An XML sitemap is a file that lists all of the pages on a website and provides information about their organization and relationship to one another.
Sitemaps play a crucial role. A sitemap helps search engines easily navigate through your website content.
In this article, I’ll explain the importance of sitemaps for a WordPress website and how you can find, generate, and submit your XML sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster tools.
Does Your Website Have a Sitemap? WordPress Sitemap XML Location
Before generating an XML sitemap for your WordPress website, it’s essential to check if you already have a sitemap.
You can do this by adding “/sitemap.xml” to the end of your website’s URL.
For example, if your website is “www.example.com,” you would type “www.example.com/sitemap.xml” into the address bar.
If you have a sitemap, it is in an XML format. If you don’t have an XML sitemap, you can generate one using an SEO plugin.
How To Find The WordPress Default Sitemap URL
The latest WordPress update automatically generates an XML sitemap for your website without using plugins.
To quickly locate your default WordPress sitemap, go to your website’s homepage and add ‘/wp-sitemap.xml’ at the end of your website’s URL. Hit enter, and you will be directed to your website’s default XML sitemap, which lists all of the pages on your website.
Here is how you find the default sitemap on WordPress.
Step One – Go To Your Website’s Homepage
Here is my homepage.
Step Two – At The End Of Your Homepage URL, Type /wp-sitemap.xml
To find the default sitemap for my site, I add /wp-sitemap.xml.
Step Three – Hit Enter To Find Your WordPress Sitemap
Here is the default XML sitemap for my site.
I recommend submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console
Submitting your XML sitemap to Google is a relatively straightforward process.
Here’s what you need to do:
Log in to your Google Search Console account. If you haven’t set up an account yet, you’ll need to do so before you can submit your sitemap.
Once logged in, select the website for which you want to submit an XML sitemap.
In the left-hand menu, click on “Sitemaps.”
In the field that appears, enter the URL of your sitemap. The URL should look something like this: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml.
Click “Submit” and wait for Google to process your sitemap.
Processing can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the size of your sitemap and the current load on Google’s servers.
Once Google has processed your XML sitemap, you should see a status message indicating whether it was processed successfully or if there were any errors.
That’s it! Once your XML sitemap is successfully submitted, Google will begin crawling your website and indexing its pages.
Be sure to check back periodically to ensure that your sitemap is still up-to-date and that there are no errors.
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools
Submitting your XML sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools is essential to ensure the Bing search engine indexes your website.
Here’s how to do it:
Log in to your Bing Webmaster Tools account.
If you don’t have one, sign up for free at the Bing Webmaster Tools website.
Add your website to Bing Webmaster Tools.
Click on “Add a Site” and enter your website URL. Follow the steps to verify your ownership of the site.
Click on the “Sitemaps” option. You can find it in the left-hand menu.
Click Submit Sitemap.
Type your sitemap URL into the box provided and click “Submit”.
Bing will automatically validate the XML sitemap to ensure it is in the correct format.
Wait for Bing to crawl your sitemap. It may take some time for Bing to crawl your sitemap, but you can check the status in the “Sitemaps” section of your Bing Webmaster Tools account.
That’s it! Once Bing has crawled your XML sitemap, your website pages should start appearing in Bing search results.
How To Find Your WordPress Sitemap URL Video Tutorial
WordPress Sitemap Generator SEO Plugins
SEO plugins are a popular way to generate sitemaps for WordPress websites.
They can automatically create sitemaps that include all your website’s pages, posts, and other content.
Yoast SEO and All in One SEO Pack are two of the most popular SEO plugins that offer sitemap generation features.
It’s worth noting that activating an SEO plugin that generates sitemaps will deactivate the default WordPress sitemap.
This is because having multiple sitemaps can confuse search engines and cause indexing issues.
Overall, using an SEO plugin to generate your sitemap is a quick and easy way to ensure that your website’s content is organized and accessible to search engines.
Yoast SEO: WordPress Sitemap Plugin
Step One – Select General From The Yoast SEO Plugin Menu
Hover your mouse over Yoast SEO on your WordPress admin menu and select General.
Step Two – Select The Features Tab
On the features list, the Yoast SEO sitemap is halfway down.
Step Three – Click On The Question Mark Icon. Then, Select The See The XML Sitemap Link To View Your Sitemap.
The site’s XML sitemap opens in a new browser tab.
I recommend submitting your XML sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
You can also view your Yoast sitemap by typing ‘/sitemap_index.xml’ after your homepage URL.
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console
Submitting your XML sitemap to Google is a relatively straightforward process.
Here’s what you need to do:
Log in to your Google Search Console account. If you haven’t set up an account yet, you’ll need to do so before you can submit your XML sitemap.
Once logged in, select the website for which you want to submit a sitemap.
In the left-hand menu, click on “Sitemaps.”
In the field that appears, enter the URL of your XML sitemap. The URL should look something like this: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml.
Click “Submit” and wait for Google to process your sitemap.
Processing can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the size of your sitemap and the current load on Google’s servers.
Once Google has processed your XML sitemap, you should see a status message indicating whether it was processed successfully or if there were any errors.
That’s it! Once your XML sitemap is successfully submitted, Google will begin crawling your website and indexing its pages.
Be sure to check back periodically to ensure that your sitemap is still up-to-date and that there are no errors.
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools
Submitting your sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools is essential to ensure the Bing search engine indexes your website.
Here’s how to do it:
Log in to your Bing Webmaster Tools account.
If you don’t have one, sign up for free at the Bing Webmaster Tools website.
Add your website to Bing Webmaster Tools.
Click on “Add a Site” and enter your website URL. Follow the steps to verify your ownership of the site.
Click on the “Sitemaps” option. You can find it in the left-hand menu.
Click Submit Sitemap.
Type your sitemap URL into the box provided and click “Submit”.
Bing will automatically validate the sitemap to ensure it is in the correct format.
Wait for Bing to crawl your sitemap. It may take some time for Bing to crawl your sitemap, but you can check the status in the “Sitemaps” section of your Bing Webmaster Tools account.
That’s it! Once Bing has crawled your sitemap, your website pages should start appearing in Bing search results.
How To Find The Yoast SEO Plugin WordPress Sitemap URL Video Tutorial
Rank Math: WordPress Sitemap Plugin
Step One – Hover Your Mouse Over Rank Math On Your WordPress Admin Menu, Then Select Sitemap Settings
Step Two – Click On The Your Sitemap Index Can Be Found Here: Link
The sitemap for your WordPress site opens in a new browser tab.
You can also type ‘/sitemap_index.xml’ after your homepage URL.
I recommend submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console
Submitting your sitemap to Google is a relatively straightforward process.
Here’s what you need to do:
Log in to your Google Search Console account. If you haven’t set up an account yet, you’ll need to do so before you can submit your sitemap.
Once logged in, select the website for which you want to submit a sitemap.
In the left-hand menu, click on “Sitemaps.”
In the field that appears, enter the URL of your sitemap. The URL should look something like this: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml.
Click “Submit” and wait for Google to process your sitemap.
Processing can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the size of your sitemap and the current load on Google’s servers.
Once Google has processed your sitemap, you should see a status message indicating whether it was processed successfully or if there were any errors.
That’s it! Once your sitemap is successfully submitted, Google will begin crawling your website and indexing its pages.
Be sure to check back periodically to ensure that your sitemap is still up-to-date and that there are no errors.
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools
Submitting your sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools is essential to ensure the Bing search engine indexes your website.
Here’s how to do it:
Log in to your Bing Webmaster Tools account.
If you don’t have one, sign up for free at the Bing Webmaster Tools website.
Add your website to Bing Webmaster Tools.
Click on “Add a Site” and enter your website URL. Follow the steps to verify your ownership of the site.
Click on the “Sitemaps” option. You can find it in the left-hand menu.
Click Submit Sitemap.
Type your sitemap URL into the box provided and click “Submit”.
Bing will automatically validate the sitemap to ensure it is in the correct format.
Wait for Bing to crawl your sitemap. It may take some time for Bing to crawl your sitemap, but you can check the status in the “Sitemaps” section of your Bing Webmaster Tools account.
That’s it! Once Bing has crawled your sitemap, your website pages should start appearing in Bing search results.
All In One: WordPress Sitemap Plugin
Step One – Hover Your Mouse Over All In One SEO In Your WordPress Menu, Then Select Sitemaps
Step Two – Click On The Open Sitemap Link.
Your WordPress site sitemap opens in a new browser tab.
You can also view your All in One SEO sitemap by typing ‘/sitemap.xml’ after your homepage URL.
I recommend submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console
Submitting your sitemap to Google is a relatively straightforward process.
Here’s what you need to do:
Log in to your Google Search Console account. If you haven’t set up an account yet, you’ll need to do so before you can submit your sitemap.
Once logged in, select the website for which you want to submit a sitemap.
In the left-hand menu, click on “Sitemaps.”
In the field that appears, enter the URL of your sitemap. The URL should look something like this: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml.
Click “Submit” and wait for Google to process your sitemap.
Processing can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the size of your sitemap and the current load on Google’s servers.
Once Google has processed your sitemap, you should see a status message indicating whether it was processed successfully or if there were any errors.
That’s it! Once your sitemap is successfully submitted, Google will begin crawling your website and indexing its pages.
Be sure to check back periodically to ensure that your sitemap is still up-to-date and that there are no errors.
How to Submit Your Sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools
Submitting your sitemap to Bing Webmaster Tools is essential to ensure the Bing search engine indexes your website.
Here’s how to do it:
Log in to your Bing Webmaster Tools account.
If you don’t have one, sign up for free at the Bing Webmaster Tools website.
Add your website to Bing Webmaster Tools.
Click on “Add a Site” and enter your website URL. Follow the steps to verify your ownership of the site.
Click on the “Sitemaps” option. You can find it in the left-hand menu.
Click Submit Sitemap.
Type your sitemap URL into the box provided and click “Submit”.
Bing will automatically validate the sitemap to ensure it is in the correct format.
Wait for Bing to crawl your sitemap. It may take some time for Bing to crawl your sitemap, but you can check the status in the “Sitemaps” section of your Bing Webmaster Tools account.
That’s it! Once Bing has crawled your sitemap, your website pages should start appearing in Bing search results.
Troubleshooting Common Issues with WordPress Sitemaps
Sitemaps are an essential part of a website’s structure, but sometimes issues related to them can arise.
Here are some common issues that you might face while using sitemaps in WordPress, along with some troubleshooting tips:
WordPress Sitemap not showing up When Using Yoast SEO Plugin
If your sitemap is not showing up or is missing some pages with the Yoast SEO plugin, you can try regenerating your sitemap.
To do this, go to your WordPress dashboard, click “SEO,” and then “General.”
Look for the “Features” tab, and ensure the “XML sitemaps” feature is on.
Then, click the “XML sitemaps” tab and click “Save Changes.”
This regenerates your sitemap, which should now display your website’s pages.
Alternatively, try disabling any conflicting plugins that might interfere with your sitemap.
Incorrect URLs in the sitemap
If you see incorrect URLs in your sitemap, it might be due to an error in your website’s permalink structure.
To fix this issue, go to your WordPress dashboard, click “Settings,” and then “Permalinks.”
Ensure that your permalink structure is correct and matches the URL structure in your sitemap.
Then, regenerate your sitemap as described above.
Sitemap submission errors
If you encounter errors while submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console, it might be due to an issue with your sitemap.
Before submitting your sitemap, ensure it is formatted correctly and does not have errors.
You can use an online sitemap validator tool to check for any issues with your sitemap.
If you find any errors, fix them and regenerate your sitemap. Then, try resubmitting your sitemap to Google Search Console.
By troubleshooting these common issues, you can ensure that your sitemap works correctly and helps search engines discover and index your website’s content.
What is an HTML Sitemap?
An HTML sitemap is a page on a website listing all the pages and posts in a hierarchical structure.
Unlike an XML sitemap, which is for search engines, an HTML sitemap is designed for human users to help them navigate the website more easily.
HTML sitemaps are often included in the footer or main navigation of a website to make it easy for users to find the content they’re looking for.
They can also be useful for improving website accessibility and overall user experience.
However, it’s important to note that HTML sitemaps are not as important for SEO as XML sitemaps are.
HTML Sitemap Generator
If your website doesn’t have an HTML sitemap, you can create one using a sitemap generator tool.
Many free and paid tools are available online that can help you generate an HTML sitemap quickly and easily.
Some popular sitemap generators include:
XML Sitemap Generator
This is a free online tool that generates both XML and HTML sitemaps for your website.
Enter your website’s URL and follow the instructions to create a sitemap.
Screaming Frog
This is a paid desktop tool that can crawl your website and generate XML and HTML sitemaps.
It’s a powerful tool that can also help you identify technical SEO issues on your website.
Once you’ve generated your HTML sitemap, add it to your website’s footer or main navigation so that users can easily access it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a WordPress Sitemap?
A WordPress sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website to help search engines like Google understand the structure of your site.
It’s essentially a roadmap telling search engines where to go to find all your content.
Why Do You Need an XML Sitemap?
An XML sitemap makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your website.
It can help improve your website’s SEO and increase the chances of your content appearing on search engine results pages (SERPs).
How do I find my WordPress sitemap URL?
To find your sitemap URL add “/sitemap.xml” to the end of your website’s domain name.
For example, if your domain name is www.example.com, your sitemap URL will be www.example.com/sitemap.xml.
What should be the sitemap URL?
The sitemap URL should be www.yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml. You can access your sitemap by typing this URL into your browser.
How do I add a URL to my WordPress sitemap?
You don’t have to add URLs to your WordPress sitemap.
Once you create and publish new pages or posts on your website, they will automatically be added to your sitemap.
Does WordPress have a built-in sitemap?
WordPress has a built-in sitemap that updates whenever you publish or update your website content.
You can access your sitemap by adding “/sitemap.xml” to the end of your website’s domain name.
Conclusion
Sitemaps are essential for your WordPress site.
Sitemaps help search engines index your content. Once indexed, your blog posts can start showing on search result pages.
Google and Bing scan for new and updated websites. Submit your sitemap to Google and Bing to get indexed faster.
Learn more about WordPress sitemaps by checking out my What Is A WordPress Sitemap? article.
I hope you found my article informative. If you have any questions, please leave them below.
John is the founder of Newblogr.com and has a background in retail and travel. However, his true passion lies in building WordPress websites and mastering the art of SEO. He is committed to helping new bloggers build successful websites by providing top-notch SEO services. John hopes to inspire and empower bloggers to reach their goals.
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