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XML Sitemaps in Stack

What is an XML Sitemap?​

An XML sitemap is a file that provides information about the pages on your site and their relationships. Search engines like Google use sitemaps to crawl your site more intelligently. This file indicates which pages are important, when they were last updated, and how often they change, along with any alternate language versions.

Do I Need an XML Sitemap?​

When You Might Need One:​

  • Large Sites: If your site has many pages, Google’s web crawlers might miss some new or recently updated pages.
  • Isolated Content: For sites with a large archive of content that isn’t well linked internally, a sitemap ensures Google doesn’t overlook these pages.
  • New Sites: If your site is new with few external links, Google might not discover your pages without a sitemap.
  • Rich Media or News Content: If your site includes video, images, or is featured in Google News, a sitemap can help Google understand this content better.

When You Might Not Need One:​

  • Small Sites: If your site has about 500 pages or less, a sitemap might not be necessary.
  • Simple Hosting Services: Platforms like Blogger or Wix might automatically create a sitemap for you.
  • Well-Linked Sites: If your site is comprehensively linked internally, Google can find all important pages without a sitemap.
  • Minimal Media Content: If you don’t need your media files or news pages indexed, a sitemap might not be required.

Finding XML Sitemap Settings in Stack​

To locate your XML sitemap settings in Stack, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the SITES section in your Stack account.
  2. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of the secondary navigation menu.
  3. Go to the DOMAINS section in your settings.

In the DOMAINS section, you’ll find an "actions" button (three vertical dots) next to each domain. Click this button and select XML Sitemap to manage your sitemaps.

Creating or Changing XML Sitemaps in Stack​

To create or edit an XML sitemap:

  1. In the XML sitemap configuration, click the arrow next to the website or funnel.
  2. Select the pages you want to include in your sitemap.
  3. Click Proceed to continue.
  4. If creating a new sitemap, click Add New.
  5. Review the sitemap details, including the custom URL path and last modified date.
  6. Use the 3-dot action button for options to edit or delete the sitemap.
  7. Click Generate & Save to finalize your sitemap.

Submitting Your Sitemap to Google​

Google checks a sitemap only when it’s new or updated. You can submit your sitemap using Google Search Console:

  1. Open Sitemaps Report: Visit Google's Search Console Help and click "Open Sitemaps Report."
  2. Add Property: If not already done, add your domain to Google Search Console.
  3. Verify Property: Verify your domain to enable data collection.
  4. Navigate to Sitemaps Tab: Go to the "Sitemaps" section in Google Search Console.
  5. Submit Sitemap: Enter the URL of your sitemap (usually sitemap.xml).

After submission, wait for Google to crawl your site. You’ll find useful data in the "Pages" section of Google Search Console.

Alternative Submission Methods​

If you encounter issues with the standard submission:

  1. Robots.txt File: Add your sitemap URL in the robots.txt file. 
    Example: https://www.yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml
  2. Ping Service: Use an HTTP GET request to notify Google. 
    Example: https://www.google.com/ping?sitemap=https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml

These methods ensure your sitemap is recognized by Google, helping improve site visibility and indexing.