5 Tips for Creating an Effective Sitemap

5 Sitemap Tips

1. Include Only Canonical URLs

Don't add pages with parameters, duplicates, or redirects. Only primary canonical versions.

2. Update lastmod Realistically

Only set lastmod when content actually changes. Updating the date daily without changes is spam.

3. Use a Sitemap Index

For sites with more than 10,000 pages, split the map into multiple files with a common index.

4. Submit the Sitemap to Google Search Console

Register the sitemap in Search Console to monitor indexing status.

5. Automate Generation

Set up automatic sitemap generation when new content is published.

What Not to Include in a Sitemap

See also: Robots.txt Generator, Open Graph Preview