Easy Steps to Submit Sitemap to WordPress & Database

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. What is a Sitemap?
3. Types of Sitemaps
   • 3.1 Sitemap.xml
   • 3.2 Sitemap.html
4. Understanding Sitemap.xml
   • 4.1 Importance of Sitemap.xml
5. Generating a Sitemap.xml
   • 5.1 Using xml-sitemaps.com
     • 5.1.1 Step 1: Access xml-sitemaps.com
     • 5.1.2 Step 2: Generate the Sitemap
     • 5.1.3 Step 3: View Sitemap Details
     • 5.1.4 Step 4: Download the Sitemap
   • 5.2 Using WordPress Plugin (Yoast SEO)
     • 5.2.1 Step 1: Install and Activate Yoast SEO Plugin
     • 5.2.2 Step 2: Enable XML Sitemaps
6. Submitting the Sitemap
   • 6.1 Using cPanel
   • 6.2 Using Google Search Console
7. Conclusion

Introduction

In this video, we will explore the process of generating a sitemap.xml file and submitting it to search engines. The importance of sitemaps and their different types will be discussed, with a focus on sitemap.xml. We will cover two ways to generate sitemaps: using xml-sitemaps.com and through a WordPress plugin called Yoast SEO. Additionally, we will explore how to submit sitemaps using cPanel and Google Search Console.

What is a Sitemap?

A sitemap is a file that provides information about the pages, videos, and other files on a website. It serves as a guide for search engines, allowing them to easily crawl and index the content on the site. By including a sitemap, website owners can ensure that search engines discover and understand the structure of their websites.

Types of Sitemaps

There are two main types of sitemaps: sitemap.xml and sitemap.html.

Sitemap.xml

A sitemap.xml file is an XML file that lists the URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of a website's pages, along with metadata about each page. This file helps search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of the website. It is essential for ensuring all important pages are indexed by search engines.

Sitemap.html

A sitemap.html file is an HTML page that contains links to all the pages on a website. It is primarily used for improving user experience by providing a clear navigation path for website visitors.

Understanding Sitemap.xml

Sitemap.xml is a specifically formatted XML file that provides search engines with information about the URLs, metadata, and priority of pages on a website. This helps search engines prioritize and index the pages more efficiently.

Importance of Sitemap.xml

• Better Crawling: Sitemap.xml allows search engines to crawl and discover all the important pages of a website.
• Improved Indexing: By providing metadata and priority information, website owners can influence how search engines index their pages.
• Enhanced Visibility: Sitemap.xml increases the visibility of a website in search engine results by ensuring all relevant pages are indexed.
• Regular Updates: Website owners can notify search engines about any changes or updates to their website's pages through sitemap.xml, ensuring that the most recent content is indexed.

Generating a Sitemap.xml

There are several methods to generate a sitemap.xml file. We will explore two popular methods: using xml-sitemaps.com and utilizing the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress websites.

Using xml-sitemaps.com

The following steps outline the process of generating a sitemap.xml using xml-sitemaps.com:

Step 1: Access xml-sitemaps.com

To begin, visit www.xml-sitemaps.com. This website provides a user-friendly interface for generating sitemaps.

Step 2: Generate the Sitemap

On the xml-sitemaps.com website, you need to enter the URL of the website for which you want to generate a sitemap. Simply copy and paste the URL into the provided field and click on the "Start" button.

Step 3: View Sitemap Details

Once the sitemap generation process is complete, you will see the number of pages that have been scanned and added to the sitemap. Review the details to ensure all relevant pages have been included.

Step 4: Download the Sitemap

After verifying the sitemap details, you can download the generated sitemap.xml file by clicking on the appropriate button. Save the file to your computer for future use.

Using WordPress Plugin (Yoast SEO)

If you have a WordPress website, you can generate a sitemap.xml file using the Yoast SEO plugin. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Install and Activate Yoast SEO Plugin

Ensure that the Yoast SEO plugin is installed and activated on your WordPress website. If it's not already installed, download and activate the plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.

Step 2: Enable XML Sitemaps

Once Yoast SEO is activated, go to the plugin's settings by clicking on "SEO" in the WordPress dashboard. Navigate to the "General" settings and click on the "Features" tab. Scroll down until you find the "XML sitemaps" option and switch it to the "On" position.

By enabling XML sitemaps in Yoast SEO, a sitemap.xml file will be automatically generated for your WordPress website.

Submitting the Sitemap

After you have generated your sitemap.xml file, you need to submit it to search engines. There are multiple ways to submit a sitemap, including using cPanel and Google Search Console.

Using cPanel

If you have cPanel access for your website, follow these steps to submit the sitemap:

1. Access the cPanel dashboard of your hosting account.
2. Navigate to the "File Manager" option and open it.
3. Find the "public_html" folder and open it.
4. Click on the "Upload" button and select your sitemap.xml file from your computer.
5. After the file is uploaded, remove any numbers or additional characters from the file name (e.g., sitemap2.xml should be renamed to sitemap.xml).
6. Once renamed, the sitemap.xml file is successfully uploaded to your website.

Using Google Search Console

To submit your sitemap.xml file using Google Search Console, follow these steps:

1. Access the Google Search Console dashboard.
2. Select your website from the list or add it if it's not already verified.
3. In the left-hand menu, click on "Sitemaps" under the "Index" section.
4. Click on the "Add a New Sitemap" button.
5. In the provided field, enter the URL of your sitemap.xml file (e.g., https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml).
6. Click on the "Submit" button to submit the sitemap to Google.

Once submitted, Google will regularly crawl and index the pages specified in your sitemap.xml file.

Conclusion

Sitemaps play a crucial role in optimizing a website for search engines. Generating a sitemap.xml file ensures that the pages on a website are effectively crawled and indexed. By following the steps outlined in this video, you can generate and submit a sitemap.xml file using xml-sitemaps.com or the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress. Remember to periodically update your sitemap.xml file to include any new or updated pages on your website, allowing search engines to discover and index them more efficiently.