25 Jun 2024

An XML sitemap is a file that lists the URLs of a website in a structured format, specifically designed for search engines to read. This file helps search engines like Google, Bing, and others understand the structure of the website and find all the pages, especially the ones that might not be easily discoverable through normal crawling. XML sitemaps are crucial for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) because they ensure that search engines can index all important pages of a site, improving visibility in search results. This is all about, What is XML Sitemap in SEO?

Key Features and Benefits of XML Sitemaps

  1. Comprehensive Listing of URLs:
  • XML sitemaps list all the URLs of a website, including pages, blog posts, product pages, and other important content.
  1. Metadata for Each URL:
  • Sitemaps can include metadata about each URL, such as:
    • lastmod: The date when the content was last modified.
    • changefreq: How frequently the page is likely to change (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly).
    • priority: The priority of the URL relative to other URLs on the site.
  1. Enhanced Crawling and Indexing:
  • By providing a clear map of the website, sitemaps help search engines crawl the site more efficiently, ensuring that new and updated content is indexed quickly.
  1. Improved Discoverability of Deep Pages:
  • Pages that are deeply nested or not well-linked internally can still be discovered and indexed thanks to the sitemap.
  1. Support for Multimedia Content:
  • Sitemaps can include URLs for images, videos, and other multimedia content, helping search engines index these types of files as well.
  1. Support for Multiple Languages:
  • For websites with content in multiple languages, sitemaps can specify alternate language versions of URLs, aiding in proper indexing and display in search results for users in different regions.

Example of an What is XML Sitemap in SEO?

Here is a simple example of an XML sitemap:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">
   <url>
      <loc>https://www.example.com/</loc>
      <lastmod>2024-06-24</lastmod>
      <changefreq>daily</changefreq>
      <priority>1.0</priority>
   </url>
   <url>
      <loc>https://www.example.com/about</loc>
      <lastmod>2024-06-18</lastmod>
      <changefreq>monthly</changefreq>
      <priority>0.8</priority>
   </url>
   <!-- Add more URLs here -->
</urlset>

Creating and Managing XML Sitemaps

Using SEO Plugins in WordPress

Yoast SEO:

  1. Install and Activate Yoast SEO Plugin:
  • Go to Plugins > Add New and search for “Yoast SEO”.
  • Install and activate the plugin.
  1. Enable XML Sitemaps:
  • Go to SEO > General > Features.
  • Ensure that the XML sitemaps the feature is set to On.
  • Click Save Changes.
  1. View the Sitemap:
  • Go to SEO > General > Features and click on the question mark icon next to the XML sitemaps feature.
  • Click on the See the XML sitemap link to view the sitemap.

Rank Math:

  1. Install and Activate Rank Math Plugin:
  • Go to Plugins > Add New and search for “Rank Math”.
  • Install and activate the plugin.
  1. Enable XML Sitemaps:
  • Go to Rank Math > Sitemap Settings.
  • Ensure that the Sitemap the feature is enabled.
  • Configure the settings as needed and save changes.
  1. View the Sitemap:
  • Go to Rank Math > Sitemap Settings and click on the Sitemap link to view the sitemap.

Submitting XML Sitemaps to Search Engines

Google Search Console:

  1. Log in to Google Search Console.
  2. Select Your Property.
  3. Go to Sitemaps:
  • Navigate to Index > Sitemaps.
  1. Add Your Sitemap:
  • Enter the URL of your sitemap (e.g., https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml) and click Submit.

For eg. https://abhayranjan.com/sitemap_index.xml

Bing Webmaster Tools:

  1. Log in to Bing Webmaster Tools.
  2. Select Your Property.
  3. Go to Sitemaps:
  • Navigate to Configure My Site > Sitemaps.
  1. Add Your Sitemap:
  • Enter the URL of your sitemap and click Submit.

By creating, maintaining, and submitting an XML sitemap, you ensure that search engines can efficiently crawl and index your website, enhancing its visibility and search engine ranking.

For Abhay Ranjan for more SEO Learning.