I submitted a sitemap.xml to google via webmaster tools and within a day or so the 3 pages in the sitemap were indexed. Then I updated the sitemap to include another 11 pages, mostly blog posts but also a couple of archive pages. Now only 1 page is indexed Is this because I increased the number of pages too quickly? I would like to resubmit the sitemap to include some more blog posts, will this help or hurt things? Also should I include the custom 404 page in the sitemap? Thanks for any information regarding sitemaps.

Hi gadgetgirl.

 

No the sitemap is normally fine, webmaster tools will say if there is a read issue, the only theory cap size is around the 50,000 page count per sitemap. It will take time to get 100% of the sitemap into the indexed pages list. I would advise against including the custom 404 page, it's not ideal to index it (but someone else step in if i'm wrong on this). As to pick ups and drop off of indexed pages it can be for various reasons. If the sitemap is read ok then just play the waiting game and watch the 'html imporvements' section for duplicate stuff.

Thanks for the replies. The second sitemap I submitted used clean urls for the inner pages. I've read conflicting comments on whether or not they will be indexed so I have changed them to the 'messy' urls with parameters. The pages have at most 2 parameters so I believe that should be okay. It's not a new site, the blog part is about a year old.

 

HTML improvements showed duplicate title so I've changed the title to dynamically be set to the blog post title and I'll sit and wait.

 

Any suggestions on the best way to get back links besides asking people? Thanks again

Keep patience, your website pages will index soon!