Many webmasters know how to create an XML sitemap, but few work with this file on a regular basis. It is important to ensure that the map is in good condition and contains links to all important pages.
It is quite possible to automate the map update, although there are often difficulties with the syntax. Therefore, it is necessary not only to create the file once, but also to monitor its state and, if necessary, make changes to the structure.
1. What is a sitemap?
A sitemap is a file that lists important pages. Typically, URLs that search engine robots should index are added to the document. If the project owner does not want to show certain pages to spiders, they are excluded from the sitemap.
Search engines can add website pages to their database even without a sitemap. In this case, they will make decisions based on link connections. But if no links lead to a certain address, the page may be ignored.
The most common type of map is an XML sitemap. Documents of other formats are less common. But you should know that search engines decide the fate of a page based on a number of factors. If they think it has no value, then its presence in the map will do nothing.
Almost every project has a map. In some CMS, it is generated automatically and webmasters do not waste time working with accurate mobile phone number list it until there are notifications about errors found in Search Console.
This approach cannot be called correct, because it is better not to allow problems to appear and not to fix them when search engines send a corresponding signal. This way you can try to maintain 100% indexing.
1.1 Sitemap Formats
In most cases, site what is an xml sitemap and how to create one owners use a map in XML format. For each resource management platform, there are several plugins that can cover all needs.
When SEO newbies ask how to create a sitemap, the simplest answer is to install a plugin for the desired content management system. SEO apps can also customize the appearance of the page in the SERP, improve the CTA, and make the snippet more useful.
There are two main sitemap bulk lead formats that can be used depending on the tasks at hand: HTML and XML. The first type is used less often, as XML has long been the most popular.
There is an opinion among webmasters that HTML format helps to speed up indexing of pages and indirectly affects traffic. And XML is required so that there are no error notifications in Google Search Console.
The global difference between the formats is that the function of the HTML map is navigation for users, while XML is interacted with mainly by search engine robots. A harmonious combination of both formats allows you to repeatedly attract users and spiders to the site.
The XML format has another feature – several syntax options. You can create a feed and add it as a source for the sitemap. Google interacts with RSS, mRSS and Atom 1.0.