Step-by-Step Guide: Creating a WordPress Sitemap

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is a Sitemap?
   • 2.1 XML Sitemap
   • 2.2 HTML Sitemap
3. Benefits of Having Both XML and HTML Sitemaps
4. How to Create an XML Sitemap in WordPress
   • 4.1 Using Yoast SEO Plugin
   • 4.2 Without Using a Plugin
5. How to Submit an XML Sitemap to Search Engines
   • 5.1 Through Google Search Console
6. Conclusion
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Introduction

In this article, we will explore what a sitemap is and guide you through the steps to create a sitemap in WordPress. If you're already familiar with sitemaps and their benefits, feel free to skip ahead to the step-by-step tutorial. A sitemap is a list of all the public URLs on your website that shows the relationship between different web pages and their importance in the website hierarchy. Creating a sitemap helps both visitors and search engine crawlers navigate your website faster and easier.

What is a Sitemap?

A sitemap is a tool that prepares a list of all the public URLs on your website and shows the relationship between the different web pages. There are two types of sitemaps: XML sitemap and HTML sitemap.

XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap is designed for search engine crawlers to understand the structure of your website. It records information about each URL on your website, including additional context and metadata. The metadata includes information such as the last update of the URL, its frequency of updates, and its relation to other URLs in the sitemap. XML sitemaps help search engines index your web pages faster and more accurately.

Pros:

• Helps search engine crawlers understand your website structure
• Faster and more accurate indexing of web pages

Cons:

• Requires regular updates when new pages are added or existing ones are modified

HTML Sitemap

An HTML sitemap provides information about website URLs using HTML format. It is designed for website visitors to easily navigate your website. An HTML sitemap contains clickable links to different web pages, typically found in the footer of a webpage. While an HTML sitemap doesn't have a direct influence on SEO, it enhances the user experience by making navigation easier.

Pros:

• Enhances website navigability
• Provides contextual information for website visitors

Cons:

• Doesn't have a direct impact on SEO

Benefits of Having Both XML and HTML Sitemaps

Having both XML and HTML sitemaps on your website offers several benefits. Firstly, sitemaps can alert search engine crawlers about new posts on your website and inform search engines about pages they have not yet indexed. This helps in faster indexing of new content. Secondly, sitemaps improve website navigability as they clearly show the structure and hierarchy of web pages. Lastly, sitemaps indicate to search engines that your website doesn't have duplicate content, which is beneficial for SEO.

How to Create an XML Sitemap in WordPress

There are two methods to create an XML sitemap in WordPress: using a plugin and without using a plugin.

Using Yoast SEO Plugin

The simplest way to create a sitemap in WordPress is by using the Yoast SEO plugin. Follow these steps to generate an XML sitemap using Yoast:

1. Sign in to your WordPress account and go to the "Plugins" menu.
2. Click on "Add New" and type "Yoast SEO" in the search bar.
3. Click on the "Install Now" button next to Yoast SEO and wait for the installation process to finish.
4. Once installed, click on the "Activate" button to activate the Yoast SEO plugin.
5. Access the Yoast SEO menu from your WordPress dashboard.
6. Go to the "Features" tab and switch the toggle below XML sitemaps to "On" if it's not already turned on by default.
7. Don't forget to hit the "Save Changes" button to generate an XML sitemap URL.
8. Click on the question mark icon and select the "See the XML sitemap" option.
9. Yoast SEO will redirect you to your XML sitemap URL where you can find more information about each URL on your site.

Without Using a Plugin

If you prefer not to install a plugin, WordPress has a default sitemap function that can quickly get your website indexed on search engines. Follow these steps to create an XML sitemap without using a plugin:

1. Make sure your website is running WordPress version 5.5 or above.
2. Hover over the "Tools" menu on your WordPress dashboard and choose "Site Health."
3. Click on the "Info" tab and select the WordPress drop-down menu to see your website's current WordPress version.
4. Once you confirm that your website is eligible, open your browser and type your website's domain followed by "/sitemap.xml" or "/WP-sitemap.xml" at the end.
5. You will see a list of all your website content, including the dates each URL was last modified. Clicking on each link will direct you to the live web page, which is also how it works for search engines.

How to Submit an XML Sitemap to Search Engines

After creating a sitemap, it is important to submit it to search engines for proper crawling and indexing. Here's how you can submit an XML sitemap through the Google Search Console:

1. Create a Google account if you don't have one already. If you have an account, log in.
2. Select the "Property Type" option and choose the main option.
3. Enter your website's domain name and click the "Continue" button.
4. Verify domain ownership by adding a TXT record given by Google Search Console to your DNS server. You can do this by going to your DNS Zone editor and filling in the record under the "Manage DNS Records" box.
5. Go back to your Google Search Console account and select "Sitemaps" on the dashboard.
6. Insert your XML sitemap URL in the text box under the "Add a new sitemap" section.
7. Click "Submit" to finish the process.
8. You can check the sitemap status by clicking on the "Sitemaps" menu and scrolling to "Submitted Sitemaps." Google Search Console will show if the process was successful and the number of discovered URLs per sitemap.

Conclusion

Creating a sitemap for your WordPress website is crucial for search engine optimization and easier navigation for your website visitors. Make sure to have both XML and HTML sitemaps on your website to reap the benefits of faster indexing, improved navigability, and avoidance of duplicate content. With the help of plugins like Yoast SEO or WordPress's default sitemap function, you can easily generate and submit sitemaps to search engines for proper indexing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is a sitemap? A: A sitemap is a list of all the public URLs on a website that shows the relationship between different web pages and their importance in the website hierarchy.

Q: What is the difference between an XML sitemap and an HTML sitemap? A: An XML sitemap is designed for search engine crawlers to understand the structure of a website, while an HTML sitemap is designed for website visitors to navigate the website easily.

Q: Do I need both XML and HTML sitemaps on my website? A: Having both XML and HTML sitemaps offers several benefits, including faster indexing, improved navigability, and avoidance of duplicate content.

Q: How can I create an XML sitemap in WordPress? A: You can create an XML sitemap in WordPress using plugins like Yoast SEO or through WordPress's default sitemap function.

Q: How can I submit an XML sitemap to search engines? A: You can submit an XML sitemap to search engines through the Google Search Console by verifying domain ownership and adding the sitemap URL.

Resources:

• Yoast SEO Plugin
• Google Search Console