highly personalize your ads to each contact at scale.
      3. LinkedIn is becoming an increasingly popular platform for lead generation, with businesses able to use LinkedIn Ads to capture leads directly from the platform. Not everyone wants to leave the platform so this gives them the chance to not leave but still give their information to you if they are interested.

      Analytics Trends for 2023

      If you aren’t using Analytics in your marketing to track & measure marketing performance then you need to Start Now! The truth is most businesses, firms and organizations have this in place, but many aren’t really using it. It’s important to put this to work, but let’s look at the trends surrounding analytics below.

      Here are a few Analytics trends that are going to emerge in 2023:

      1. Companies will start paying attention to marketing analytics. Most companies aren’t really looking at their numbers at all, but that will be changing this year.
      2. A focus on aggregated KPIs will be used more to increase efficiency. Most “Best Practice” proponents talk about tracking & measuring in the most granular of ways, but while it’s great to have access to that data, it is time consuming and overwhelming to review it at that level for most businesses and the ROI just isn’t there.
      3. Google Analytics 4. Need we say more? On July 1, 2023 Google will stop processing traffic on it’s Universal Analytics product (or GA3), so you’ll have to make the switch (hopefully you already have) and will need to get used to the new GA4 interface.

       

      Be on the lookout for these digital marketing trends as they relate to your business and consider taking action on some to make better decisions, get ahead of the competition, increase traffic, leads, sales and investment.

       

      If You Are Looking to Focus on Getting More Visibility, Traffic, Leads, Sales or Have Questions, Call Us at 866-357-7422

      Or Submit your information below

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