Header Information, SiteMaps & Reciprocal Linking
I also wanted to note that I've redone all metatags and header information to include Robot direction, Keywords (exclusive to each page only), Expiration, Revisit-After, and finally, Distribution. In an issue of Practical Ecommerce last Fall, you talked about the importance of Site Maps. I immediately posted one on our server, and submitted it to all search engines. Is there a benefit to referencing this in my header? In other words, is there a way you can instruct crawlers in your header info to seek out that sitemap, or is that not advised? Just curious. Now when I say I've redone header info, I'm referring to my pages I design in Adobe GoLive. That doesn't include my pages in Miva (our shopping cart system). I have the option of using a "global header" in miva and have put all header information there excluding keywords which, I think, should be specific to the product. I have over 400 products...a bit of a daunting task! I removed Reciprocal Links at the bottom of each page. This poses an interesting question though. I've been contaced by numerous "Online Marketing Companies" who swear by the power of reciprocal linking. What is the final word here? Does it help in your SE placement, or is that all bogus? Is there really any benefit to making a links page at all then?
