XML Sitemaps: What They Do and How to Create One
An XML sitemap is a file that helps search engines discover URLs on a site. It does not guarantee indexing or improve rankings by itself, but it can be useful for large sites, new sites, and websites with pages that are not easy to discover through internal links.
SEOmate editorial guide
Use this guide as a starting checklist, then validate recommendations against your own site, templates, and search performance.
1. Choose the URLs to include
Include preferred, canonical URLs that return a successful response and are intended to be indexed. Do not add redirected URLs, error pages, or URLs blocked from indexing.
2. Generate the sitemap
Use your CMS, framework, or a sitemap generator to create the XML file. Keep it updated when important URLs are added, removed, or redirected. Large sites may need a sitemap index that points to multiple sitemap files.
3. Publish it at a stable URL
A common location is /sitemap.xml. Check that the file is publicly accessible, uses valid XML, and contains absolute URLs for the correct site and protocol.
4. Submit it in Search Console
Add the sitemap in Google Search Console and monitor whether it can be fetched and how many submitted URLs are discovered. A successful fetch does not mean every URL will be indexed.
5. Keep the sitemap consistent
Update it after migrations and site changes. Review canonical tags, robots directives, status codes, and internal links when submitted URLs are not indexed. A sitemap is a discovery aid, not a substitute for technical quality.
Put this into practice
Use the relevant SEOmate tool to support your workflow, then verify the result on your live website.
Open related SEO tool →This article is general educational guidance. Search engine systems change, and individual results depend on the site and query. Verify important changes with current documentation and your own data.