Why A Sitemap Is Important For SEO (PLUS: Get Our Custom Sitemap Update Frequency Calculator)

July 16, 2024 By: Hayden Jarman

Let's cut to the chase: if you're not using sitemaps, you're leaving money on the table. Period.

I've seen businesses transform their online traffic overnight just by using this simple tool.

But here's the kicker - most people are doing it wrong (if they're doing it at all).

I'm going to break down exactly why sitemaps are crucial for your SEO, how to create them properly, and the mistakes you need to avoid.

By the end of this, you'll have a clear roadmap to skyrocket your site's visibility and crush your competition.

Sitemap Update Frequency Calculator

Determine how often you should update your sitemap based on your website type and content update frequency.

Website Type: How often do you update your content?

What In the World Is A Sitemap Anyway?

Think of a sitemap as the blueprint of your website.

It's a file that lists every important page on your site, telling search engines exactly what's there and how it's organized. Without it, you're basically asking Google to stumble around in the dark, hoping it finds all your content.

There are two main types:

1. XML Sitemaps:

These are for search engines. They're coded files that list URLs, update frequencies, and importance levels.

2. HTML Sitemaps:

These are for humans. They're visible pages on your site that help users navigate.

Here's a quick breakdown:

Type	Purpose	Format	Visibility
XML Sitemap	For search engines	Machine-readable code	Not visible to users
HTML Sitemap	For users	Clickable links	Visible on website

Why Sitemaps Are Your Secret Weapon for SEO

1. Supercharges Your Crawl

Search engines are like hungry spiders, constantly crawling the web for content.

A sitemap is like laying out a buffet for them. Without it, they might miss crucial pages, especially on larger sites with complex structures.

2. Turbocharged Indexing

Ever wondered why some of your pages aren't showing up in search results?

A sitemap ensures that search engines index all your important pages, even those buried deep in your site structure.

3. Prioritizes Your Money Pages

Not all pages are created equal.

By listing your most important pages in your sitemap, you're telling search engines, "Hey, focus on these!" This can give those pages a better shot at ranking higher.

4. Instant Updates

When you make changes to your site, you want search engines to know ASAP.

A sitemap acts like a news flash, informing search engines about recent updates so they can re-crawl and index your fresh content faster.

5. Rich Media Boost

Got videos, images, or news content?

Specialized sitemaps can help search engines understand and index this content better, potentially boosting your visibility in image and video search results.

Creating Your Sitemap: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Using Yoast SEO (for WordPress users)

Install and activate the Yoast SEO plugin
Go to SEO > General > Features
Ensure "XML sitemaps" is enabled
Your sitemap will be available at yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml

2. Using Google XML Sitemaps Plugin

Install and activate the Google XML Sitemaps plugin
Go to Settings > XML-Sitemap
Click "Build sitemap"
Your sitemap will be created automatically

3. Manual Creation (for the tech-savvy)

Create a new file named sitemap.xml
Use this basic structure:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9">

<url>

<loc>http://www.example.com/</loc>

<lastmod>2023-06-01</lastmod>

<changefreq>monthly</changefreq>

<priority>0.8</priority>

</url>

</urlset>

Add an element for each important page on your site

Submitting Your Sitemap: Don't Skip This Step

Creating a sitemap is only half the battle.

You need to tell search engines it exists.

For Google:

Log into Google Search Console
Select your property
Go to Sitemaps in the left sidebar
Enter your sitemap URL and click Submit

For Bing:

Log into Bing Webmaster Tools
Select your site
Go to Configure My Site > Sitemaps
Add your sitemap URL and click Submit

Monitoring and Updating: The Key to Long-Term Success

Creating a sitemap isn't a "set it and forget it" deal.

You need to keep it updated and monitor its performance.

1. Regular Updates

Add new pages to your sitemap as you create them
Remove pages that no longer exist
Update the date for pages with significant changes

2. Performance Monitoring

Use Google Search Console to check how many pages are indexed
Look for crawl errors or warnings
Track your organic search traffic in Google Analytics

Common Mistakes That'll Tank Your Sitemap Efforts

1. Missing Important Pages

Don't assume all your pages are included. Double-check that every crucial page is listed.

2. Incorrect Formatting

XML sitemaps are picky. One small error can render the whole thing useless. Use a validator to check for errors.

3. Outdated Information

An old sitemap is worse than no sitemap. Keep it current or you're wasting Google's time (and yours).

4. Ignoring Mobile Pages

If you have separate mobile URLs, make sure they're included in your sitemap.

5. Forgetting to Resubmit

When you make significant changes to your sitemap, resubmit it to search engines.

The Bottom Line

Sitemaps are not just another SEO checkbox to tick off.

They're a powerful tool that, when used correctly, can dramatically improve your site's visibility and drive more organic traffic. But like any tool, they're only as good as the person wielding them.

Don't half-ass this. Take the time to create a complete, accurate sitemap. Keep it updated. Monitor its performance. And watch as your site climbs the rankings, leaving your competitors in the dust.

Remember, in the cutthroat world of SEO, every advantage counts. Sitemaps might just be the edge you need to dominate your niche.

So what are you waiting for? Get to it!

Additional Resources

For those looking to dive deeper into the world of sitemaps and their impact on SEO, we have curated a list of valuable resources:

Google Search Console Help: Sitemaps - Official Google documentation on sitemaps and how to submit them.
XML Sitemaps Generator - Free tool to generate XML sitemaps for your website.
Bing Webmaster Tools: Sitemaps - Bing's guide on submitting sitemaps to their search engine.
Yoast SEO: XML Sitemaps - Guide on XML sitemaps from a popular SEO plugin.
Moz: The Ultimate Guide to XML Sitemaps - In-depth article covering all aspects of XML sitemaps.
Schema.org: Sitemap - Information on sitemap schema markup for enhanced search engine understanding.
W3C: Sitemaps XML format - Official specification of the Sitemaps XML format.
SEMrush: How to Create and Submit a Sitemap - Step-by-step guide on creating and submitting sitemaps.

If you need further assistance with optimizing your sitemaps or any other aspect of your SEO strategy, feel free to reach out to us at BlueTone Media.

Our team of experts is ready to help you enhance your website's performance and visibility.

Our Blog