A good XML sitemap is very important from an SEO point of view. It’s basically a roadmap for all the pages on your website that makes it easy for Google to crawl each and every page and index it correctly to improve your rankings. Therefore, creating it is more than important for the best and best ranking of your website. If you are a newbie and want to know more about it, this article is for you. Scroll down and dive into the detailed information related to creating and optimizing XML sitemaps.
- Use plugins to generate it automatically: The first and foremost thing you need to do is create an XML sitemap using available plugins like Google XML Sitemap. It is a tool that is designed to make your job easier than before, therefore you need to invest your time in this to reap its full benefits.
- Send it to Google: After creating an XML sitemap, now it’s time to submit it to the search engine in the Google Search Console. It will help you find out if there are any errors, so you can correct them in time and resubmit them for indexing on all the important pages of your website.
- Set your priority list: When creating the XML sitemap, each page should be given priority as each page of the website is important. And being a marketer, you want to rank on every page to get the best results from your efforts. This can help Google crawl your entire website for better rankings.
- Include only direct URLs: If you have multiple pages for a similar keyword, instead of confusing search engines, you should only submit the accepted version of the URLs. It will reduce confusion for search engines and make it easier for them to index your particular page, which furthermore plays a vital role in improving your ranking.
- Keep your XML file small: If the size of your XML sitemap is large, it can put a lot of pressure on your server, affecting your load time and affecting the user experience at the same time. Therefore, it is always good to submit the smallest possible size for indexing.
Here are some tips to help you create and optimize your XML sitemap. Although it is not the end, there are many other points that you need to keep in mind and if you do not have enough time and knowledge about it. Invest in a professional as it makes practicing SEO easier and helps you make a mark in the fierce competition.