I recently uploaded sitemaps on my webpages. One page got a boost of 18% in impressions, another site did not move, and a very complex site all with sitemap_index and multiple sitemaps (~200,000+) pages resulted in a huge loss in impressions.

So yes! I am also thinking about removing sitemaps again if this won't change...

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My site has a simple layout. A database of things which you can show, and comment on. The things main "show" pages I rated with a weight of "0.9" in the XML sitemaps, the comments with "0.7". I thought this would reflect the site-layout/page importance and google would compliment me for that. But obviously didn't..
Any ideas? Or is going without sitemaps really better?
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If it is not neccesasry I would remove it. I am looking for a alternative to google maps myself, half the time the map doesn't load completely or takes forever to load.

isync- you may want to re-read the OP's message. The issue at discussion is Google Maps, not sitemaps.

In regards to whether or not to take it out, determine if having it is a benefit to your users. Does it provide a specific use to them, or does it just make the page "pretty" for them? Are most of your users on dialup or using broadband? If broadband, another 50K is not going to be an issue.

As far as speeding up load time, there are tricks to use to have the rest of the page load while you're getting the map data.

Personally speaking, the last thing I would do is put it on my home page.

But I think Google Maps can add good value to a site, in the same way and with the same care as photo galleries, Flash animations, videos or other whistles. In other words, give your visitors a choice about whether to see it or not.

Thanks for all the replies,

In regards to whether or not to take it out, determine if having it is a benefit to your users. Does it provide a specific use to them, or does it just make the page "pretty" for them?

It is adding the agents from their localities, this adds some more credibility to the site.

Are most of your users on dialup or using broadband?

It is a mix, almost 70% are using broadband connection but still I will like to keep it light.

As far as speeding up load time, there are tricks to use to have the rest of the page load while you're getting the map data.

I will love to hear more about it, please help me with this. I think google maps is not going good with site speed optimization.

Thanks,
Anirudh

if you are doing geocoding in the javascript that can take some time since it is getting a document from the google server for each address being converted.