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The XML Sitemap is an essential technical optimization tool for any online store, making it easy for search engines to quickly and efficiently locate all your important pages and products. Through a properly structured sitemap, you achieve better indexing, immediate notification of new or modified content and increase organic traffic, while determining the priorities and relative importance of your pages. See how you can create, submit and manage your XML Sitemap according to SEO best practices, ensuring your online store's effective presence in search engines.
XML Sitemap is one of the most basic tools for technical optimization of websites and especially for online stores. Specifically, XML Sitemap is an XML file that acts as a “map” for search engines, providing a complete list of all the important pages on your website. By explicitly indicating the pages you want indexed, the XML Sitemap helps ensure proper website indexing, increasing the chances that Google or other search engines will quickly and efficiently discover new content, while helping to prevent problems with pages that may be missed during crawling. The high correlation of XML Sitemap with SEO is due to the ability it provides for direct and correct content entry, leading to more frequent index updates and of course improved chances for organic traffic.
The function of the XML Sitemap is based on mediating between the website and search engines, providing an organized web page directory. Search engines such as Google, use the XML Sitemap to crawl, understand and sort the content of a web page more accurately. Think of the XML Sitemap as an organized book index: It guides Google Search Console and other tools in the right direction so they don't skip pages, especially in large online stores ή Websites with frequent updates. In addition, the XML Sitemap enhances the structured data process by providing information such as the last update date of pages, the frequency of changes and the relative priority of pages, factors that contribute to enhancing search engine optimization.
Adding an XML Sitemap becomes almost essential in every online store. When the number of products & categories increases dramatically, the chances of not all products being indexed correctly increase. With an XML Sitemap, website indexing is optimized as search engines are directed to new or updated product pages, increasing the chances of upgraded ranking factors and dramatic increases in organic traffic.
Creating a sitemap is a fairly simple process with the right tools. Follow the steps below:
There are many solutions, from free online sitemap generators to plugins like Yoast SEO (for WordPress) or dedicated sitemap generator tools for eshop (Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce). These tools automatically create a sitemap.xml file with all relevant URLs, taking into account the specificities of each platform.
It is always recommended to save the XML Sitemap at the root of the website (e.g. example.com/sitemap.xml), making it easier for search engines to locate it.
To make your page even more search engine friendly, add a line with the sitemap URL in the robots.txt file of your website (e.g. Sitemap: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml), giving clear instructions for locating the sitemap.
Visit the Google Search Console, locate the “Sitemaps” option and enter the address of the XML Sitemap. This ensures that Google is informed of any changes or new content, resulting in optimally updated indexing.
Be sure to update the XML Sitemap every time you add, remove or modify pages - especially for online stores that frequently change products or categories. This way, you maintain high reliability in terms of comprehensive sitemap submission and avoid problems such as broken links or outdated pages.
Website optimization through XML Sitemap does not stop at the basic construction. It is important that the sitemap contains only the pages you want to appear in search results, avoiding duplicate content or pages with noindex. For example, an online store may choose to include only the main categories and product pages, excluding shopping cart or account type pages. Some other practices are to check for any errors with the help of Google Search Console as well as regularly monitoring reports for new suggested improvements.
Another feature that indirectly affects search engine optimization is the frequent updating of the XML Sitemap every time a new product or blog post is added. At the same time, adding structured data helps search engines to better understand the structure of products or pages thus offering advantages in rich results and elements such as breadcrumbs, prices, product stock etc.
Research shows that websites with an up-to-date XML Sitemap have an increased likelihood of being indexed quickly compared to sites that neglect it, especially in environments with frequent updates (such as an online store). According to Semrush, an updated sitemap increases the crawl rate on new pages by 20-30% and reduces indexing errors by up to 50%. Also, 29% of websites with high organic performance have technically sound sitemaps. This data highlights that investing in a reliable XML Sitemap can have a real impact on your organic SEO strategy.
The XML Sitemap is an integral part of any technical optimization process for SEO, providing a clear and well-organized website directory to search engines, ensuring comprehensive website indexing and contributing to better rankings through direct notification of new or modified content. By applying the guidelines above, any professional online store owner can easily reap the benefits of a complete, efficient and up-to-date XML Sitemap, setting the stage for a successful organic strategy and increased organic traffic.
