Replace standard links with shorter links which have a better chance of being indexed by
search engines. This includes improved links in your merchant.mvc and the module
generated sitemap files. The sitemap file generation is the most common usage of this
module, however, you may find the link replacements within merchant.mvc of benefit too.
Features:
- Remove the store_code portion of the link urls when only one store is in the domain
- Implement rollover bullets in the left category column
- Link text below the thumbnail image, e.g. click to enlarge
- Generate static html sitemap files linked to all of your categories and products
Feature Details. Shorter URLs Convert your links to shorter URLs with this module if
you are using the OpenUI. You can use URLs
which are similar to the original URL links, but with the
Store_Code removed if you only have one miva merchant store in
your domain. This shortened URL is swapped with
the original URL links for the category names in the
category tree and the product names on the various list
pages and category pages. These shorter (modified URLs)
can be indexed by most search engines. By using this
method, you don't need an external handler file and will
still get the store indexed. You have the option of turning
this feature off if your version of the OpenUI has the same
ability built in. If you have the ability to re-write the
.htaccess file on your domain, you can use directory
style links within the merchant.mvc pages.
Rollovers Optionally adds rollover bullets to the left of the category
names in the category column. These bullets contain links in
the standard URL format for Merchant so that each category
has two links on the storefront. As an added feature,
if the store is a single store in the domain, the URL is optimized
for search engines by removing the redundant store code which has
been found to hinder search engines. This optimized URL is used
with the optional bullets in the category column and also
with the thumbnails on category pages.
Thumb Text Optionally adds text or image below the thumb on category
pages, e.g. Click to Enlarge or More Info.
Emporium Plus currently has this module installed and you can
see how the category and product links have been swapped for
better search engine indexing.
Site Map Files The Swap Link module can further enhance your chances of
search engine ranking by producing static sitelink*.htm files
which list all of your categories and products with the
shorter links. This feature works with both MMUI and OpenUI stores.
This feature is configurable to
allow you to optimize the sitelink pages with meta tags, key word rich text, etc. The site link pages are generated
very quickly through admin. You can optionally include the
price and a brief description of the item. The brief
description uses either the Flexible Product Description
module pseudofield called "brief" or the first 100
characters of the full product description. As long as
you don't go overboard with your narrative (top of page)
text, each page will be less than 100K. If multiple pages
are required to include your whole catalog, a link to the
next page is included on each page. If you have the ability
to re-write the .htaccess file on your domain, you can use
directory style links on the sitelink pages. See the install
doc for more information on this feature. If you are using the
Search Friendly Link module, you can optionally make
the sitelink page links compatible with that format. You
can even include the affiliate link. The limitations listed
below do not apply to this paragraph.
Limitations:
OpenUI look and feel only.
If you have replaced the standard layouts (product line
or product expanded) with custom, 3rd party module solutions, then
the swap links will not be generated for those particular pages.
Category links use the standard category tree (column). If
you have removed the left hand category column, then the swap
links cannot be generated.
