Greetings!

I'm using a script to generate sitemap pages for my board's forums and pages.
The script generates a sequence of pages, and I get to specify the number of links each page should list.
My question is: from the SEO point of view, what are the best number of links sitemap pages should carry each?
I read different views, some says 30, some say the max is 100.
To end my confusion, I made 5 sitemaps, one generating pages with 30 links in each, another sitemap generating 90, 200, 500, and one generating all links in a single sitemap page.

I doubt that google didnt like that, because several monthes later, my PR went from PR4 to PR0.

So, do you think I should remove all links to those different sitemap version, and publish only one sitemap version?
and if so, what number of links should I stick to?

Whatever makes sense for the user, just think about it, what do you do when you land on a page showing several hundred links on it ?

Originally Posted by sallam

I doubt that google didnt like that, because several monthes later, my PR went from PR4 to PR0.

I can't see google penalising you like that for having multiple internal links. Even if they saw it as duplicate content, the worst case is that they wouldn't index more than one sitemap page. Methinks you need to consider other possibilities for your PR disappearing.

Keep the size of the file less than 100Kb or less than 800 links for SE but if you have user in mind keep them close to main section and that can be at the most 25.

100k or 800 links? wow, hats a lot. Will google not get annoyed?
Do you have any confirmation of that please?
I always thought 100 links are the max..

What on earth do you mean, "google get annoyed"

exactly what has it got to do with google how you design your site?

My site currently has at least 113 links on every page. Check the count of Text Links if you wish. Every single one of those links have been crawled by all SEs. The links effectively are hidden links and are made visible on a click. Does it look like I'm letting the search engines dictate my design.

DESIGN FOR USERS NOT SEARCH ENGINES.

Make sure your site map is well catagorized for the user (calapsable is best) so the user isn't bombarded with links. Also because a site map is just that "a map, or guide to your site", you should list every useful page.

my sitemap is not user friendly. Its just made for search engines.
I'm asking you what link number is best, for CEO. There is a limit at which google stops crawling more links in a page, though I'm not aware of that limit exactly. There is also the 'PR drain' factor, etc. I'm asking here because the forum is titled 'google forum' not 'web design' forum, but thanks anyhow, chrishirst.

well there you are then I've shown that 113 links on a page will get crawled so up to now I'll take that as the limit (until shown otherwise)
You are barking up entirely the wrong tree if you think anything in this business is absolute. What is fine and dandy today could well take a total dive tomorrow. Where you doing this in November 2003 when hundreds of thousands of sites disappeared totally because they followed the latest algo theory. I was looking after a site that doubled it's turnover because most of the competitors disappeared. Doing what "is best for Google" is short sighted at best, every algo update could see it drop like a stone.

Doing what is best for users isn't likely to let you down suddenly, But of course it is your choice.

Another point is site maps can bring in a lot of qualified traffic all those nice keyword links and text. User clicks on SERP link and lands on a page that has exactly what they were looking for. Why would you want to waste a opportunity like that by making it user unfriendly?

Here are some of the references.

I could not find the thread for 800 but the threads will help you a lot.
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169859
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177579
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=245730
http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266775