Including your XML sitemap in robots.txt can be a helpful way to improve your website’s SEO, but is it required? In this simple guide, we’ll explain everything – what XML Sitemaps are and if they should be included in robots.txt. If by the end of the article you want to include your XML sitemap in robots.txt, we’ll explain how.XML sitemaps and robots.txt are two vital components in the world of SEO. They serve distinct purposes in optimizing your website’s visibility and accessibility to search engines. However, when used strategically together, they can greatly enhance your site’s performance in search engine rankings. In this guide, we will delve into the significance of including XML sitemaps in robots.txt and how this practice can benefit your website’s SEO efforts.
What is an XML sitemap?
An XML sitemap is a file on your website that tells search engines about the organization of your site’s content. XML stands for Extensible Markup Language. A sitemap is an XML document that lists the URLs for a site. It allows the webmaster to include additional information about each URL: when the last update was, how often it changes, and how important it is in relation to other URLs on the site. This way, search engines can crawl your site more intelligently.
What is robots.txt?
A robots.txt file is considered a crawl directive. This means that it tells search engine bots how to crawl your website and instructs them to follow a strict syntax. The purpose of robots.txt files is to tell search engines which URLs they are allowed to crawl.
The reason why including a robots.txt file on your website is crucial is that this is the first thing bots look for upon visiting your website. Even if you want bots to crawl your entire website, you should still include a default robots.txt file that directs bots in a way that helps your SEO.
Why include your XML sitemap in robots.txt?
Including your XML sitemap in your robots.txt file offers several compelling advantages for your website’s SEO and overall performance.
1. Enhanced Crawling Precision: When search engine crawlers access your XML sitemap through the robots.txt file, you provide them with a well-defined route to navigate your site. This results in more accurate indexing of your web pages, as crawlers can effectively identify and prioritize important content. As a result, your website’s crucial pages are more likely to be indexed promptly, contributing to improved search engine rankings.
2. Improved Website Visibility: XML sitemaps serve as a communication tool between your website and search engines, informing them about the structure and organization of your content. By making this information readily available in your robots.txt file, you assist search engines in understanding your site’s hierarchy and relevance. Consequently, your website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) can significantly increase.
3. Efficient Content Updates: Websites frequently update their content to remain relevant and informative. When your XML sitemap is included in the robots.txt file, search engines are more likely to revisit your site regularly, scanning for fresh content. This proactive approach ensures that any new pages or modifications are promptly identified and indexed, allowing your site to maintain its competitive edge in the dynamic digital landscape.
4. Streamlined Crawl Management: For larger websites with multiple XML sitemaps, the robots.txt file can serve as a central hub for managing crawl directives. By specifying different sitemaps for various sections of your site, you can tailor the crawling process to align with your content strategy. This level of control ensures that search engines allocate crawl resources efficiently, focusing on the most critical areas of your website.
Incorporating your XML sitemap into your robots.txt file isn’t just a best practice; it’s a strategic move that can elevate your SEO efforts and ultimately lead to improved search engine visibility and user engagement. Next, we’ll explore how to seamlessly integrate your XML sitemap into your robots.txt file, ensuring a harmonious relationship between these essential components.
How to include your XML sitemap in robots.txt
If you decide to include your XML Sitemap in your robots.txt file, here are the steps you need to take.
- Locate your XML Sitemap. Your sitemap is most likely located in the root directory of your domain, as explained above. The file can be placed anywhere publicly accessible on the website domain. You can access the file directory on your website and search for the sitemap. Otherwise, you can use sitemap generators to find your XML sitemap.
- Locate your robots.txt file.
- Finally, add the sitemap to your robots.txt file. The robots.txt file will look like this:
User-agent: *
Disallow:
Sitemap: https://www.example.com/sitemap.xml
When larger websites are concerned, you’ll probably need multiple sitemaps. In that case, you should create a sitemap index file to keep things organized. There are two ways to do this.
- Report your sitemap index file URL in the robots.txt file:
User-agent: *
Disallow:
Sitemap: https://www.example.com/sitemap_index.xml - Report each sitemap file URL separately:
User-agent: *
Disallow:
Sitemap: https://www.example.com/sitemap_1.xml
Sitemap: https://www.example.com/sitemap_2.xml
If you’re using a WordPress website, you can utilize plug-ins to include your XML sitemap to your robots.txt file. These are some examples: Rankmath, WooRak, Yoast SEO, WP Robots Txt.