How To Create XML Sitemap On WordPress

Creating an XML sitemap on WordPress is an essential step for SEO, as it helps search engines like Google crawl and index your site more efficiently. Here’s how you can create an XML sitemap on WordPress:

1. Use a WordPress SEO Plugin

The easiest way to create an XML sitemap on WordPress is by using a plugin. Popular SEO plugins like Yoast SEO, All in One SEO, or Rank Math come with built-in sitemap functionality.

A. Using Yoast SEO Plugin

Yoast SEO is one of the most popular SEO plugins for WordPress, and it automatically generates an XML sitemap for your site.

Steps:

1. Install and Activate Yoast SEO
   • Go to your WordPress dashboard.
   • Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
   • Search for “Yoast SEO” and click Install Now.
   • Once installed, click Activate.
2. Enable XML Sitemaps
   Yoast automatically creates an XML sitemap upon activation. You can check or modify the settings as follows:
   • In your WordPress dashboard, go to SEO > General.
   • Click on the Features tab.
   • Scroll down to XML sitemaps and ensure that the switch is set to “On”.
   • If it’s already on, the sitemap is active.
3. View Your XML Sitemap
   • Click the question mark icon next to the XML sitemaps feature.
   • You’ll see a link to See the XML sitemap. Click it to view your sitemap.
   • Your sitemap will be located at https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml.

B. Using All in One SEO (AIOSEO)

Another powerful SEO plugin, All in One SEO, also generates sitemaps easily.

Steps:

1. Install and Activate All in One SEO (AIOSEO)
   • Go to Plugins > Add New and search for “All in One SEO”.
   • Click Install Now and then Activate.
2. Enable XML Sitemap
   • In your dashboard, go to All in One SEO > Sitemaps.
   • Make sure the Enable Sitemap option is turned on.
3. View and Customize Sitemap
   • AIOSEO will automatically generate the sitemap, and you can view it at https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml.
   • You can customize your sitemap to include/exclude pages, posts, or custom post types by adjusting the settings in the Sitemap section.

C. Using Rank Math Plugin

Rank Math is another SEO plugin with built-in XML sitemap functionality.

Steps:

1. Install and Activate Rank Math
   • Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Rank Math,” and install it.
   • Activate the plugin.
2. Enable Sitemap in Rank Math
   • Navigate to Rank Math > Sitemap Settings.
   • Ensure the Sitemap switch is enabled.
3. View Your Sitemap
   • The XML sitemap is typically available at https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml.

2. Use the Default WordPress Sitemap

As of WordPress 5.5, WordPress has a built-in sitemap feature, meaning you don’t necessarily need a plugin. However, this is a basic sitemap and doesn’t offer as much control as plugins like Yoast or AIOSEO.

Steps:

• Simply go to https://yourdomain.com/wp-sitemap.xml to view the default sitemap generated by WordPress.

3. Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console

Once your XML sitemap is created, it’s important to submit it to Google to help them crawl and index your site faster.

Steps:

1. Sign in to Google Search Console and select your website.
2. Navigate to the Sitemaps section in the left-hand menu.
3. In the Add a new sitemap field, enter the URL of your sitemap (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml or https://yourdomain.com/wp-sitemap.xml).
4. Click Submit.

Google will then crawl your sitemap and start indexing your pages accordingly.

Conclusion

Creating an XML sitemap in WordPress is simple with the use of SEO plugins or the built-in WordPress feature. The sitemap helps search engines discover your pages more effectively, improving your site’s visibility in search results. Once created, don’t forget to submit it to Google Search Console for faster indexing!