XML sitemap in SEO are essential for your website. They list all the pages on your website, and search engines use them to ensure they don't miss anything. Without an up-to-date XML sitemap, your website may not get the attention it deserves from search engines. To create Google XML sitemaps, you can use an XML sitemap generator.
This tool makes it easy to create a list of all the URLs for every page on your website in XML format. An XML sitemap generator can help you create a sitemap quickly and efficiently without having to invest lots of your time. In this article, we'll introduce you to some of the best XML sitemap generator tools for both WordPress and non-WordPress websites. Whether you're a blogger, an online business owner, or a web developer, you can create Google sitemaps effortlessly.
What is an XML Sitemap and its usage?
- An XML sitemap is a collection of files that contain the entire website content in the form of XML. And this is counted by the search engines to index your website for better rankings.
- Earlier, sitemaps were not considerable for search engines and only in the form of HTML format. As change is the law, they’ve evolved in the XML format and are more considerable for search engines.
- And the only target is the search engines to acquire great ranks. In short, an XML sitemap is a direct way of telling search engines about your website’s existence. Also, you can point out the vital links that can acquire good search engine rankings for your website.
- You are mistaken that XML Sitemaps is the search engine booster. It is a way of telling search engine crawlers to index your content correctly. Search engines won’t crawl every part of your website. So there is an easier way to create XML sitemaps to help search engines get your website noticed better.
The need to have an XML sitemap On Your Website
- When you have XML sitemap in SEO for your website, it gives a direction to the search engines about its existence. Even if your website’s content is not pointed out by other websites, an XML sitemap will do the rest.
- Adding an XML sitemap shows that you value that page and also gives additional details about your page.
- Moreover, this is a great way to tell search engines about the new pages. As new pages are added, XML sitemaps help search engines find them more easily.
Methods to Create Google XML Sitemaps on Your Website
- Create an XML sitemap in WordPress without a plugin.
- Create an XML sitemap in WordPress using a plugin.
- More ways to create an XML sitemap on your website.
1. Create an XML sitemap on your website without a plugin.
Creating an XML sitemap is so simple in WordPress, and that too without using any plugins.
You know WordPress works for its users' convenience and priority. So, the latest versions of WordPress come with automatic XML sitemaps integrated.
This feature ensures that the websites are registered well on SEO and get all the benefits easily. However, the only limitation of this feature is that users cannot decide the addition or removal of content on the XML sitemap. Well, this is a basic method that is mostly used by small business owners or startups.
And to create an XML sitemap in WordPress without a plugin, you simply need to follow this:
Get access to your website domain and simply add the below line at the end: “wp-sitemap.xml”.
That’s it. WordPress will automatically create an XML sitemap for you.
2. Activate an XML sitemap in WordPress using a plugin.
- Now comes the method by which we are going to create Google XML sitemaps using a plugin. And out of so many uncountable plugins, we are choosing the All-in-One SEO plugin.
- This one is most popular for optimizing the website for speed and performance. It provides tools to boost WordPress website's speed for search engines.
- To start, we first need to install and activate the AIOSEO plugin on your website.
- Here we are using the free version of this plugin, as the sitemap feature is included in the free version. You can either switch to the premium version for more advanced services.
- Once done with installation and activation, simply reach the AIOSEO plugin under the dashboard.
- Now, you need to select the Sitemaps option under it.
- This will help you reach the sitemap page, and there you will find that the sitemap feature is already enabled.
- Under the preview section, you can tap the Open Sitemap button to preview and watch out for how it looks. Or you can simply add the line “sitemap.xml” to the website’s URL to see the live preview.
- You can further customize the settings for the AIOSEO sitemap created `with the basic version. And for this, you simply need to scroll out with your mouse to the bottom of the page.
- The options in this section allow you to customize the sitemap, including the indexes and including and excluding the post types.
- Well, the AIOSEO plugin includes all your website content in the sitemap.
Adding External Content:
If you need to add external content, such as landing pages, then you need to follow this:
- Simply switch on the Additional Pages section, and it will generate a form to add custom pages to the sitemap.
- Here, you can simply add the URL of the page you need to add. Then set its priority limit from 0.1 to 1.0.
- Further, you can choose the frequency of updates and the last modified date of the page.
- Now what if you wish to exclude some pages from your sitemap? We have a solution to this:
- Reach the Advanced Settings page under the AIOSEO and the Sitemap section.
- Also, you can even disable the page by clicking the “No Index” or “No Follow” option.
3. More ways to create Google XML sitemaps on your website
It happens that not every user has WordPress with them. Most of them still go with another CMS for the web design.
In this case, you can use external tools to generate an XML sitemap in SEO to create website. One of the most popular tools, the “Google Suggests” tool, helps you generate a sitemap for your website.
Submit your Created Sitemap to the search engines.
- When a user creates a sitemap for the website, this immediately sends a notification to the search engines. However, it might not happen the same way, so you need to manually submit the sitemap to the search engines.
- For this guide, we are going to submit the sitemap to the Google Search Console. This is one of the most widely used tools to monitor the website’s presence in the search results.
- Firstly, you need to visit the Google Search Console and sign up to create an account.
- The next page will ask you to select the property type from the domain and the URL prefix. It is highly recommended to go with the URL prefix for easier submission.
- Next, simply enter the URL and tap the Continue button.
- The next step is to verify the ownership of the website, and there are various methods available for this.
- You need to select the HTML tag method, as this is the most recommended one.
- Then, you simply need to copy the code on the screen and directly reach the admin area of your website.
- If we are going with AIOSEO, then it makes it easier to verify using webmaster tools. For this, you simply need to visit the general settings of AIOSEO and then tap Webmaster Tools. Further, you need to enter the verification code provided by Google. Once done, tap the Verify button, and this will add your website to the Google Search Console.
- Now we need to add the XML sitemap to the Google search console. You simply need to tap the Sitemaps option from the left panel of your account dashboard.
- Next, you need to add the end part of your sitemap URL in "Add a New Sitemap” and tap the Submit button.
- Finally, Google will be able to add your XML sitemap to the Google Search Console.
Best Sitemap Generator Tools For Your Website
1. Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is a WordPress tool designed to help optimize your website's search engine optimization (SEO). It aids you in refining your content for specific keywords while making it more reader-friendly.
With Yoast, create Google XML sitemaps in a breeze. To check if it's enabled, head to the Yoast SEO followed Settings section and look for the XML sitemaps option. Once you've located it, click "View the XML sitemap" to see what it looks like. However, please note that editing the sitemap necessitates coding abilities.
The premium version of Yoast does not include any additional sitemap features. If you only require an XML sitemap generator, the free version of Yoast SEO WordPress plugin is more than capable of handling the task.
2. XML-Sitemaps.com
XML-Sitemap is a popular and free tool that helps you create sitemaps for your website. With this tool, you can generate HTML and XML sitemaps by entering your website's URL. You can download your sitemap file and submit it to search engines from the same platform, making it very convenient.
XML-Sitemap offers a free plan for small websites with up to 500 pages. This plan allows you to create text, XML, and HTML sitemaps and submit them directly to search engines. If your website has over 500 web pages, you can upgrade to the pro plan. The pro plan allows you to create a sitemap for your website with up to 1.5 million web pages and costs $3.49/ a month.
The pro plan also has many advanced features, such as automatic updates, fully configurable settings, a news sitemap, an RSS feed, and broken links detection. These features can help optimize your website and improve its ranking on search engines.
3. Inspyder
The best part is that it can automatically create your XML sitemap in just a few clicks. You don't have to worry about the technicalities of creating a sitemap - Inspyder Sitemap Creator will take care of everything for you.
This application is ideal for anyone who wants to create XML sitemap for SEO. by ensuring that search engines like Google and Bing can easily crawl and index their pages. With Inspyder Sitemap Creator, you can create Google XML sitemaps quickly without any hassle.
4. WriteMaps
Slickplan's Sitemap Builder is an easy-to-use tool that streamlines the process of creating website structures and sitemaps. This tool enables you to effortlessly generate sitemaps using a drag-and-drop interface, giving visual representation and ensuring that all essential pages are included.
In addition to its intuitive interface, the Sitemap Builder provides various customization options. You can customize your sitemap with different colors, images, and icons to make it more aesthetically pleasing and representative of your brand.
Once you have created your sitemap, you can export it in a format that suits your needs. You can choose between a scalable vector graphic (SVG), ideal for client presentations and pitches, or a simple text or XML file that can shared with your development team.
7. Flowmapp
Flowmapp is a web design tool that helps you create flowcharts, sitemaps, personas, customer journey maps, and user flow diagrams. With Flowmapp sitemap, you can create online sitemap structures using a drag-and-drop interface. It makes it easy to create and edit sitemaps quickly, even without building theme from scratch. Flowmapp also offers a dashboard where you can communicate with your clients and team members to get feedback on your visual sitemap. All plans come with SSL encryption, daily backups, and customer support. The free plan allows you to create one sitemap and add up to 50 pages.
8. Dyno Mapper
Conclusion
In conclusion, the top 10 tools highlighted to create Google XML sitemaps in 2024 provide website owners with powerful solutions to enhance their online visibility and search engine optimization efforts. These tools offer user-friendly interfaces, advanced features, and compatibility with various website platforms.
Having an updated XML sitemap is crucial for your website's visibility on search engines. Yoast SEO and XML-Sitemaps.com are good options for WordPress users, while Inspyder, WriteMaps, Screaming Frog, Slickplan, Flowmapp, and Dyno Mapper offer efficient solutions for sitemap creation. These tools can help enhance your website's SEO and visibility.
For WordPress users, integrating a WP theme bundle can further optimize their website's performance. A carefully curated WP theme bundle not only ensures a visually appealing design but also aligns seamlessly with the recommended XML sitemap tools. As you navigate the dynamic landscape of digital marketing and SEO, leveraging these tools alongside a well-matched WordPress theme bundle will contribute significantly to the success and discoverability of your website in the ever-evolving online ecosystem.