A basic component in theSEO optimization process is to make it easier for search engines to access the content of your website. If search engines can easily access and understand the site’s structure, its pages will be indexed faster and more efficiently, leading to better visibility and improved search results. This is where the XML sitemap comes in.
The XML Sitemap is a file that includes a detailed list of the important pages on the site, as well as information about each page, such as the last date it was updated, how often it is updated and its relative importance. This file is essential for search engines to be able to quickly discover and index site content, even on pages that do not have many internal or external links. Basically, the XML sitemap acts as a ‘map’ for search engines, showing them all the important locations on the site.
If you want to get maximum results from your SEO strategies and make sure that your website is optimized for accessibility and indexing, working with a professional SEO agency such as re7 consulting can bring you multiple benefits. An SEO agency will be able to analyze your site, implement best practices for creating and updating your sitemap, and ensure that your XML sitemap is configured correctly to help better SEO promotion. This way, you can ensure that your website will appear in relevant searches and attract visitors in an effective and sustainable way.
Source: Search Engine Journal
What is an XML map?
An XML Sitemap is a digital file that functions as a “map” for the site structure, containing all the important pages on the website. It facilitates indexing of the site by search engines such as Google, Bing or Yahoo, helping them to quickly and efficiently find and analyze the site’s content. Thus, the XML sitemap becomes a central element in the SEO process, contributing to increasing the visibility of the site in search engines and improving its position in search results.
As a file created in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) format, the sitemap is specifically designed to structure data in a way that is accessible and easy to read by search engine algorithms. XML format is a standard used for organizing data, similar to HTML, but primarily intended for automatic processing. Unlike HTML, which organizes web pages to be read by users, XML is intended to structure information so that it can be read and processed by programs or algorithms.
An XML Sitemap contains essential information about each page of the site, including:
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- Page URL (<loc>): shows search engines exactly where the page is located on the Internet.
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- Last update date (<lastmod>): gives search engines information about the last time the page content was modified. This is important because search engines prioritize recently updated pages as more relevant.
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- Update frequency (<changefreq>): suggests how often the page content is changed. For example, a news blog may have daily updates, while a privacy policy page is modified much less frequently.
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- Page priority (<priority> ): indicates the relative importance of each page within the site, usually on a scale from 0.0 to 1.0. This value helps search engines to prioritize the essential pages of the site in the indexing process.
How does an XML sitemap work?
Basically, an XML sitemap guides search engines through the content of a website, showing them all the pages that are worth indexing. Ideally, all important pages and pages not accessible by other means (such as internal or external links) are included in this file. Without an XML sitemap, some pages may not be discovered by search engines, especially if there are no external links to them or if the internal structure of the site is complex.
A well-maintained XML sitemap can significantly improve the way search engines interact with your site, ensuring that all pages are accessed, evaluated and indexed properly. This is crucial to the success of an SEO optimization strategy, as every indexed page represents an opportunity to appear in search results and attract visitors.
How to generate an XML sitemap?
Generating an XML sitemap is essential to facilitate efficient indexing of your site by search engines, and the process is relatively simple. There are several ways in which you can create an XML sitemap:
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- Online tools: There are numerous free and easy-to-use platforms, such as XML-Sitemaps.com, that automatically generate a sitemap file. Simply enter the URL of your website and the tool will create an XML file that you can download and upload to your website server.
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- CMS (Content Management System): Popular platforms such as WordPress or Shopify offer built-in options for generating XML sitemaps. For example, WordPress generates an XML sitemap automatically for sites built on this platform, without the need for an additional plugin.
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- SEO plugins: For WordPress, plugins such as Yoast SEO or All in One SEO include automatic options for generating and updating the XML sitemap. These plugins allow you to customize the sitemap and make sure that all relevant pages are included.
How to submit the XML sitemap to Google?
To help Google quickly index your site’s pages, it’s recommended that you submit your XML sitemap via Google Search Console. Follow these steps to complete the process:
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- Sign in to Google Search Console: Make sure you have an active account and your site is added and verified in Search Console.
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- Navigate to the “Sitemaps” section: On the side of the interface, you will find the “Sitemaps” option. Go to this section to add your sitemap.
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- Enter the URL of your sitemap: Usually, the URL will be in the form https://exemplu.ro/sitemap.xml. Enter this URL in the appropriate field and click “Submit”.
This process allows Google to access and start indexing your sitemap, thus contributing to faster indexing and better visibility in search results, an essential factor in the SEO promotion process.
XML sitemap practices
To get maximum SEO benefits from your XML sitemap, it is important to follow some best practices:
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- Keep your sitemap up-to-date: Every time you add or modify an important page, make sure that it is included and reflected in the sitemap. A frequently updated sitemap increases the chances that search engines will index new pages promptly.
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- Exclude irrelevant pages: Do not include pages without valuable content or duplicate pages, to keep your sitemap clean and efficient. Search engines should only focus on pages of interest.
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- Respect the limit of 50,000 URLs per sitemap: The XML Sitemap can include a maximum of 50,000 URLs. If your site has multiple pages, split them into multiple sitemaps and use a sitemap index file to connect them.
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- Use only one format: Use only one XML format for your sitemap for search engines. Avoid mixing formats to ensure efficient and clear indexing.
What is the difference between an HTML sitemap and an XML sitemap?
An HTML sitemap is a page accessible to the public, intended mainly for the site’s users and designed to facilitate navigation. Unlike an XML sitemap, which is designed for search engines, an HTML sitemap organizes links to important pages in an easy-to-follow visual structure, giving visitors an overview of the site’s content. This type of sitemap can be especially useful for large websites, where users may have difficulty finding certain pages through the navigation menu alone.
How does an HTML sitemap help users?
The HTML Sitemap is designed to improve users’ browsing experience. As users navigate to the HTML sitemap page, they can see all the categories and subcategories of the site, with direct links to the sections and pages of interest. This map is more intuitive, giving users a quick and easy way to find the pages they are looking for, especially when they are not very familiar with the site structure.
Main differences between HTML sitemap and XML sitemap
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- Destination and purpose: HTML Sitemap is intended for human visitors, while XML sitemap is intended for search engines. XML helps search engines discover and index content, while HTML is designed to improve navigation for users.
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- Visibility: HTML Sitemap is a public page on the website, accessible through a visible link, usually placed in the footer of the website or in a secondary menu. In contrast, the XML sitemap is usually accessible only through a direct link (e.g., “site.com/sitemap.xml”) and is not intended to be seen by users.
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- Structure and content: The HTML Sitemap organizes the links in an intuitive way, by categories, subcategories, and pages, to be easily followed by users. In contrast, the XML sitemap has a specific structure, in XML format, which contains technical details about each page (URL, date of last modification, etc.) to guide search engines.
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- SEO benefits: HTML Sitemap brings an indirect SEO benefit by helping users to stay on the site longer and explore the content more easily, which can improve click-through rates and time spent on the site. XML, on the other hand, brings a direct SEO benefit as it helps search engines to discover and index pages more efficiently.
A well-structured XML sitemap is essential for any website that wants to increase online visibility and be indexed correctly by search engines. With a constantly updated and properly configured XML sitemap, your website can attract the attention of search engines faster, increasing the chances of being displayed in the top positions in the search results pages. This important tool helps to prioritize valuable pages, giving search engines a clear picture of your site’s structure and content. In this way, all relevant pages, whether blog articles, products or service pages, are indexed efficiently, contributing to the overall SEO performance of the site. If you want to ensure that your website follows SEO best practices, a reliable seo agency such as re7consulting can provide you with the necessary support to set up, optimize and maintain your sitemap.
