When you build a website using WordPress or any other CMS, learning how to create XML sitemap in WordPress is essential.
Why is it important? In a nutshell, a sitemap helps (1) visitors/users and (2) search engines navigate your website more efficiently. That’s why sitemaps are crucial for making a SEO-friendly website.
In this article, we’ll discuss what a sitemap is and how to create a sitemap using various methods, allowing you to choose the best approach for your site.
Additionally, we’ll also cover how to submit your sitemap to search engines after successfully generating it. Read the full guide below!
Table of Contents
What is a Sitemap?
Before diving into how to create a sitemap, you might need a clearer understanding of what a sitemap is. This will give you a more concrete idea of its importance.
A sitemap is a file that contains a list of web pages on your website, organized hierarchically. This structure helps search engines find and index these pages efficiently.
Search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo! Search, DuckDuckGo, Yandex, Baidu, and OneSearch rely on sitemaps to crawl, process, and store information from web pages before adding them to search results.
In short, a sitemap helps both users and search engines navigate your website more quickly and efficiently.
Key Functions of a Sitemap
Many of the best web designs utilize sitemaps because they enhance website optimization. Here are some of their key functions:
- Helps Search Engines Crawl Your Website – A sitemap provides a roadmap that enables search engines to discover and index all the pages on your site.
- Speeds Up Indexing – By listing URLs and metadata, sitemaps help search engines quickly find and index new or updated content.
- Improves Site Organization – For users, an HTML sitemap makes website navigation easier, especially for large websites with many pages.
- Enhances Multimedia Indexing – Image and video sitemaps help search engines find and index multimedia content that may not be easily discoverable.
- Boosts SEO Performance – Ensuring that all important pages are indexed contributes to better search engine optimization (SEO) and improves website visibility.
- Supports Complex Website Structures – If a website has complex navigation or dynamic content, a sitemap ensures that search engines can still access all relevant pages.
- Enables Reporting & Analysis – A sitemap allows website owners to track indexing activity, helping refine SEO strategies.
These are some of the key functions of a sitemap. In addition to sitemaps, you can also optimize your website by adding meta descriptions to your posts for better search engine rankings.
Types of Sitemaps on a WordPress Website
Generally, sitemaps are divided into two types: HTML sitemaps and XML sitemaps. Both are commonly used on WordPress websites and other platforms. Here’s a detailed explanation:
1. HTML Sitemap
An HTML sitemap is designed to be displayed on a website page and is meant for users. It presents the site structure in an easily readable format, helping visitors navigate the website more efficiently.
With a user-friendly layout, an HTML sitemap improves navigation and makes content easier to find.
2. XML Sitemap
An XML sitemap is primarily used for search engines. It provides a list of URLs along with additional data about each page, such as:
- Last updated date
- Update frequency
- Page priority relative to other pages
This format makes it easier for search engines to crawl websites efficiently.
More Specific Types of XML Sitemaps:
- Image Sitemap – Helps search engines index website images more effectively, making them easier to find in image search results.
- Video Sitemap – Provides metadata for video content, including title, description, duration, and the webpage URL where the video is hosted.
- News Sitemap – Used for news websites to help Google News index new articles quickly.
- Mobile Sitemap – Designed for websites with mobile-specific versions, ensuring search engines properly index mobile-friendly content.
To view a sitemap, visit the website’s homepage and add one of the following paths:
- /sitemap
- /sitemap.xml
- /sitemap_index.xml
Example: https://pintarjualan.id/sitemap_index.xml
If these paths don’t work, try checking /robots.txt to find the sitemap’s actual location.
How to Create XML Sitemap in WordPress Website
One of the common myths about WordPress is that creating a sitemap is difficult. However, the truth is the opposite! Thanks to numerous WordPress plugins, generating a sitemap is quick and easy.
To use these plugins, you may first want to learn how to install a WordPress plugin for a smooth setup. Once you’re familiar with that, follow these steps to create an XML sitemap using Rank Math SEO:
1. Creating an XML Sitemap with Rank Math SEO Plugin
A well-structured URL sitemap helps search engine crawlers index your website efficiently. One of the best ways to generate a sitemap is by using the Rank Math SEO plugin. Follow these steps:
- Go to WordPress Dashboard > click Plugins in the left sidebar.
- Select Add New > search for Rank Math SEO > click Install Now > then click Activate.
- Once activated, open the Rank Math SEO menu in the left sidebar > select Sitemap Settings.
- In the General tab, configure sitemap settings, including links per sitemap, images in sitemaps, and other options.
- Click Save Changes after setting up the sitemap.
- To find your sitemap URL, check the top section of the General tab.
That’s it! Creating a sitemap in WordPress is that simple. This ease of use is one of the key benefits of using WordPress for website development.
Aside from Rank Math SEO, you can also use other SEO plugins like Yoast SEO to create a sitemap.
2. Creating a WordPress Sitemap with the Yoast SEO Plugin
Another way to generate a sitemap in WordPress is by using the Yoast SEO plugin. This plugin is trusted by over 5 million users worldwide. Follow these steps to create a sitemap with Yoast SEO:
- Go to WordPress Dashboard > click Plugins in the left sidebar.
- Select Add New > search for Yoast SEO > click Install Now > then click Activate.
- Once installed, click the SEO menu in the left sidebar > select General > open the Features tab.
- Scroll down to XML sitemaps > ensure it is turned on.
- Click Save Changes.
- To view your XML sitemap URL, click the Question Mark icon > select See the XML Sitemap.
That’s how you can generate a sitemap using Yoast SEO. Another plugin you can try is Google XML Sitemaps.
Besides using WordPress plugins, you can also create a sitemap manually. However, sometimes the sitemap doesn’t appear or returns a 404 error when accessed. If that happens, check out our guide on troubleshooting sitemap issues.
How to Submit a Sitemap to Search Engines
After successfully generating a sitemap in WordPress, the next step is to submit it to search engines. Here, we’ll use Google Search Console (GSC) as an example.
Before proceeding, ensure you have created a GSC account. Then, follow these steps:
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Navigate to the Sitemaps section under the Indexing tab on the left.
- Enter your sitemap URL in the Add a new sitemap field.
- Click Submit and wait for the confirmation message: “Sitemap submitted successfully.”
- Done!
Submitting your sitemap to Google Search Console helps in (1) faster indexing of your website by Google, and (2) identifying errors in your sitemap, if any.
Successfully Created a Sitemap in WordPress?
That concludes our guide on what a sitemap is, its functions, types, and how to create XML sitemap in WordPress website with ease. Even if you’re using the Gutenberg editor, you can still apply these methods.
If you encounter any difficulties in managing your WordPress website, you can collaborate with Tonjoo’s expert team, which has over 10 years of experience in WordPress-based website development.
Contact us via Tonjoo Contact Page. Let’s optimize your website with Tonjoo!
Read related articles about WordPress, WooCommerce, plugins, and other website development topics by Moch. Nasikhun Amin on the Tonjoo’s blog.
Updated on March 14, 2025 by Moch. Nasikhun Amin
