What is an XML Sitemap?
An XML Sitemap is essentially a table of contents for your website, listing all the URLs that make up your site. Most websites have a single XML Sitemap that helps search engines understand the structure of the site.
Why is an XML Sitemap important?
The primary reason for using an XML Sitemap is SEO.
On one hand, it provides search engines like Google, Bing, and Brave Search with a complete overview of all the URLs on your website. This helps new pages get discovered faster and indexed more efficiently.
On the other hand, an XML Sitemap makes it easier for search engine crawlers to navigate through your website. This improves indexing and ensures that search engines can efficiently find and store your content.
Search engine crawlers work within a time limit
Search engine crawlers do not have unlimited time to scan every website. Each time they visit, they allocate a fixed amount of time to explore pages.
For example, let’s say a crawler spends one minute on your site. If your website is well-structured and loads quickly, the crawler might visit 100 pages within that time. With an XML Sitemap, it can find pages faster and prioritize indexing based on when they were last updated.
If you do not have an XML Sitemap, the crawler may struggle to navigate your site efficiently. It might only reach 50 pages in that same minute, meaning some important content could take longer to be indexed. This could result in outdated pages showing up in search results.
Best practices for XML Sitemaps
To make the most of your XML Sitemap, follow these guidelines:
- Only include pages that should be indexed. Exclude URLs with “noindex” tags or canonical links pointing to other pages.
- Ensure that all important indexed pages are included so that search engines do not miss key content.
- Submit your XML Sitemap through Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools to help search engines find it faster.
- Add a reference to your XML Sitemap in the robots.txt file to ensure search engines can locate it.
- Follow all Google Sitemap guidelines for the best results.
How to create an XML Sitemap
If you are using a CMS, there is likely a built-in feature or plugin that generates an XML Sitemap automatically.
If you do not use a CMS, there are plenty of online XML Sitemap generators available. Alternatively, you can use tools like Screaming Frog to create an XML Sitemap for your site.