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The Google Search Console help you track your website’s indexing status and improve its visibility. One of the first search engine optimization tactics you want to implement is to create a sitemap and then submit it to Google. If you do not know what is a sitemap, read on-
What is a Sitemap?
Sitemaps lay out the structure of your site particularly the most important pages. The structure is laid in a format that Google’s crawlers can understand . A sitemap also indicates content hubs, internal links and all other important information that exist on website pages.
Sitemap Types
The common sitemap formats:
XML:
XML sitemaps can be found in the root folder of your domain. This format is understood by search engines only.XML sitemap can tell the search engine when your website gets updated. If the content on your website is updated, it sends signals to Google that your website may be useful and relevant.
HTML:
The HTML sitemaps are understood by both website visitors and crawlers. It directs users in navigating specific pages on the website and so is better from the user experience point of view. HTML sitemaps are generally linked in website footers.
Let's take a look at the need for a sitemap and how to submit sitemap to google correctly.
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Why do sitemaps matter?
A sitemap shows Google the pages on your site that it would not find on its own. If you do not submit a sitemap, the crawlers might miss out on a part of your website. A sitemap makes sure crawlers easily index all the important and new content that exists on your website.
In this way, Google Search Console Sitemaps makes crawling and indexing your website easy and effective.
The sitemap is most beneficial for you if-
Your website is big.
Your website does not have enough backlinks.
You have a new website
How to submit a sitemap to google
Before submitting a sitemap, you’ll generate it if you do not have one already. One can automatically create sitemaps on any of the content management systems like Drupal, Hubspot, and Wordpress or use plugins to do the same in an easy manner.
Some plugins create sitemaps for the various sections of your website making it easier for search engines to understand your site structure. The individual sitemaps can be combined into one sitemap index which is automatically updated if and when you add, remove, or change website content. One can easily use the sitemap index link for submission.
You can find if you have one by typing in your website URL followed by /sitemap.xml.
Steps for submission of a sitemap to google search console
Enter your site on your Google Search Console home page.
2. Click on the Sitemaps that's on the left menu.
3. Type sitemap.xml next to your domain.
4. Enter Submit.
Parting words
Creating and submitting your sitemap to Google helps Google’s crawl bots index your site, understand your website’s relevance, and determine your site’s ranking. Although submitting a sitemap to the Google Search Console, is not a compulsory thing to do but it considerably speeds up the crawling and indexing of your website. In other words: one doesn’t need a sitemap. But it pushes your SEO efforts further.
For example, Google discovers webpages through links but if your site doesn't have many external backlinks, then a sitemap goes a long way in helping Google find pages on your site.
In this way, sitemaps are important for both your website and SEO. Having a sitemap that is created considering a business goal could be the driving force to a website’s ultimate success. knotsync consult the web experts regarding the google search console sitemap !