Frequently Asked Questions
What is an XML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a file that lists all the important URLs on your website in a format that search engines can easily read. It helps search engines discover and index your pages more efficiently.
How do I submit my sitemap to Google?
Upload the sitemap.xml file to your website's root directory (e.g., example.com/sitemap.xml), then submit it through Google Search Console under "Sitemaps". You can also add it to your robots.txt file.
What are priority and changefreq?
Priority (0.0-1.0) hints at the relative importance of pages on your site. Changefreq indicates how often a page is likely to change. Note: Google has stated they largely ignore these values, but other search engines may use them.
Why is the 50,000 URL limit important?
The sitemap protocol specifies a maximum of 50,000 URLs per sitemap file. If you have more URLs, you'll need to split them across multiple sitemap files and use a sitemap index.
Should I include all pages in my sitemap?
Include all pages you want search engines to index. Exclude pages like login pages, admin areas, duplicate content, and pages blocked by robots.txt. Focus on your canonical, important pages.