Author Topic: Images on Google search don't link back to my site (Read 4115 times)

RuthBlack · « **on:** February 12, 2015, 16:46 »

I've just been checking whether my recent uploads were appearing in a Google image search and have discovered that when I click "visit page" instead of linking back to my site quite a few of them link to the Symbiostock site map with the error "This XML file does not appear to have any style information associated with it. The document tree is shown below."

I've tried to do a bit of research to see what could be causing this and it seems to have started at the end of September last year and only affects images where I have changed the image title after uploading but before initially publishing.

I've no idea how to fix this and would appreciate any suggestions (I did post this on the Symbiostock forum but I haven't seen much activity there for quite a while)

Thanks very much

chromaco · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2015, 16:55 »

Possible solution- If you processed your uploads to post instead of drafts and then changed the title or slug later on, the site map will not match your product pages. This will change when a new site map is generated and google finds it again. You might want to send Google a new site map. In the meantime you are probably better off processing to drafts and then posting once you change the info.

More than likely the sitemap that Google has was what was automatically generated by the theme and when changes were made the location of the pages changed and Google can no longer find them. I believe Leo's site map generator automatically sends upon posting. I bet this is what is happening.

RuthBlack · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2015, 18:00 »

Hi Chromaco

I always process to draft and then make any changes before publishing/posting so I don't think that is the problem. I know next to nothing about sitemaps but I thought that they were automatically re-submitted every so often, when I look at the Google Webmaster Tools page it says that the sitemap (symbiostock_image_sitemap_1.xml) was processed at today's date.

chromaco · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2015, 18:18 »

Ok, I know Leo checks symbiostock.org frequently. I would go there and ask. I bet he can offer some help with this one. Is it all of your images or just some of them?

RuthBlack · « **Reply #4 on:** February 13, 2015, 02:44 »

It's only the images where I changed the title, and it only started happening with images uploaded since the end of September, so at least it's not all of them.

I've already posted on the Symbiostock forum, so hopefully Leo will be along soon.

Thanks for your help anyway

chromaco · « **Reply #5 on:** February 14, 2015, 00:26 »

Hi Ruth. I tried to find your post on the symbiostock forum but couldn't find it. I'm interested in knowing the answer. I haven't actually checked to find out about my images on Google like you have but I have changed some titles. Maybe you could repose the question over there?

klsbear · « **Reply #6 on:** February 14, 2015, 00:36 »

Ruth, I found your post over on the forum Cascoly established when the Symbiostock.org forum was diabled. Leo has the .org forum up and running again. Try posting over there to see if anyone has an answer. Leo keeps an eye on that forum too.

Leo · « **Reply #7 on:** February 14, 2015, 00:39 »

I had looked on symbiostock.org earlier and didn't see a thread, and usually I try to stay out of MSG.

I did a little image search like this in google:

site:ruthblackphotography.com/

I set the filter for the last week.

I couldn't find any that link to your sitemap.

I've never seen an instance where an image links to a sitemap. Its unusual that google would do something like that! I would say (not infallibly) it will probably resolve itself over the course of a month or so.

Your top image results, by the way, are very yummy! Your a great food photographer.

Question: Is the "no style information" actually an error? Usually that is just a notification that there is no styling attributed to the sitemap.

RuthBlack · « **Reply #8 on:** February 14, 2015, 07:48 »

Thanks Karen, I didn't realise that the old forum was back up again.

Leo, thanks for the nice comments. I've just done the same search and when I click on "visit page" every image just shows the sitemap. I've tried using Firefox and Internet Explorer on my pc, and also my son's laptop and still get the same result.

I've attached a couple of screenprints of what I see. If anyone else could spare the time to try the same search I'd be really grateful.

Thanks very much

RuthBlack · « **Reply #9 on:** February 15, 2015, 10:44 »

Leo, just wanted to add that the image I attached in my previous post now links ok to my site, but newer images (from a couple of days ago) which I didn't change the title of do link to the sitemap, (as do some older ones).

So, not really sure what is causing the problem at all now.

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Author Topic: Images on Google search don't link back to my site (Read 4115 times)

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