Hi Jose,
Actually, we have two key aspects that improve/handle SEO.
1) We integrate with Google XML Sitemap plugin, so as listings expire, we refresh the sitemap to remove the page from the map. This means that Google won’t try and crawl it anymore and get a signal the page is no longer available (in the right way)
2) We now integrate with Yoast SEO as of 3.2.1, which allows us to have better SEO signals on ads that we used to lack.
I don’t think the 404 problem you note above is an issue for AWPCP anymore (and hasn’t for a long time)
Thread Starter
Jose C
(@jcervantes28)
Hello AWPCP,
Thank you for the response.
So if I understand correctly, at this point, as of V. 3.2.1, we can now use either Google XML Sitemap or Yoast SEO?
I used to use Google XML sitemap, and know it allows for more control over the sitemap, but discontinued its use and now use Yoast as I preferred to minimize my plugin count.
Please confirm. Look forward to installing this soon.
Thank you for the help,
Jose
I would suggest using both–Yoast’s SEO allows us to override SEO data on each page, but Google XML Sitemap is the only plugin we integrate with for XML sitemaps. I know Yoast supports that, but we didn’t add the functionality through there.
Thread Starter
Jose C
(@jcervantes28)
If I use both, will I need to submit the Google XML site map to Google? And if so, do I delete the site maps already submitted by the Yoast plugin?
Not sure about the complexities of having two sitemap plugins, and two sitemap submits.
I realize this is beginning to be off topic but would appreciate your thoughts…I can then research further.
Thank you for the help
Jose
Hi Jose,
You should use Google’s Webmaster tools to make your sitemap XML visible to Google, but they will crawl it at whatever frequency your sitemap dictates (and whatever they feel like).
I don’t think it’s a problem and I believe you can disable Yoast’s if you need to.
Thread Starter
Jose C
(@jcervantes28)
Hi AWPCP,
Do you think I should erase the current sitemaps that have been submitted via Yoast?
I guess I am concerned because don’t know what deleting a sitemap means–if it will take weeks or months for Google to index the new sitemap/pages/posts/etc.
Jose
Hi Jose,
No, you can just shut off one sitemap (Yoast) and then tell Google XML to regenerate theirs and things should get crawled by Google shortly. There’s no way to force that, unfortunately.
Thread Starter
Jose C
(@jcervantes28)
So I am assuming they have the same address, I think
website.com/sitemap_index.xml
Great! I will try that and install Classifieds…looking forward to it!
Thanks again for the help.
Jose
