What is an XML sitemap?
A sitemap is a file that lists the pages of your website for search engines. It helps Google and Bing find pages they might otherwise miss — new pages, pages few others link to, or pages deep inside your site — and tells them when a page last changed.
How to make and submit a sitemap
- List your pages. Paste their addresses, or open a page that links to them all (a menu or category page), view its source, and paste the HTML — the links are picked out for you.
- Download sitemap.xml and upload it to the main folder of your site, so it opens at yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.
- Tell search engines: add it in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools, and add a line “Sitemap: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml” to your robots.txt.
Good to know
- List only pages you want in search results: no duplicates, no redirected addresses, no pages blocked by robots.txt or marked noindex.
- Google ignores the priority and change-frequency values, but reads lastmod when it is accurate. Bing uses them a little.
- One sitemap holds up to 50,000 addresses; larger sites are split into several files with an index, which this tool does for you.
- WordPress and most shop platforms make a sitemap automatically — check for /sitemap.xml or /sitemap_index.xml before making one by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a sitemap?
Small, well-linked sites are found without one, but a sitemap still helps new sites and pages get noticed sooner, and Search Console uses it to report problems.
Where should the sitemap file go?
In the root folder of your domain, so its address is https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.
How often should I update my sitemap?
Whenever you add or remove pages. Automatic sitemaps from your CMS update themselves.