Google Sitemaps and SiteMap Generator (Site Map)
for Miva Merchant Store Owners
Google recently announced a site map program (BETA) called Google Sitemaps to help get all your pages indexed and changes to pages updated more quickly.  Along with this program is the Google sitemap generator which helps you create a special xml file for submitting to Google. Unfortunately, it requires that Python2 be installed on your server and does not index Miva Merchant's dynamic pages. However, there are alternatives.
Google has a list of other third-party programs that can help you create the proper sitemap xml file. For sites with just static pages (no .htaccess rewrites), I recommend this Google sitemap generator from Enarion.net. It has a ton of cool features, such as excluding certain file types. It also works with cron to automatically submit your sitemap file to Google at a specified interval. It requires PHP, so you should check with your host to see if they support both PHP and cron. I use it, and it is phenomenal; it updates my xml file, then resubmits it on the first of every month. A couple days later, and my listings are updated and new pages indexed (results vary from site to site).
There is also a windows-based, Google sitemap program that works with dynamic Miva Merchant pages, regular static pages, or pages using .htaccess rewrites either manually or with a module like SEO links. It has a file type include feature and a url exclude feature. After it indexes all your pages, you can tell it to automatically generate the sitemap.xml file, upload it to your server, and submit it to Google. You can also manually submit or resubmit it to Google by logging in to your account. I have been using this for my client's stores.
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My clients with maintenance contracts have their sitemap files created and resubmitted every month. I have seen excellent results with the Google Sitemaps program for both myself and my clients. You should definitely start submitting a Google sitemap today.
I have a service in which a search engine ranking report is prepared. There is now also an option to have your Google sitemap file created and submitted. For more information, see the Search Engine Ranking Report for Miva Merchant Stores service.
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