vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator
 

Note: Version 2.5 replaces all previous versions of the vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator, and now includes support for all the new URL types in vBulletin 3.8.x.

Overview
============================

Providing Google, Yahoo, Ask sitemaps is an essential step towards improving your forums.

The "vBSEO Google Sitemaps" plugin provides a solution that allows your forum to be indexed by the Google (and also Yahoo and Ask) search engines faster, more completely, more effectively, and with less bandwidth consumption.

The ultimate goal is to help you achieve more web traffic for your forum.


Note: This plugin is fully compliant with vBSEO 3.x version. The current version is vBSEO 3.2. However, if you are running vBSEO, please upgrade to vBSEO 3.2 or greater before installing.

Compatibility
============================


Fully compatible with:

• vBulletin 3.0.x, 3.5.x, 3.6.x, 3.7.x and 3.8.x
• vBulletin Blogs 1.0.x and 2.0.x *Optional
• vBSEO 2.x, 3.x *Optional

What does it do?
============================

• Auto-generates a Google XML sitemap for all of your specified forum URL types (including vBulletin Blog URLs).
• Auto-generates a Yahoo text sitemap for all of your specified forum URL types.
• Auto-notifies Google when a new sitemap is generated.
• Automatically sends you a summary of the sitemap generation via email each time it is created.
• Includes only publicly accessible forums and threads.
• Allows Google/Yahoo to find all of your forum URLs without having to spider the forum to find the links.
• Allows Google/Yahoo to find your forum URLs without having to account for query string and/or session ID information.
• Allows Google to give precedence to crawling your higher priority forum pages.
• Allows Google to give precedence to crawling your forum pages that change more frequently.
• Allows you to conserve bandwidth by more efficiently facilitating the crawling processes for GoogleBot and Yahoo Slurp.
• Is 100% compatible with the static CRUs (Content Relevant URLs) used by vBSEO-enabled forums.

How does it work?
============================


Whenever it is scheduled or invoked via the URL, this plugin will generate both the Google XML formatted and the Yahoo text formatted sitemaps. If you selected "Yes" to the Google auto-notification setting, Google will be notified each time the sitemap is generated. The Yahoo sitemap must be manually submitted to http://submit.search.yahoo.com/free/request/.

• Google Sitemap files are gzipped
• Forum and thread pages are listed with pagination (i.e. all pages for each forums/thread are included in the sitemap)
• Maximum Priority is set for Sticky threads.
• Optimization for sitemap generation on large forums.

Automated Reporting Tool
============================

The vBSEO Sitemap includes a report tool, allowing you to track your progress. To access your reports enter the following URL:

http://www.example.com/forums/vbseo_sitemap/

NOTE: Replace "http://www.example.com/forums/" with the full URL to your vB forum root.


You will be required to login by providing your "Sitemap Interface Access Password" from your vBSEO Sitemap settings in:

• vBulletin Admin CP (for 3.5.x/3.6.x/3.7.x/3.8.x users) OR
• vbseo_sitemap.php configuration file (for 3.0.x users) located in the vbseo_sitemap directory in your forum root.

Once you successfully login, you will be provided with a list of 'Useful Links'. Here are the 4 main links:

Show Reports List
The 'Show Reports List' link will display a report of each time your vBSEO Sitemap generator executed, including the (1) date, (2) run time, (3) total URLs included, and (4) and change in # of URLs included from the last generation.

Each vBSEO Sitemap generation record will include a (1) "View details" and (2) "Remove record" link. The "View Details" link shows more detailed information about the sitemap generated. The "Remove record" will permanently delete the record from your reports.

Show Sitemap Downloads Log
The 'Show Sitemap Downloads Log' link will display a report of each time your vBSEO Sitemap was downloaded by either a search engine (GoogleBot or Yahoo) or by another user agent (i.e. Web browser, etc.).

The report includes the (1) date, (2) name of sitemap file downloaded, (3) Bot, (4) IP address of the downloader, and the (5) User-agent.

Each vBSEO Sitemap download record will include a "Remove record" link which will permanently delete the record from your reports.

Run Sitemap Generator
The 'Run Sitemap Generator' link will automatically regenerate your Google and Yahoo sitemaps.

Your Forums Homepage
The 'Your Forums Homepage' link is a quick link back to your forum homepage.

Additional Links
Additional links to various other related SEO resources are also included.


Click "Install"
============================

Please click "Install" to show your support for this script. :)


Installation & Configuration for vB 3.5.x, 3.6.x, 3.7.x and 3.8.x as a Plugin
============================

Follow the installation/upgrade instructions provided in the docs/readme.html file.


Google Webmaster Accounts
============================

It is NOT required for you to have a Google Webmaster account to run the vBulletin Google Sitemaps plugin. If you decide to setup an account for testing purposes you can do so here:
http://www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/login?sourceid=gsm&subid=us-et-about2


Copyright & Licensing

============================

• vBSEO Google Sitemaps plugin is copyright protected by Crawlability Inc.
• You are free to download and install this plugin on any vBulletin forum for which you hold a valid vB license.
• Unauthorized distribution of any code and/or documentation, whole or in part, included here is strictly prohibited.
• In addition, the following copyright notice must be maintained.

vBSEO(TM) ? 2005-2009 Crawlability, Inc.


Revision History
============================

02/22/2009 - Version 2.5 Released

NEW FEATURE: Blog tags URLs are included.
NEW FEATURE: Social Group Discussion URLs are included.
NEW FEATURE: Smart Priority applied for the following URL types

1. Show Post
2. Member Profiles
3. Forum Display
4. Poll Results
5. Blog Entries
6. Member Profile Albums
7. Social Groups
8. Social Groups Discussions
9. Social Group Pictures
10. Tags
11. Blog Tags

UPDATE: Compatible with vBulletin 3.8.x. Includes the following updated settings:

1. Priority Range - Show Post
2. Priority Range - Member Profiles
3. Priority Range - Forum Display
4. Priority Range - Poll Results
5. Priority Range - Show Thread
6. Priority Range - Blog Entries
7. Priority Range - Member Profile Albums
8. Priority Range - Social Groups
9. Priority Range - Social Group Pictures
10. Priority Range - Tags

Fix: Social Group Discussion database error is fixed.

Upgrade Instructions
============================

(1) Follow the installation/upgrade instructions provided in the docs/readme.html file.

(2) For versions of vBulletin 3.6.x only: Open "Schedule Manager" in the vBulletin Admin Control Panel (admincp); Remove existing scheduled task for Sitemap Generator if you have one.
Note: The new task will be automatically setup when you import the XML product file.

Other vBSEO Plugins

============================

• vBSEO - vBulletin Search Engine Optimization
  
• vBSEO Conditional Signatures for vBulletin

vBSEO Affiliate Program
============================

We welcome you to join the vBSEO Affiliate Program.

first install thank you :D

Thank you. Installed.

Installed THANK YOU!

Question whats the easiest way to remove all the reports? I have 579 pages of reports and removing them 10 reports at a time is going to take forever. :D

thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks
installed

There's an autoprune feature for trimming reports. pop open the config file and set a cut off days.

ooweeyyyy! iv been waiting for this excellent mod! thanks!

Thanks :D

Thank you, installed and nominated :)

thanks!

/me installs

good for seo, thanks

thanks

Thanks for the update

thanks! ;)

<3 Thanks :D

thanks

My total URLs dropped from 16,617 to 10,493; and the sizes of the sitemaps jumped from under 100Kb and just over 73Kb, to a massive 1,960Kb and 559Kb.

I haven't changed any settings and the sitemap last ran just over 3 hours ago.

in which folder i uploaded .htaccess files

Thank you for 2.2

Installed.

Thanks

I tryied to run it from Scheduled Task list but got this

In logs there is an Error

Second try was successful.

Thanks. A little problem I have. After running sitemap, sitemap is successfully created but with warnings in vbseo_sitemap_functions.php.

etc.

Thanks:)

Thanks for updates, installed

Thanks for update !

I've just run a report on my board with albums, groups and tags but it's not picking up on any of them. Have I missed a setting or could this be a problem?

[SECTION START] albums [-35,453.9Kb mem used] [30s (+0s)]
[SECTION START] groups [-35,454.2Kb mem used] [30s (+0s)]
[SECTION START] tags [-35,454.5Kb mem used] [30s (+0s)]

Thanks for your good work!

Hugh

*installed*
many thx vBseo Team :)

You need to chmod 666 vbseo_sitemap/data folder and all files inside that folder

Same here....

2008-07-07 15:08 27.75 s 109,554 -98,631

its that normal?

do I have to remove the previous install? (from the 3.6 forum)

<font color="red">* LightInClouds installed</font>

Thanks a lot :D

R-D, Bacteria1,

there was an issue fixed when some URLs not visible to guests where included in sitemap. There is no sense in including them though since SE bots are unable to access them.

voter,

you should run it from vbseo_sitemap/ interface instead of scheduled tasks manager.

Philosopher,

make sure that you have setup permissions correctly.

hugh_,

don't you have any of those URLs listed in sitemap?

Installed.
Im a newbie in seo, this is my first install of anny site map generator system.
I have a small problem:
http://img370.imageshack.us/img370/3...3785kc8.th.jpg
When i click the url Your Google Sitemap Index URL: ... ,
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/6...6371ao7.th.jpg

Is it correct?
If not, where can i change this?

And second question:
In Scheduled Tasks Manager, what i have set in Product place? vBulletin or vBSEO :: Sitemap generator.

PS.
I have .htaccess in my domain root, its from joomla. I have also uploaded the .htaccess form this modyfication package into the domain_root/forum/ directory.

I have one bug.

The copyright notice does not show. Which is fine by me. LOL But I want to honor your wishes. Where should it show? how to fix?

I also was wondering where this config is? So I can auto prune reports. Thank You

Edit: Fixed copyright in footer. Any help with auto prune would be greatly appreciated.

LoRdGd,

did you create sitemap in vbseo_sitemap/ interface?


EvilJohn,

it's displayed in the footer in vbseo_sitemap/ interface.

Config file is vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_sitemap_config.php

I don`t know what you mean ;-)
I have folder root/forum/vbseo_sitemap/data/ with chmod 777 in my server.
Inside this i have lot of logs, and 6 .gz files.
http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/103...8058fx4.th.jpg
I can download this file after i have set the link here:
http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/3...8fc6ri5.th.png
But, when i trying to see my sitemap using a link http://www.arachnea.org/forum/vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=$1
It says there is no sitemap :(
I have`nt sitemap_index.xml in my forum root, only sitemap_index.xml.gz in forum/vbseo_sitemap/data/

I have runned sitemap generator many times, afret few seconds it says "Sitemap has been created. Click here to return [4,190.3Kb mem used] [42s (+5s)]"
But i cant find it :/

Maybe i understand something wrong and everything is OK? :)

works super fine with 3.7.2 pl1

Not sure why that matters.

But thanks for the release vBSEO.

Thank you, fixed prune value in config. Well, I went ahead and gave you 2nd billing to Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd, in my forum footer.
Copyright ?2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.?
vBSEO(TM) ? 2005-2008 Crawlability, Inc.

You made out on that deal. LOL. Thanks for a nice mod, and good support. I noticed almost immediately Google, Yahoo, bots were swarming my forums. :D

Leo Brazil clicks Install.

Sweet.