What a sitemap should contain
A sitemap should list clean, canonical, indexable URLs that you want search engines to discover. It is especially helpful for large tool libraries, guide sections, and pages that may not be linked from every navigation area.
What to check
- Only indexable URLs are included.
- Canonical paths match the real page URLs.
- Admin, account, API, and private routes are excluded.
- Last modified dates are reasonable.
- Redirected or removed pages are not listed as final URLs.
Common mistakes
Adding noindex pages to a sitemap sends mixed signals. Another common issue is leaving old routes in the sitemap after a redesign. Keep sitemap generation tied to the same source of truth as the public pages.
FAQ
Does a sitemap guarantee indexing?
No. It helps discovery, but search engines still decide what to index.
Should every page be in the sitemap?
No. Include useful public pages that are meant to be indexed.