Whenever we look around at other websites, we tend to evaluate our own in comparison. Many times we see something we like and try to see how we can incorporate something similar in the current phase of whatever site, we are building upgrading or revamping. Sometimes we might be unsure of how to achieve just that look we want to portray. There are so many different languages we need to use on any one website that the mix and match aspect can be quite a load to bear.
There are a few files that can be of great assistance to you and, which are pretty simple to both use and understand.
One thing you really need to be viewed on the web is to be seen on the web. To ensure this you need to make sure that the search both find you and index you correctly. For this you need a site map. This file needs to be listed in your root file as a “sitemap.xml”. You need to place this Sitemap.xml between your
<head>
<link rel=”sitemap” type=”application/xml” title=”Sitemap” href=”sitemap.xml” />
<head>
You can download the way to set this up from Google or sitemap.org. The sitemap basically tells your visiting search engine spider where to find items and what is there and the links around the website. Make sure all your files are properly tagged including all your photos, which need to be also tagged in the alt format.
The Robots.txt file is another one you need to include to make sure that your private files are not included in the search engines listings. You can include the no follow rules in your Meta tags but these do not have to be followed.
It is important to have this file as if you don’t; you are basically giving permission for all the files to be listed to the general public. In addition you need to add the no-index Meta tag in your Meta tag area in any file you do not want listed.
<meta name=”robots” content=”noindex” />
Create your robots.txt file in a text editor and call it Robots.txt. This should be placed in the root directory of your website.
Now give it the instructions you want it to follow.
You would probably not want it to follow into that member’s only area or in the private area.
These are basic, e.g. Disallow: /members/. Alternatively, Disallow: /private/
A third file you will want to have is your favicon.ico
This is the tiny little image that is displayed on your browser bar, which is an indication as to which site you are on and can be included as a basic logo branding of your website. These are simple to make and should really be taken into account in the overall workup of your website branding. There is a current wave that can make these active and moving, which can attract attention with the movement. They require a special file and need to be incorporated in your root directory. These files need to be one of two sizes 16pixels by 16 pixels or 32 pixels by 32 pixels. This needs to be placed in your <head> of all your html files.
<head>
<link rel=”shortcut icon” type=”image/vnd.yoursitename.icon” href=”favicon.ico” />
<head>
