Yoast SEO automatically creates an XML sitemap that you can customize and submit to search engines for better site indexing.
Understanding the Role of Sitemaps in SEO
Sitemaps serve as roadmaps for search engines, guiding them through your website’s structure. They list all important pages, helping crawlers discover and index your content efficiently. Without a sitemap, search engines might miss new or updated pages, especially on large or complex sites. This can slow down your site’s visibility in search results.
Yoast SEO simplifies this by generating an XML sitemap automatically. This file adheres to search engine standards and updates in real-time as you add or modify content. It ensures every key page is listed and accessible to crawlers without manual intervention.
Activating Sitemap Generation in Yoast SEO
Generating a sitemap using Yoast SEO is straightforward but requires knowing where to look in the plugin settings. Start by logging into your WordPress dashboard and navigating to the Yoast SEO plugin panel.
Under the General tab, click on the Features section. You’ll find a toggle labeled XML sitemaps. Ensure this is switched on; if it’s off, Yoast won’t generate any sitemap for your site.
Once enabled, a link appears titled See the XML sitemap—clicking this opens your sitemap index file (usually located at `yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml`). This index file lists individual sitemaps for posts, pages, categories, and other content types.
Key Settings Affecting Sitemap Content
Yoast lets you fine-tune which content appears in your sitemap. Under the Search Appearance tab, you can exclude specific post types or taxonomies from being included.
For example:
- If you want to hide certain categories from search engines, you can set their visibility to “No” under the taxonomies tab.
- If some pages are under construction or irrelevant for indexing, exclude them here.
This control helps prevent low-value or duplicate content from cluttering your sitemap and confusing search engines.
How To Generate Sitemap In Yoast SEO: Step-by-Step Guide
Here’s a detailed walkthrough of generating and customizing your sitemap with Yoast SEO:
- Install and activate Yoast SEO: Download from WordPress repository if not already done.
- Access Yoast settings: From WordPress dashboard, click on “SEO” in the sidebar.
- Enable XML sitemaps: Under “General” > “Features”, toggle XML sitemaps to “On.”
- View your sitemap: Click “See the XML sitemap” link that appears.
- Customize content visibility: Go to “Search Appearance,” adjust which post types or taxonomies appear.
- Exclude specific URLs: Use the “Advanced” tab on individual posts/pages to set “Allow search engines to show this Page in search results?” to “No.”
This process ensures that Yoast generates a clean, relevant sitemap tailored to your site’s needs.
Sitemap Structure Generated by Yoast SEO
Yoast produces a sitemap index file which references multiple sub-sitemaps organized by content type. Here’s an overview:
| Sitemap Type | Description | Typical URL Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Posts Sitemap | Lists all blog posts published on the site. | /post-sitemap.xml |
| Pages Sitemap | Covers all standard WordPress pages created by users. | /page-sitemap.xml |
| Taxonomies Sitemap | Includes categories and tags used for organizing posts. | /category-sitemap.xml /tag-sitemap.xml |
This modular approach helps search engines digest large websites efficiently by breaking down URLs into manageable chunks.
Troubleshooting Common Issues With Sitemaps in Yoast SEO
Sometimes sitemaps don’t appear as expected or don’t include all desired URLs. Here are common pitfalls and fixes:
- Sitemap Not Found: Make sure permalinks are enabled (non-default). Go to Settings > Permalinks and select anything other than Plain.
- Caching Conflicts: Some caching plugins may serve outdated sitemaps. Clear caches after enabling sitemaps or disable caching temporarily for testing.
- Noindex Settings Overriding Inclusion: Pages marked as noindex won’t appear in sitemaps even if enabled elsewhere.
- Sitemap Too Large: Search engines limit sitemaps to 50,000 URLs or 50MB uncompressed size. Large sites should split content logically using categories or custom post types.
- Sitemap Not Updating: Changes may take time due to server caching or CDN delays; manually refreshing caches helps speed updates.
- Error Messages from Search Consoles: Validate your sitemap URL with tools like Google Search Console’s Sitemap report to check for syntax errors or unreachable URLs.
Addressing these issues ensures smooth operation of your generated sitemaps.
The Importance of Submitting Your Sitemap To Search Engines
Generating a sitemap is half the battle; submitting it correctly accelerates indexing. Google Search Console allows webmasters to submit their sitemap URL directly under the “Sitemaps” section.
Submitting:
- Alerts Google about new pages.
- Provides crawl stats.
- Helps identify errors within submitted URLs.
Similarly, Bing Webmaster Tools supports direct submission of sitemaps created by Yoast SEO. Doing so improves crawl efficiency and can boost how quickly fresh content appears in search results.
Even without manual submission, modern search engines often discover sitemaps via robots.txt references or through backlinks; however, submission guarantees priority attention.
Sitemap Entry Example in robots.txt File
Adding this line at the top of your robots.txt file points crawlers directly at your sitemap:
sitemap: https://yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml
This simple directive complements manual submissions and provides an additional discovery method for bots scanning your site.
The Impact Of Customized Sitemaps On Website Performance
Customizing which URLs appear impacts both crawl budget and SEO effectiveness. Crawl budget refers to how many pages a search engine bot will crawl during each visit—especially critical for large sites with thousands of URLs.
By excluding irrelevant pages such as admin-only sections, duplicate archives, or thin content pages using Yoast’s settings:
- You conserve crawl budget.
- Focus crawler attention on valuable pages.
- Reduce risk of duplicate content penalties.
Moreover, clean sitemaps improve user experience indirectly by ensuring only relevant indexed pages surface in organic searches.
Sitemap Customization Options In Detail
Yoast SEO offers several granular controls:
- Noindex Post Types: Set entire post types like attachments or media files as noindex so they don’t appear in sitemaps.
- Noindex Taxonomies: Hide tags if they add little value but keep categories visible if they organize content well.
- User Roles And Permissions: Restrict certain private pages from being indexed by setting them noindex individually.
- Date-Based Archives: Disable date archives entirely if they cause duplicate content issues.
- Pagination Control: Only include canonical versions of paginated series rather than every page link.
These options help tailor exactly what crawlers see without needing complex technical adjustments outside WordPress.
The Role Of XML Sitemaps In Enhancing Mobile And Voice Search Visibility
Mobile-first indexing means Google predominantly uses mobile versions of websites when determining rankings. A well-structured XML sitemap ensures mobile-specific pages get indexed properly alongside desktop versions if they differ.
Similarly, voice assistants rely heavily on structured data and fast access to authoritative information. Sitemaps expedite crawling frequency so fresh updates reach voice platforms quicker.
Hence:
- Keep mobile-friendly URLs included.
- Exclude desktop-only resources.
- Update regularly when mobile layouts change significantly.
Yoast automatically handles most adjustments here but understanding these nuances helps optimize further when needed.
Key Takeaways: How To Generate Sitemap In Yoast SEO
➤ Enable XML sitemaps in Yoast SEO settings.
➤ Access sitemap URL via yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml.
➤ Submit sitemap to Google Search Console for indexing.
➤ Exclude unwanted content from sitemap in plugin settings.
➤ Regularly update sitemap to reflect site changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Generate Sitemap In Yoast SEO Automatically?
Yoast SEO automatically creates an XML sitemap once the plugin is activated and the XML sitemaps feature is enabled. This helps search engines easily find and index your site’s important pages without any manual setup.
Where Can I Find The Sitemap After Generating It In Yoast SEO?
After enabling sitemap generation in Yoast SEO, a link labeled “See the XML sitemap” appears in the plugin’s settings. Clicking this link opens your sitemap index file, usually located at yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml.
Can I Customize Which Pages Appear In The Sitemap Using Yoast SEO?
Yes, Yoast SEO allows you to exclude specific post types or taxonomies from your sitemap. Under the Search Appearance tab, you can control visibility settings to prevent certain pages or categories from being included.
Why Is Generating A Sitemap Important In Yoast SEO?
Sitemaps act as roadmaps for search engines, helping them discover and index content efficiently. Generating a sitemap with Yoast SEO ensures that all key pages are accessible to crawlers, improving your site’s visibility in search results.
What Steps Are Needed To Enable Sitemap Generation In Yoast SEO?
To enable sitemap generation, go to the Yoast SEO settings in your WordPress dashboard. Under General > Features, toggle the XML sitemaps option to “On.” This activates automatic sitemap creation and updates.