Archive Pages

  • Resolved NorfolkUK

    (@norfolkpete)


    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hi there,

    We have a hundred or so Category Archive pages, these important to the site.

    I have read bits here and there that you don’t facilitate these to be included in a site map for various reasons, this totally understandable as our site map would end up being huge.

    That said, on various forums, everyone has an opinion about whether Google even takes notice of them.

    So I thought I’d ask here, even though they are not included in our site map, does Google even see them and use them?

    Worth an ask, even if its just so I know from the people who’s plugin I use and think is pretty great 🙂

    Thanks.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • Plugin Author Sybre Waaijer

    (@cybr)

    5 years, 10 months ago

    Hello!

    Google has an amazing crawler that does most of the sitemap’s work for you. If anything remotely resembles a link, they’ll follow and crawl it–we’ve learned that accidentally, since Google indexed example URLs from our shortlink service, which instigated “Advanced Query Protection”. You can learn all about Google’s crawler here: https://www.google.com/search/howsearchworks/crawling-indexing/.

    Most themes automatically link to all archives bound to a displayed post in the post’s header, footer, breadcrumbs, or sidebar–we recommend implementing at least one of those.

    With that in mind and well-implemented: Yes, Google sees and indexes archives–whether or not they’re included in the sitemap. To learn more about the sitemap, see their official documentation here https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/156184.

    Do I need a sitemap?
    If your site’s pages are properly linked, Google can usually discover most of your site. Even so, a sitemap can improve the crawling of larger or more complex sites, or more specialized files.

    Ultimately, the sitemap is supplementary to internal linking, and should only become a requirement when you (for any reason) can’t properly integrate internal linking. Or, when you have a Google News connected website.

    I hope this helps! Cheers 🙂

    • This reply was modified 5 years, 10 months ago by Sybre Waaijer. Reason: clarity, reordered paragraphs
    Thread Starter NorfolkUK

    (@norfolkpete)

    5 years, 10 months ago

    Thanks for the prompt reply Sybre, it’s always good to hear an informed opinion based on your experience.

    I had heard a while ago, site maps are supplementary and Google has a way of finding things you do and don’t want it too, whether you like it or not.

    Our site is a holiday property site and we are constantly improving it hence using our category archives. There of course created by WP and with one template, all can look good and be used.

    We link to them throughout our site. A never ending job as you will know.

    Thanks for your time and reassurance. Pete 🙂

    Plugin Author Sybre Waaijer

    (@cybr)

    5 years, 10 months ago

    No problem, Pete!

    I hope you’ll enjoy the new update. Feel free to shoot us a new support topic if you have any more questions 🙂 Cheers!

    Thread Starter NorfolkUK

    (@norfolkpete)

    5 years, 10 months ago

    Yep, just spotted the update…its a big one for sure.

    Updating a site and checking it out. Sounds great…many thanks 🙂

    Take care and stay safe.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

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