/ SEO
What is an XML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a file listing every important page on your site, submitted to Google to help it discover and index content. Every serious site should have one.
/ 01
The short version
An XML sitemap is basically an index card for search engines. Google can crawl your site without one, but the sitemap tells it exactly which pages you want indexed and when they were last updated.
/ 02
What to include
Every canonical, indexable page you want ranked. Exclude: admin pages, thank-you pages, filtered category URLs, duplicate content, staging URLs, PDF downloads (unless publicly indexed).
/ 03
How to create one
WordPress: Yoast, RankMath, or All in One SEO auto-generate. Shopify: automatic at /sitemap.xml. Webflow: automatic. Custom sites: generate programmatically and cache. Test it validates in Search Console.
/ 04
Submit and monitor
Submit at Google Search Console → Sitemaps. Check monthly for errors. Update lastmod dates when pages actually change (not falsely, as some CMS plugins do — Google notices).
/ 05
Where RIOT fits in
We're a small Colchester studio helping UK SMBs get your indexing setup right without agency waste or freelancer flake. If you've read this far and you want a second opinion on your specific setup, book a 20-minute call and we'll tell you honestly whether it's worth doing anything at all.
We work with clients across Essex, Suffolk, London and the wider UK — and remotely with brands abroad. No lock-in, no monthly retainer minimums, no pretending your problem is bigger than it is.
/ FAQs
Common questions
How big can a sitemap be?
50,000 URLs or 50MB uncompressed per file. Above that, split into multiple sitemaps and use a sitemap index.
Do sitemaps guarantee indexing?
No — they help discovery. Actual indexing depends on content quality, authority, and technical setup.
Still not sure?
Book a free 20-minute call — we'll answer your specific version of this question with no sales pitch.
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