How to Upload ITI Digital’s Dynamic Sitemap for Google Places and Events for DMOs

Many Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) do not have dedicated web managers, making it essential that uploading and managing dynamic sitemaps be as simple as possible. ITI Digital’s dynamic sitemaps for Google Places and events are designed to help DMOs maximize their SEO potential by ensuring that search engines index dynamic content like local events and business listings.

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide for uploading and managing your dynamic sitemap, tailored specifically for DMOs that may not have a technical web management team.

What is a Dynamic Sitemap for Events & Places | Overview 

A dynamic sitemap automatically updates with new and changing content URLs, ensuring search engines index your site’s latest information. For DMOs, this includes critical information like:

• Local business listings (Google Places)
• Upcoming and ongoing events
  
  

ITI Digital generates these dynamic sitemaps specifically for the Places and Events links to make it easy for DMOs to keep their content up-to-date without manual intervention.

Guide for Uploading Your Dynamic Sitemap | Step-by-Step 

1. Retrieve the Dynamic Sitemap File or URL from ITI Digital

• Once ITI Digital has created the dynamic sitemap for your Google Places and Events, you will be provided with either a sitemap file (typically named sitemap-iti.xml). 
  
  

2. Locate Your Website's Root Directory (For Custom or Non-Managed Websites)

• For websites that do not have a dedicated content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Shopify, you will need to upload the sitemap file to the website’s root directory.
• What is the root directory? The root directory is the primary folder that stores your website’s files. It can typically be accessed through your hosting provider’s control panel or via an FTP tool like FileZilla.

Steps to Upload the Sitemap to the Root Directory:

• A. Access your website hosting panel: Most DMO websites use hosting providers like GoDaddy, Bluehost, or WP Engine. Log in to your hosting account.
• B. Locate the file manager: In the hosting dashboard, find the File Manager option. This allows you to manage the files that make up your website.
• C. Navigate to the root directory: Look for the public_html folder. This is where your website’s core files are stored. USE CAUTION updating the website's core files. These may alter your website availability and layout. 
• D. Upload the sitemap file: Once you’re in the public_html folder, click on the Upload button and select the dynamic sitemap file provided by ITI Digital.

Once uploaded, the sitemap will URL link to where your sitemap is hosted, e.g., https://yourdestinationwebsite.com/sitemap-iti.xml.

Tip: If ITI Digital provides you with a URL instead of a file, you can skip this step and move directly to submitting the URL to Google Search Console.

CMS Platform-Specific Instructions

3. Submitting Your Dynamic Sitemap to Google Search Console

Step 1: Log in to Google Search Console

• Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google that helps you monitor how well your website is performing in search. If your website is not already set up in Google Search Console, follow these steps:
  • Go to Google Search Console.
  • Click on Add a Property and follow the instructions to verify ownership of your website.

Step 2: Navigate to the Sitemaps Section

• Once you have logged in and verified your site, go to the Sitemaps option in the left-hand menu. This is where you will submit your dynamic sitemap to Google. 

Step 3: Enter the Sitemap URL

• In the Add a new sitemap field, enter the URL of your sitemap (e.g., https://yourdestinationwebsite.com/sitemap.xml).
• If you uploaded the file manually using your hosting’s file manager, enter the URL where the file is located on your website e.g. https://yourdestinationwebsite.com/sitemap-iti.xml.

Step 4: Submit and Monitor

• After you submit it, Google will start crawling the sitemap. It may take a few days for all content to be indexed.
• Please don't hesitate to return to this section to check if there are any errors or issues with the sitemap indexing.

What Happens Next?

Once your sitemap has been submitted, you can track its performance in the Google Search Console. There, you can see how many pages have been indexed, if there are any errors, and get insights into how Google interacts with your dynamic content.

FAQs

Q1: I don’t have access to the root directory. What should I do?

• Contact your web hosting provider’s support team. They can either help you upload the file or provide instructions on gaining access to the root directory.

Q2: How often should I update the sitemap?

• If ITI Digital provides a dynamic sitemap, you don’t need to update it manually—it updates automatically as you apply changes to your Events or Places database in ITI Digital's DXP dashboard. 

Q3: Do I need to re-submit the sitemap to Google Search Console after each update?

• No. Google Search Console will detect updates automatically for dynamic sitemaps provided by ITI Digital. However, if you manually update the sitemap file, it’s a good idea to resubmit it to prompt faster indexing.

Conclusion

For DMOs without web managers, uploading and maintaining a dynamic sitemap may seem intimidating. However, by following this step-by-step guide, you can ensure that your Google Places and Events listings are indexed by search engines and visible to potential visitors. With ITI Digital’s dynamic sitemap solution, your content will stay updated and optimized for search, even without deep technical expertise.

ITI Digital’s support team is always available to help guide you through the process if you need further assistance.