In my post, I show you how to create a sitemap in WordPress, step by step. Sitemaps are essential for your website. They help search engines understand the structure of your blog.
The latest version of WordPress adds a sitemap to your blog automatically. Type ‘/wp-sitemap.xml’ after your homepage site address to view.
If you have an SEO plugin installed on your blog, the WordPress sitemap is disabled. The plugin does this to stop your site from having two sitemaps. To find your sitemap URL using an SEO plugin, check out my ‘How To Find Your WordPress Sitemap URL‘ post.
Let’s get started.
How To Add A WordPress Sitemap
The latest version of WordPress creates a sitemap for your blog automatically. Type /wp-sitemap.xml after your homepage URL to view the sitemap.
- Go to your website homepage URL
- Type ‘/wp-sitemap.xml’ after your URL
- Hit enter to view your sitemap
First, go to your website’s homepage.
After your homepage URL, type ‘/wp-sitemap.xml’.
Finally, hit enter to view your sitemap.
Should you have an SEO plugin installed, the WordPress sitemap feature is disabled. SEO plugins do this to stop your site from having two sitemaps.
Read my ‘How To Find Your WordPress Sitemap URL‘ guide to find your sitemap when using an SEO plugin.
Does WordPress Have A Sitemap?
Yes, the latest version of WordPress automatically generates a sitemap for your blog.
Go to your website’s homepage and type ‘/wp-sitemap.xml’ after your homepage URL to view the WordPress sitemap.
How Many Sitemaps Should I Have?
You only need one sitemap for your WordPress blog.
Use the sitemap generated by WordPress. Or install an SEO plugin and use the sitemap they generate for your site.
Once you install an SEO plugin, the WordPress sitemap is disabled.
How Do I Find My WordPress Sitemap?
To find your WordPress sitemap, go to your website’s homepage URL and after the URL, type ‘/wp-sitemap.xml’.
For example, my homepage URL is ‘newblogr.com’. To find my sitemap, I type ‘newblogr.com/wp-sitemap.xml’.
What Is A Sitemap Example?
A WordPress sitemap.
A Yoast SEO plugin generated sitemap.
A RankMath plugin generated sitemap.
An All In One plugin generated sitemap.
Where Do I Submit A Sitemap?
You submit your sitemap to search engines. I recommend you submit your WordPress sitemap to Google and Bing.
How To Submit Your WordPress Sitemap To Google
- Copy your sitemap URL.
- From the Google Search Console dashboard, select ‘Sitemaps’ from the menu on the left.
- Paste your sitemap URL into the ‘Add a new sitemap’ section.
- Click on ‘Submit’.
First, copy your website’s sitemap URL.
On your Google Search Console dashboard, select ‘Sitemaps’ from the menu on the left.
Paste your website’s sitemap URL in the ‘Add a new sitemap’ box, then ‘Submit’.
Under ‘Submitted sitemaps’, you can check when Google last read your sitemap.
How To Submit Your Blog Posts And Sitemap To Google Video Tutorial
How To Submit Your WordPress Sitemap To Bing
- Copy your website’s sitemap URL.
- On the Bing Webmaster Tools dashboard, select ‘Sitemaps’ from the menu on the left-hand side.
- Select the ‘Submit sitemap’ link.
- Paste your sitemap URL, then select ‘Submit’.
First, copy your website’s sitemap URL.
On your Bing Webmaster Tools dashboard, select ‘Sitemaps’ from the menu on the left.
Next, select the ‘Submit sitemap’ link.
In the box, paste your sitemap URL and select ‘Submit’.
Once submitted, you can check when Bing last read your sitemap.
How To Submit Your Blog Posts And Sitemap To Bing Video Tutorial
When Should I Submit A Sitemap?
I recommend you submit a sitemap to Google and Bing when you launch your website. You only need to submit your sitemap once.
The sitemap automatically updates as you publish or update blog posts. Google and Bing read your sitemap frequently and can see changes you make.
How Often Does Google Look At Sitemaps?
Google and Bing look at sitemaps frequently. For my site, Google reads my sitemap almost every day.
I updated this blog post on the 31st of December.
Should You Update Sitemaps?
You do not need to update your sitemap. Each time you publish or edit a blog post, the sitemap updates automatically.
My WordPress wp-sitemap.xml Is Not Working
When you install an SEO plugin, the WordPress generated plugin is disabled to prevent your website from having two sitemaps.
If you have an SEO plugin installed on your website, follow my guide on finding your sitemap when using an SEO plugin.
If you uninstalled your SEO plugin and the WordPress sitemap isn’t working. Go to the permalinks settings on your WordPress admin dashboard.
Click ‘Save Changes’ once. Your WordPress sitemap should work now.
Conclusion
The latest version of WordPress generates a sitemap for your website. Type /wp-sitemap.xml after your homepage URL to view your sitemap.
Your WordPress sitemap updates automatically. Each time you publish or update blog posts, your sitemaps change.
I recommend you submit your WordPress sitemap to both Google and Bing. You only need to submit your sitemap once. Google and Bing read your sitemap frequently.
If you have an SEO plugin installed on your site, your WordPress sitemap is disabled. SEO plugins deactivate the WordPress generated sitemap.
If you have disabled your SEO plugin and want to use the WordPress generated sitemap, go to the ‘Permalinks’ setting on your WordPress admin, and click ‘Save Changes’ once. The WordPress sitemap will start working again.
What sitemap are you using for your WordPress blog? Do you use an SEO plugin or the WordPress sitemap? How long have you been blogging?
Do you have any questions about my blog post? Please leave your questions in the comments section below. I do my best to help all my readers.
Thank you for this very helpful article! All the best!
Thank you for your kind comment.