A sitemap is a file on your website that lists every page you want Google to know about. Think of it as a table of contents for search engines. Without one, Google has to discover your pages by following links — and it might miss pages that aren't linked prominently.
XML sitemaps vs. HTML sitemaps
There are two types of sitemaps, and they serve different purposes:
XML sitemap — This is for search engines, not humans. It's a structured data file (usually at yoursite.com/sitemap.xml) that lists every URL on your site along with metadata like when it was last updated. This is what people mean when they say "sitemap" in an SEO context.
HTML sitemap — This is a regular webpage that lists all your pages with clickable links. It's for visitors, not search engines. Some sites put these in their footer. They're less important for SEO but can help visitors navigate complex sites.
For small business SEO, the XML sitemap is what matters.
Does your site need a sitemap?
Google's own documentation says sitemaps are "helpful but not required." However, they strongly recommend them if:
- Your site has more than a handful of pages
- You have pages that aren't well-linked from other pages
- Your site is new and has few external links pointing to it
- You add or change content frequently
In practice, every business website should have a sitemap. It takes minutes to set up and there's no downside. It's like giving Google a map instead of hoping it finds everything on its own.
How to check if you have one
Try visiting these URLs (replace with your domain):
yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xmlyourwebsite.com/sitemap_index.xml
If you see XML code listing your pages, you have a sitemap. If you get a 404 error, you don't. Antileak checks for this automatically in every scan — it's one of the first things we look at.
How to create a sitemap
WordPress
WordPress (version 5.5+) generates a basic sitemap automatically at /wp-sitemap.xml. For more control, install Yoast SEO or Rank Math — both generate comprehensive sitemaps that update automatically when you publish or update content.
Squarespace
Squarespace automatically creates and maintains a sitemap at /sitemap.xml. You don't need to do anything — it updates whenever you add or change pages.
Wix
Wix automatically generates a sitemap at /sitemap.xml. Like Squarespace, it's maintained automatically.
Custom / Static sites
If you have a hand-built site, you can create a sitemap manually or use a free online generator. The format is straightforward XML listing each URL.
How to submit your sitemap to Google
- Go to Google Search Console (search.google.com/search-console)
- Add and verify your website if you haven't already
- Click "Sitemaps" in the left sidebar
- Enter your sitemap URL (usually
sitemap.xml) - Click "Submit"
Google will start crawling your sitemap within a few days. You can check back to see how many pages were discovered and if any had errors. This is also a great way to get your site showing up on Google faster.
Don't forget robots.txt. Your robots.txt file should reference your sitemap with the line: Sitemap: https://yoursite.com/sitemap.xml. This helps search engines find your sitemap even before you submit it manually.
Common sitemap mistakes
- Including pages you don't want indexed — don't list admin pages, thank-you pages, or duplicate content
- Not updating it — if your sitemap is stale, Google might not revisit old pages. Use a plugin or platform that updates automatically
- Listing broken URLs — if your sitemap includes pages that return 404 errors, it sends a bad signal. Keep it clean with no broken links
A well-maintained sitemap is one of the simplest things you can do for your website health. Set it up once, make sure it updates automatically, and submit it to Google. Then move on to the next item on your SEO checklist.