Having trouble getting your site noticed on Google? A sitemap can help search engines find and understand your pages. If you're using WordPress, the Yoast SEO plugin makes it simple to set one up. You don’t need any coding skills or technical knowledge - just a few clicks and you’re good to go.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Enable the XML sitemap feature in Yoast SEO
Focus on the most important pages to avoid clutter
Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console so it’s picked up faster
Check for errors regularly to make sure everything is working
Use extra features in Yoast to fine-tune what search engines see
A sitemap is a file that lists every key page on your site. It helps search engines like Google know what’s on your website, where to find it, and how everything fits together.
Think of it like a contents page for your site. It doesn’t change how your site looks to visitors, but it makes a big difference in how search engines read and rank your content.
Yoast SEO creates an XML sitemap - a type of sitemap made specifically for search engines. It updates automatically when you publish new content, so you don’t need to manage it manually.
Not all pages are picked up by Google right away. A sitemap helps speed things up.
Search engines can crawl your site without one, but they might miss important pages or take longer to index them. This is especially true for:
New websites with few external links
Large sites with many pages
Pages buried deep in your site structure
An XML sitemap solves these problems by putting all your key content in one place, ready for Google to scan. For small businesses trying to build visibility, that’s a big win.
Search engines want to show useful, well-structured websites to users. A sitemap helps prove your site fits that bill.
Here’s how it helps:
Better indexing – Google finds and lists your pages faster
More visibility – Key content doesn’t get overlooked
Improved structure – It helps search engines understand your site layout
More control – You decide what gets included in the sitemap and what doesn’t
When used right, a sitemap makes sure your best pages are front and centre. That can lead to better rankings and more traffic.
Setting up a sitemap in Yoast SEO is quick and easy. Once it’s on, your site becomes easier for search engines to understand. This helps boost your visibility and ensures your content gets found.
Follow the steps below to get started.
The Yoast SEO plugin includes a built-in sitemap feature. You just need to switch it on.
Here’s how to do it:
Log into your WordPress site
Head to your WordPress dashboard.
Find the Yoast SEO plugin
On the left menu, click on ‘SEO’.
Click ‘General’
This opens the main settings area for Yoast.
Go to the ‘Features’ tab
This section controls the tools included with the plugin.
Find ‘XML sitemaps’ and toggle it on
If it’s already on, you’re good to go. If not, switch it to ‘On’.
Click ‘Save changes’
You’ll find this at the bottom of the page.
View your sitemap
Click the small question mark icon next to the XML sitemaps toggle, then select ‘See the XML sitemap’.
That’s it. Your sitemap is now live and updating automatically when you publish new content.
Big sitemaps aren’t always better. A cleaner, well-organised sitemap is easier for search engines to crawl and understand. Here’s how to keep it tidy:
Stick to important pages
Only include content that adds value - no need to list every tag or archive.
Split your sitemap by content type
Yoast automatically separates blog posts, pages, categories, and more. This helps with clarity and makes the sitemap easier to scan.
Avoid bloat
Remove low-quality or outdated pages from your sitemap. If it doesn’t help your audience, it doesn’t need to be there.
Review it regularly
If you update or delete pages, check your sitemap so it stays accurate.
Use under 50,000 URLs per sitemap
This is Google’s limit. Most small sites won’t get close, but it’s worth knowing.
Test your sitemap
Tools like Google Search Console let you submit your sitemap and check for errors.
By keeping things simple and relevant, your sitemap does a better job guiding search engines through your site. And that means better chances of showing up where it counts.
Once your sitemap is up and running, you can take it further with Yoast’s advanced features. These help you manage what’s included, highlight key pages, and fix common issues fast.
If you use tools or platforms that generate their own sitemaps - like an online store, booking system, or another plugin - you can add those to your main sitemap in Yoast.
Here’s how:
Find the external sitemap URL
This is usually a separate sitemap from another system or plugin.
Open your Yoast settings in WordPress
Go to SEO > General > Features.
Look for the XML sitemap area
Click the question mark icon and select ‘See the XML sitemap’.
Click ‘Add external sitemap’
Paste in the full URL of your external sitemap.
Save changes
Make sure everything looks right and runs smoothly.
Test it
Use Google Search Console to check that both sitemaps are being picked up.
Adding external sitemaps helps make sure all your key pages - no matter where they come from - are seen by search engines.
Page priority tells search engines which pages matter most. It won’t guarantee rankings, but it gives a nudge in the right direction.
To change page priority:
Head to the Yoast SEO plugin
Go to the advanced settings under the SEO tab.
Adjust page or post priority
This is usually a dropdown or number field on each individual page or post.
Use higher priority for key pages
Think service pages, product listings, and high-traffic blog posts.
Set lower priority for less critical pages
Like thank-you pages, old content, or tag archives.
Save your changes and recheck your sitemap
You can view your sitemap at yourdomain.com/sitemap_index.xml.
Resubmit your sitemap to Google Search Console
This helps search engines pick up the changes faster.
This keeps your most valuable pages in the spotlight.
Even with Yoast, things can go wrong. Here’s how to sort them:
Use Google Search Console
Look for crawl errors or warnings related to your sitemap.
Check all links
Make sure your URLs are correct. Broken or redirected links can cause problems.
Update your sitemap
If you’ve added or removed content, let your sitemap reflect that.
Inspect your robots.txt file
Make sure it’s not blocking access to your sitemap or any key pages.
Review your Yoast settings
Make sure sitemaps are still enabled and your content types are set correctly.
Clear your site cache
If you’re using a caching plugin, clear it to show the latest version of your sitemap.
Stick to one sitemap system
Having multiple plugins or tools managing sitemaps can confuse things. Use Yoast as your main one.
Check for redirect chains
If a page in your sitemap redirects multiple times, clean it up so Google can follow it easily.
Ask for help if needed
Yoast’s support forums and help docs are great starting points if you’re stuck.
Tuning your sitemap with these extras gives you more control. You get better structure, more accurate indexing, and one less thing to worry about when it comes to site visibility.
Once your sitemap is set up, don’t stop there. Submitting it to Google makes sure your pages get seen. It’s a simple step that helps search engines crawl your site more efficiently - and faster.
You’ll do this through Google Search Console.
When you send your sitemap to Google, you’re giving it a clear list of what’s on your site. This helps search engines:
Find new content quickly
Index your pages more accurately
Understand your site structure
For small businesses, it means better chances of showing up in search results. And that means more traffic, more visitors, and more potential customers.
Here’s how to do it:
Log in to Google Search Console
Use the Google account linked to your site.
Choose your website
Make sure it’s verified and listed in your account.
Click on ‘Sitemaps’ in the left-hand menu
This takes you to the submission page.
Find the box labelled ‘Add a new sitemap’
It’s usually at the top of the screen.
Enter your sitemap URL
For most Yoast users, it will be:yourwebsite.com/sitemap_index.xml
Click ‘Submit’
Google will now check and process your sitemap.
Check for any errors or issues
If something’s wrong, Search Console will flag it.
That’s it. Once submitted, Google will start crawling your pages more efficiently. You’ve now taken one more step toward better visibility and stronger SEO.
Once your sitemap is up and running, you can take it further. Small changes make a big difference when it comes to how well your site performs in search. Avoid the usual slip-ups and make the most of Yoast’s features to keep your sitemap working hard.
Getting your sitemap wrong can slow down indexing or confuse search engines. Here’s what to watch out for:
Not switching on XML sitemaps in Yoast
If it’s off, no sitemap is created. Always check it’s enabled.
Letting the sitemap get too big
Keep it tidy. Avoid including unnecessary pages or bloated archives.
Ignoring priority settings
These tell search engines which pages matter most. Use them to your advantage.
Forgetting to include external sitemaps
If other tools create sitemaps, link them through Yoast so nothing gets missed.
Not updating your sitemap after big changes
Add or remove content? Update your sitemap so Google stays in the loop.
Submitting the wrong link to Search Console
Double-check your sitemap URL before hitting submit.
Skipping error checks
Use Search Console to spot issues early. Fix broken links or blocked pages fast.
Avoiding advanced features in Yoast
There’s more under the hood than most people use. Make use of the tools on offer.
Staying on top of these helps keep your sitemap clean, your content visible, and your SEO on track.
Yoast gives you more control than just a switch-on-and-leave-it option. Here’s what else to use:
Customise your sitemap index
Choose which post types, categories, or tags to include.
Add external sitemaps
Perfect if you use ecommerce tools or booking platforms that build their own.
Set page priority
Give your most important pages a higher priority rating to guide crawlers.
Fix issues early
If your sitemap has problems, Yoast makes it easy to identify and fix them.
Using these features helps search engines crawl your content more efficiently, which can lead to better rankings.
Organising your content helps visitors and search engines alike. Here’s how to do it right:
Group content into clear categories
Blog posts, services, products - each should have its own space.
Keep category names short and clear
This improves readability and helps with site structure.
Make sure these categories are included in your sitemap
Yoast lets you control this in the settings.
A well-structured site is easier to crawl, easier to navigate, and better for SEO.
Creating a sitemap with Yoast SEO is a simple step with a big impact. It helps search engines find your content, speeds up indexing, and keeps your website running smoothly behind the scenes.
Switch it on, keep it tidy, and check it often. Then submit it to Google - and let your content do the rest.
A sitemap is a list of your website’s pages. It helps search engines find and index your content. Without one, important pages might get missed.
Use Google Search Console to check. Once submitted, you’ll see if Google can read it properly or if there are any errors to fix.
Yes. Yoast lets you include or exclude specific post types, pages, or categories from your sitemap in the plugin settings.
Old or missing content in your sitemap can confuse search engines. It might delay indexing or hurt your site’s visibility.
Check it any time you make major changes to your site. That includes adding new sections, deleting content, or changing your site’s structure.
If you're not sure where to start or want to make sure it's done right, I can help. Whether it’s enabling Yoast, cleaning up your sitemap, or submitting it to Google, I’ll keep things simple and clear.
Get in touch today and let’s make sure your website gets seen by the people who matter.