An XML sitemap is a file that lists the pages of your website, guiding search engines to the content you consider essential. It’s particularly helpful for large or complex sites, ensuring search engines don’t miss any critical pages. Although search engines can often find most of your site’s pages independently, providing a sitemap helps improve the accuracy and speed of crawling.
According to experts, having a sitemap is beneficial if:
Your site is large and has numerous pages that may be difficult for search engines to discover without assistance.
You have many pages that aren’t naturally linked to each other, such as archived content.
Your site is new and lacks many external links pointing to it.
Your site features rich media (videos, images) or appears in Google News.
You may not need a sitemap if:
Your site is small (under 500 pages).
You’re using a platform that automatically creates a sitemap for you.
Your site has internal solid linking that helps search engines discover all critical pages.
You don’t require search engines to index media files or news pages.
To access the XML sitemap settings for your site:
Navigate to the Sites Section: Go to the Sites section within your account.
Locate the Domains Section: Click the gear icon in the secondary navigation menu, which will direct you to the Domains section.
Access Sitemap Settings: Once in the Domains section, click the three-dot action button next to the relevant domain. Select "XML Sitemap" from the available options.
Note: If you haven’t added a domain yet, you’ll need to do so before accessing these settings.
Once inside the XML Sitemap settings, you can view and manage the sitemaps for all connected websites and funnels associated with a domain. Here’s a breakdown of the available options:
Connected Websites and Funnels: Websites and funnels are grouped separately.
Website/Funnel Names: Each name is displayed within a light blue rectangle.
Checkboxes: Use these to select entire websites or funnels to be included in the sitemap.
Dropdown Carrot (Arrow): Click this to view and select specific pages within a website or funnel.
To create or edit an XML sitemap, follow these steps:
Select Pages: Use the checkboxes or dropdown carrots to choose the pages you want to include.
Click Proceed: Once satisfied with your selection, click “Proceed.”
Create or Update the Sitemap: If this is your first time creating a sitemap, click “Add New” to start the process. If editing, make the necessary changes and click "Generate & Save" to finalize your updates.
Review Sitemap Details: Review the sitemap’s URL path and ensure it’s correct. You can modify this path at any time, but remember to resubmit the sitemap to Google if changes are made.
To submit your sitemap:
Open Google Search Console: Use the Sitemaps report in Google Search Console to submit your sitemap.
Add Property (If Necessary): If you haven’t linked your domain, add it and verify ownership.
Submit Your Sitemap URL: Enter the URL provided in your sitemap settings (e.g., sitemap.xml) and submit it.
Tip: You can also submit your sitemap through alternative methods like editing your robots.txt file or using Google’s ping service.
1. What is an XML sitemap, and why is it important?
An XML sitemap is a file that lists your website’s pages, helping search engines crawl and index your site more efficiently. It’s especially useful for large or complex sites.
2. How do I know if I need an XML sitemap?
A sitemap is recommended if your site is large, has poorly linked pages, or is new and without many external links.
3. Where do I find the XML sitemap settings?
Navigate to the Sites section of your account, go to Domains, and click the three-dot action button next to the relevant domain. From there, select "XML Sitemap."
4. Can I edit or update an existing sitemap?
You can modify an existing sitemap by selecting or deselecting pages and then saving your changes.
5. How do I submit my sitemap to Google?
Use Google Search Console’s Sitemaps report to submit your sitemap URL. Google will then crawl your site based on the information in the sitemap.
