vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator for vBulletin 3.6.x, 3.5.x & 3.0.x

vBSEO Google/Yahoo Sitemap Generator - vBulletin 3.5.x
Download vB 3.8.x Compatible Version Here
Download vB 3.7.x Compatible Version Here
Download vB 3.6.x Compatible Version Here
Download vB 3.0.x Compatible Version Here

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
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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.

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


Google Webmaster Accounts
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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

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• 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
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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
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(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

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

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

We welcome you to join the vBSEO Affiliate Program.

[DefenceTalk]

Originally Posted by iojam

Griffin80

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....&postcount=275

Thats pretty interesting and freaked up at the same time. Google creates something and then they are not sure if it is really going to work. :disappointed: Well, go ahead use it, if it works it works; if it doesn't, tough luck.

Are there any "success" stories of sites using google sitemaps?

[rike-online]

Hi,

question:

since yesterday we've found crazy URLs in our BOT Activity Log...

archive/index.php/t-%3Cwbr/f-36.html
archive/index.php/t-<wbr/f-12.html
archive/index.php/t-<wbr/f-56.html

What's the hell is this??? Other entries are okay like:

archive/index.php/f-25.html
archive/index.php/f-58.html

Where do the "<wbr" -entries come from? Any hints?

Thanks,
rike

[iojam]

rike-online,

most likely there are links of this kind somewhere (either at your site or external backlink).

[funinthesun]

Ok, I've pointed my browser to the url that I gave google and it opens a download box (I assume this is correct) but I am still getting the error when I submit to google. They crawled the sitemap again an hour ago and it says sitemap general http error:

Error Detail
HTTP error The server returned an error when we tried to access the URL provided. Please make sure the Sitemap URL is correct and resubmit your Sitemap.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong?

[iojam]

Are you using the latest version of vBSEO Sitemap Generator?
Please PM me your sitemap URL.

[MRGTB]

Couple of questions

I use vB 3.0.9 here.

I upload the folder to my forums folder and Chmod the folder called Data to 777. I opened opened up the .htaccess file in my forums folder and added the code. I then added the command to Scheduled Task manager to run every 2 hours.

I then opened up the vbseo_sm_config30x.php file and changed the number 1 to 0 in the:

// Run from vB Scheduled Tasks Manager ONLY
'vbseo_sm_crononly' => '0',

I then tested it by manually running the Task Manager and all went well. I even got an email telling me it was generated.


Here is were I'm confused. It looks like the files were generated in the data folder, not in the forum folder. Is that right?

Also, were do you get this site map code from that you have to enter in the vbseo_sm_config30x.php file. Do you have to register with Google and Yahoo to there sitemap to get the code you enter there.

Also what URL if I do, do I submit, as the files being generated are in the data folder, not the forums folder

-------------------------------
EDIT

Err, I take that back: Its here: http://www.garybolton.co.uk/vb/vbseo_sitemap/

But were do I get the code from though?

[iojam]

Gary Bolton,

Here is were I'm confused. It looks like the files were generated in the data folder, not in the forum folder. Is that right?

Yes. Files are physically located in "vbseo_sitemap/data/" folder, but are accesses from your forums root (using the rewriterules you added to .htaccess)

Also, were do you get this site map code from that you have to enter in the vbseo_sm_config30x.php file. Do you have to register with Google and Yahoo to there sitemap to get the code you enter there.

It is not required to register at Google to use Sitemap Generator. The 'vbseo_sm_runcode' setting in vbseo_sm_config30x.php just allows you to restrict access to "vbseo_sitemap/" interface.

Also what URL if I do, do I submit, as the files being generated are in the data folder, not the forums folder

The sitemap URLs to submit link to your forums root:
yourforumsroot/sitemap_index.xml.gz
yourforumsroot/sitemap_1.xml.gz
etc

[MRGTB]

so do I just enter a password that I want to use for access? Which can be any I choose. Should that be entered?

Also, should this URL be sumited to google.

http://www.garybolton.co.uk/vb/sitemap_index.xml.gz

And which one should I submit to Yahoo. The same as above?

[iojam]

so do I just enter a password that I want to use for access? Which can be any I choose. Should that be entered?

That is correct.

Also, should this URL be sumited to google.

http://www.garybolton.co.uk/vb/sitemap_index.xml.gz
AND http://www.garybolton.co.uk/vb/sitemap_1.xml.gz

And which one should I submit to Yahoo.

http://www.garybolton.co.uk/vb/sitemap.txt.gz
(make sure that you have Yahoo Sitemap generation option enabled AND have the correct rewriterule from the latest Sitemap generator in your .htaccess

[MRGTB]

I added the Rewrite rules in the .htaccess file in my forums folder that you are told to add in your instuctions at the top of this page.

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

The options are set to "1" for Yahoo. Which is YES I'm presuming

Did that but Yahoo gives a 404 error