Board Optimization - vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap

vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap 3.0
We are extremely pleased to inform the vBulletin.org community that a fully revamped version of the vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap (previously "vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator") v.3.0, is being released to all licensed vBulletin users effective immediately!

Note: The NEW vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap 3.0 replaces all previous versions of the "vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator", and includes support for all the new URL types in vBulletin 4.x.

New in the vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap v.3.0
The new sitemap alters the way data is structured in fundamental ways. Sitemap 3.0 segments different content areas into separate files, so you end up with a unique set of files per content type: forums, blogs, cms, groups, albums, members, tags, etc. In addition, the new sitemap has an extended priority feature that utilizes the built in 'weight' tool of the vBulletin XML sitemap generator for individual forums, CMS sections and articles to act as a multiplier.

We believe these changes are responsible for delivering increased returns for a number of forums from customers and testers we've been tracking. Please track your own progress via your Google Webmaster tools account, Google Analytics or Gravity Insights.

A Clean and Beautiful Interface
The new sitemap also features a clean and beautiful interface, built from the ground up. We believe it reflects the quality, precision and attention to detail placed into each aspect of this release. We are passionate about building software, and great software is beautiful inside, and out.

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

The "vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap" plugin provides an easy to use solution that allows your forum to be indexed by all major search engines, including Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Ask, faster, more completely, more effectively, and with less bandwidth consumption.

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

Originally Posted by Google's Description of GSM

https://services.google.com/inquiry/publishertools?hl=en_US
Google Sitemaps is an easy way for you to help improve your site?s representation in the Google index. It's a collaborative crawling system that enables you to communicate directly with Google. You get a smarter crawl because you can provide Google with specific information about all your web pages, such as when a page was last modified or how frequently it changes.

Note: This plugin is fully compliant with vBSEO 3.5.x versions. The current version is vBSEO 3.5.2. If you are running vBSEO, please upgrade to vBSEO 3.5.2 (or greater) before installing for optimal results.

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

Fully compatible with:

• vBulletin 3.8.x, 4.0.x, 4.1.x
• vBulletin Blogs *Optional
• vBulletin CMS *Optional
• vBSEO 3.5.2 + higher *Optional

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

• Auto-generates an XML sitemap for all of your specified forum URL types (including vBulletin Blog & CMS URLs).
• NEW! Groups forum areas into individual sitemaps grouped by section type for greater flexibility, for example:
  • sitemap_forum_X.xml.gz
  • sitemap_tags_X.xml.gz
  • sitemap_cms_X.xml.gz
• Auto-notifies Search Engines when a new sitemap is generated (optional)
• Automatically sends you a summary of the sitemap generation via email each time it is created (optional)
• Includes only publicly accessible forums and threads and includes the option of not including any specific public forums
• Allows Search Engines to find all of your forum URLs without having to spider the forum to find the links. Great for Deep Page linking!
• Allows Search Engines to find your forum URLs without having to account for query string and/or session ID information.
• Allows Search Engines to give precedence to crawling your higher priority forum pages.
• Allows Search Engines 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, Yahoo Slurp, Ask's Teoma, Bing's msnbot, and other search engine bots.
• Is 100% compatible with the static CRUs (Content Relevant URLs) used by vBSEO-enabled forums.
• Is 100% compatible with the 'Friendly URLs' offered default with vb4.x.

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

Whenever it is scheduled or invoked via the URL, this plugin will generate an XML formatted that search engines are able to read and parse. If you selected "Yes" to the Auto-notification setting, The 4 major search engines will be notified each time the sitemap is generated.

• Google Sitemap files are gzipped for space savings
• 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 -> vBSEO -> vBSEO Sitemap Settings
  

Once you successfully login, you will see a number of tabs. Here are the 4 main links:

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.

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 (Identified by the Bot's name) 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.

Search Engine Bots Activity Log
Use it to track Search engine activity on your sitemaps. This area displays how often, and what volume of pages search engines visit your site on a daily basis.

Run Generator
The 'Run Sitemap Generator' link will automatically regenerate your vBSEO Search Engine XML Site sitemaps.

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

Click "Install"
============================
Please click "Mark as Installed" to show your support for this script.

Installation, Upgrade, & Configuration
============================
Follow the installation/upgrade instructions provided in the docs/readme.html file.

Webmaster Accounts
============================
It is NOT required for you to have a Webmaster account on the search engines' websites to run the plugin, however, we recommend everyone set one up for tracking purposes.

• Google Webmaster Central. Get data about crawling, indexing and search traffic. Increase traffic to your site.
• Bing Toolbox
• https://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/

Copyright & Licensing
============================

• vBSEO Search Engine XML Sitemap 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) ? 2010 Crawlability, Inc.

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

11/11/2010 - Version 3.0 Released
Compatible with vB3.7.x+ and vB4.x+
NEW FEATURE: All CMS URLs are supported
NEW FEATURE: Sitemap Groups by content type
NEW FEATURE: Enhanced layout and design of the Sitemap Generator Control Panel
NEW FEATURE: XSL Style sheet of the xml files for easier human reading
NEW FEATURE: Extended Priority. Utilizes the built in 'weight' tool of the vBulletin XML generator for all content areas (Forums, Blogs, CMS, Albums, etc.) to act as a multiplier. (vb4 Suite only)

Other vBSEO Plugins
============================

• vBSEO - vBulletin Search Engine Optimization

vBSEO Affiliate Program
============================
We welcome you to join the vBSEO Affiliate Program.

[briansol]

Originally Posted by nick-harper

Hi,

I have installed the plugin and added below to the bottom of my .htaccess:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^((urllist|sitemap).*\.(xml|txt)(\.gz)?)$ vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=$1 [L]

When I try to go to :

domain.com/sitemap_index.xml.gz

I get a 500 Internal Error

Your server may not support mod_rewrite or isn't running apache. You will need to consult with your host to figure out what to do.

Originally Posted by Kerryanne

Hi i've installed and its working

But when i went to get my password nothing was there. Put in my own and save then went to report page and it goes login failed.

Whats wrong ?

The password is stored in plain text in the sitemap options panel.

[briansol]

Originally Posted by Valerio

Hello, I have a problem too... i tryed to solve following the comments but... nothing this is the error i have:

Vbulletin 4.1.1



Then This is my htaccess:

RewriteEngine on

#For custom 404 error page:
ErrorDocument 404 /404/404.php 

<IfModule mod_suphp.c>
 suPHP_ConfigPath /home/XXXXX
 <Files php.ini>
   order allow,deny
   deny from all
 </Files>
</IfModule>

RewriteRule ^((urllist|sitemap).*\.(xml|txt)(\.gz)?)$ vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=$1 [L]

The forum is on the main root, and vbseo folder is in root/vbseo_sitemap and the file permission is 777 on files and folders

Error Log:

~~~~ this acceding directly via url
[Thu Feb 24 17:59:18 2011] [error] [client xxx] File does not exist: /home/xxxx/public_html/500.shtml
[Thu Feb 24 17:59:18 2011] [error] [client xxx] SoftException in Application.cpp:256: File "/home/xxxxx/public_html/vbseo_sitemap/index.php" is writeable by group


~~~~ this acceding via admin cp

[Thu Feb 24 17:35:00 2011] [error] [client xxx.xxx.xxx.xx] File does not exist: /home/xxxxx/public_html/500.shtml, referer: http://www.domainname.com/admincp/index.php?do=nav

What else?

Files should never be 777. Normal files should be 644 on DSO, 755 on some cgi builds. Check with your host.

[briansol]

Originally Posted by jitsuboy

I've started from scratch and reinstalled Vbseo. I've followed the steps exactly as listed.
I'm getting this error: Not Found

The requested URL /forums/sitemap_index.xml.gz was not found on this server.

I'm typing www.mysite.com/forums/sitemap_index.xml.gz and that's the error that I get.

I'm using Filezilla. When the directions say to install to the root directory, is the root directory listed as "remote site: / "??
I've attached a picture to where the .htaccess file is located. - also, when I open the .htaccess file that i uploaded to my server, the contents read:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^((urllist|sitemap).*\.(xml|txt)(\.gz)?)$ vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=$1 [L]
- is that all it's supposed to say?

I haven't uploaded any other .htaccess files, so there shouldn't be any others interfering with this one, should there?



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

thanks for any help!

The sitemap needs to RUN via the cron/task at least once before the files will actually exist. Make sure that has happened.

You should be in the /public_html/ area, not in that directory if your forum is installed to .com/

[briansol]

Originally Posted by BOSS 302

No I don't see such an option. Where is it?

I submitted a sitemap though with 115 urls and only 1 is indexed. It's been that way for 3-4 days now. How do I get more indexed?

The sitemap will only include public forums. If your site is close for guests, there's no point in having a sitemap either as bots can't read it.

The cron is installed with the product and runs every day at 2am by default.

[briansol]

Originally Posted by Xtrigit

Jennifer clearly stated that she needed help with their sitemap generator and not vbseo.
She DID post in the wrong section of vbseo forums though, that's why she received such little information.

Sorry for jumping the gun on you there. We get a ton of people using nulled versions asking for support and that is the only thing we can really do is shut them down and not support them. If they are using nulled vbseo, they are probably using nulled vb as well, which is why we send them here. .org requires you to verify your license status. We aren't a charity and need to eat/take care of our families too.


The vbseo.com forums are only for vbseo core customers. Any sitemap troubleshooting for non-vbseo customers should be posted HERE and we'll get to answer it when we can.

Full support for the sitemap is offered to our customers only on our forums/ticket areas. Non-customers will be pointed back to this thread for support.

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by Ghostt

I am lost too. ive read all the thread 2x and searched in google for whole day for a solution for the 404 not found error for the example.com/sitemap_index.xml.gz .
Ive done all that what was described here like, check chmod 777 for all folders, if apache rewrite work, reinstalling mod, reupload .htaccess,check htaccess with blank except the rewrite code, rewritebase,check if sitemap_index.xml.gz exists in data folder=yes, ....
i need realy a solution for that error..

so do i get help here or is it hopeless for me because i triead all that things ?

[briansol]

If you're getting a 404 and

site.com/vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=sitemap_index.xml.gz
loads directly, one of the following is happening:

1) the htaccess file/ rule isn't in place
2) the server doesn't support mod_rewrite
3) The server has AllowOverride set to off, there by disabling htaccess

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by briansol

If you're getting a 404 and

site.com/vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=sitemap_index.xml.gz
loads directly, one of the following is happening:

1) the htaccess file/ rule isn't in place
2) the server doesn't support mod_rewrite
3) The server has AllowOverride set to off, there by disabling htaccess

yes this url loads correctly!
site.com/vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=sitemap_index.xml.gz
content:

URL Last Modified
http://example.com/sitemap_forum_1.xml.gz 2011-03-17T02:33:36+00:00
http://example.com/sitemap_forum_2.xml.gz 2011-03-17T02:33:36+00:00

1) the htaccess file/ rule isn't in place
the htaccess is in the root directory. also tested it with the original htacces from vbseo sitemap htaccess folder
2) the server doesn't support mod_rewrite
it is supported because other rewrite work also tested it with the testpage.html rewrite to google.com ...
3) The server has AllowOverride set to off, there by disabling htaccess
i dont know what that and how to enable. i can ask server manager to check it.

[briansol]

The file should be in your FORUM root, not necessarily your site root.

It should also come BEFORE any other rewrite rules, especailly a catch-all.

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by briansol

The file should be in your FORUM root, not necessarily your site root.

It should also come BEFORE any other rewrite rules, especailly a catch-all.

my site root is my forum root.
and how i said it also dont work with clear rewrite rule only the vbseo sitemap rewrite in it.:

RewriteEngine On
RewriteRule ^((urllist|sitemap).*\.(xml|txt)(\.gz)?)$ vbseo_sitemap/vbseo_getsitemap.php?sitemap=$1 [L]

should i set it to AllowOverride All ?