The XML sitemap explained simply

What an XML sitemap is

An XML sitemap is a file that lists the important pages of your site. It acts as a map for search engines: instead of discovering your pages one by one by following links, they have a direct inventory.

This is particularly useful for new sites, those with many pages, or those whose pages are poorly linked to one another.

What it does in practice

The sitemap doesn't guarantee a better ranking, but it makes crawling and indexing your content easier. It can also indicate the date a page was last updated, a useful clue for search engines.

• Helps Google find all your key pages
• Useful after adding or overhauling content
• Complements good internal linking

How to create and submit it

Most content management systems generate the sitemap automatically and keep it up to date. All you then have to do is declare it in Google Search Console to inform the search engine of its existence.

Make sure it lists only valid pages, without errors or duplicates. Skywebis sets up and maintains this file so your new pages are spotted quickly.

Frequently asked questions